October 07, 2026

Preview: MiniArt's 48th-scale P-47D-22RE Thunderbolt, Malcolm Hood - Advanced kit..

The 48th scale P-47D-22RE Thunderbolt with the Malcolm hood is MiniArt's latest release. Art, decals & the real kites in our preview...


Preview: MiniArt's 48th-scale P-47D-22RE Thunderbolt, Malcolm Hood - Advanced kit...

P-47D-22RE Thunderbolt, Malcolm Hood - Advanced kit
From MiniArt Models
1/48th scale
Kit No: 48038
The kit contains three marking choices in the box.
Clear parts, full engine & weighted wheels are included.
The Subject: The "Razorback" P-47D-22-RE Thunderbolt with Malcolm Hood:
The Republic P-47D-22-RE Thunderbolt represented a pinnacle of the "razorback" design, notably introducing the massive Hamilton Standard Hydramatic paddle-blade propeller to maximise its Pratt & Whitney engine output. While this mechanical upgrade drastically improved the heavy fighter's rate of climb and low-altitude acceleration, the aircraft still suffered from the notorious tactical liability inherent to all early Thunderbolts: a severe rearward blind spot. The tall, rigid metal spine of the fuselage directly behind the pilot's head made it incredibly difficult to spot ambushing Luftwaffe fighters attacking from the "six o'clock" position.
To combat this vulnerability in the European Theatre of Operations, innovative Allied ground crews began executing a clever cross-allied field modification by retrofitting these American fighters with the British-designed Malcolm Hood. Originally created for Spitfires and Mustangs, this frameless, bulged Perspex canopy slid along the existing cockpit tracks and curved outward, allowing pilots to physically lean their heads into the blister to look directly behind the fuselage spine. This rare, field-engineered hybrid served as a crucial, lifesaving stopgap measure that vastly improved pilot situational awareness just months before factory-built "bubbletop" P-47 models finally reached the front lines.

The kit's features:
There are twenty-one sprues in this basic kit. We notice that there is the corrugated floor and the earlier filling parts for the underwing (where the latter model's airbrakes go). This kit has all the stores & weapons that the other kits have.

Included in the parts of the kit:
- The two fuselage halves in the iconic razorback shape, the wings (without gun bays) and the posable flying surfaces are the three main points of the largest sprues.
- Droptanks and bombs of all the common P-47 types are included.
- The corrugated floor, landing gear light and Razorback cockpit features, are included on these sprues. 
- Three different types of main wheel spokes and flattened main wheels are provided.
- The engine parts and the rest of the landing gear and smaller parts of the kit are here as well, and two types of propeller are in the sprues.
Two types of prop are included – 
Malcolm Hood is included along with the regular razorback, probably so they don't have to snip them off :-)

Markings:
There are three colourful and well-known versions of Thunderbolt that all feature the Malcolm Hood. They are:

The Republic P-47D-22-RE Thunderbolt (Serial No. 42-26250), nicknamed 'TURTLE No.9', served with the 509th Fighter Squadron of the 405th Fighter Group under the Ninth Air Force. Flown by Lt Charles D. Dooney in France during the harsh winter of 1944, this specific airframe was part of an operational line of sequentially named "Turtle" aircraft within the squadron. The 405th Fighter Group heavily utilised these rugged razorbacks for close-air support and interdiction missions, targeting German armour, supply lines, and rail hubs to directly assist the Allied ground advance across Western Europe. 

The P-47D-22-RE with Serial No. 42-26261 was assigned to the 511th Fighter Squadron, also a component of the 405th Fighter Group operating in the Mediterranean Theatre. Shared by Lt Michael F. Tobin and Lt Walter A. Grabowski, this fighter operated out of Italy during the 1944–1945 campaigns. Operating in the Italian theatre, the squadron focused on tactical bombing and strafing operations to disrupt Axis defensive positions along the Gothic Line, capitalising on the massive payload capacity and structural durability of the P-47.

The P-47D-22-RE bearing Serial No. 42-25706 operated with the 356th Fighter Squadron within the prestigious 354th Fighter Group. Famous for being the "Pioneer Mustang Group", the 354th actually transitioned to the heavy P-47 Thunderbolt for a brief stretch between late 1944 and early 1945 to support intensive tactical ground-attack operations during the Battle of the Bulge and the push towards the Rhine. This specific aircraft, coded AJ-L, was photographed in February 1945 parked directly behind a row of heavy aerial bombs, highlighting its intensive role in relentless frontline "train-busting" and fuel depot destruction missions.
Fill stencils; internal dials for the IP & individual & national deals are provided for this kit. Also phtoo etch for the engine and the ammo especially, along with a detailed instruction booklet.

That is all we know about this kit so far. More to follow in colours, sprues & other info. See more about all of MiniArt's kits on their website...