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This is another lovely 1/144 kit
from Platz.
The fine panel line detail as well as excellent detail in other areas of this
kit is easily as good as 1/72 scale. Platz has taken the 1/144 scale kit
to a very delicate looking and well detailed level. All panel lines are
fine and recessed. The canopy and windshield are a one piece affair, so if
you want to pose this model with an open canopy you have 2 choices. Use an
Xacto knife and carefully cut the windscreen apart from the rest of the
canopy.......or just cut grind/sand/file away the unwanted parts from the 2
canopies included in this kit. Yes you actually get 2 kits in this one
box......so if you are willing to sacrifice the second kit to have an open
canopy on your model, then this is an option.
Click on
images below to see larger images
Cockpit detail is actually pretty good.
There is a separate seat that looks accurate and a separate instrument
panel. Sadly the instrument panel doesn't have a decal and there's
no side wall detail, so I'm starting to think Platz intended you to have a
closed canopy. Super micro detailers could have fun doing up this
cockpit if they were crazy enough to try. The wheels have detail
that would be respectable for 1/48 scale and tires have diamond tread
pattern. The wheel wells even have ribbing on the underside of the
top wing.
There is a centerline fuel tank and
2 bombs and rocket launcher tubes to go under the wings that also come with each
kit. The engine cowl ring is very finely crafted and the prop blade is
thin and looks correct. You also get an engine which will come to life
with a bit of paint and dry brushing. The tail wheel is very nicely
detailed and of course the main landing gear look very good as well.
The decals include 4 P-47D Razorback
from 1944 - 1944 including one with a black and white checkered nose cowling
ring and underside D-Day stripes (I love D-Day stripes). Plus one has
noseart and another has large script on the nose. Platz was careful to
select some very appealing paint schemes.
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P-47D-15-RE Razorback flown by
Lt. Frank Klibbe 56thFG,61st FS, ETO UK 1944
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P-47D-22-RE Razorback flown by
Capt. James W. Wilkinson 78thFG,82nd FS, ETO UK 1944
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P-47D-5-RE Razorback flown by
Capt. Walker Mahurin 56thFG,63rd FS, ETO UK 1944
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P-47D-23-RA Razorback flown by
LTCStanton T. Smith Jr. 80thFG,10th AF CBI 1945
The decals are excellent quality and
in register and include stencils including prop decals for 4 aircraft. All
parts are packed in separate bags to protect the smaller more delicate parts.
1/144 models are a blast to build
out of the box and I guarantee you will enjoy building in this tiny scale and if
you are crazy enough to try.......I've seen some stunning detailing in 1/144
scale.
Steve
Check out http://www.platz-hobby.com/
for this and other fine products. I'd like to thank Platz
for the review sample......this kit is made in Japan and the high quality
is evident throughout this tiny model kit.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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