November 04, 2026

Preview: MiniArt's 48th-scale P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt Advanced Kit...

We add the aircraft profiles, sprues & decals to MiniArt's new 1/48th scale P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt "Advanced Kit" in our preview...

Preview: MiniArt's 48th-scale P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt Advanced Kit...

P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt Advanced Kit
From MiniArt Models
Kit No: 48064
1/48th scale
The kit contains four marking choices in the box.
Dimensions: Wingspan 258 mm / Length 233 mm
A full engine & weighted wheels and clear parts are included.
Photo-etch is included
The subject: The  Republic P-47N-2RE Thunderbolt 
The Republic P-47N-2RE Thunderbolt stands out as a critical early production block of the final, most advanced evolution of the legendary wartime fighter. Engineered to overcome the vast, punishing distances of the Pacific Theatre, the P-47N series emerged from an urgent requirement to escort B-29 Superfortress bombers on exhaustive round-trip missions over the Japanese mainland. Rolled out of Republic Aviation’s main production line in Farmingdale, New York, the -2RE designation marked a highly specialised shift in design, transforming a heavy fighter built for European tactical operations into a long-range strategic powerhouse.

One of the kites of this boxing is P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt, s/n 44-88211, #146, "Li'l Meaties' Meat Chopper"
The defining characteristic of the P-47N-2RE was its completely re-engineered wing profile, which abandoned the traditional elliptical shape seen on previous P-47D models. To substantially boost fuel reserves, designers integrated straight-edged wing root extensions that expanded the wing surface by 22 square feet and created space for large internal fuel cells. Driven by a muscular, 2,800-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-2800-57 Double Wasp engine and an advanced turbo-supercharger, this variant boasted an extraordinary combat radius of roughly 1,200 miles. Because this massive fuel volume and beefed-up architecture raised the aircraft's maximum takeoff weight to nearly 10 tonnes, engineers widened the landing gear track for safer ground handling and added armrests and folding rudder pedals inside the cockpit to ease pilot fatigue during gruelling ten-hour flights.
Arriving at the front lines in the spring of 1945, these long-range Thunderbolts became instrumental in the final aerial campaigns of the war, serving with distinction in units like the Saipan-based 318th Fighter Group. The plane's immense range allowed American pilots to fly deep into enemy territory, combat hostile fighters with a punishing array of eight .50-calibre machine guns, and safely navigate the long journey home. Beyond high-altitude escort duties, the P-47N-2RE excelled as a devastatingly tough ground-attack aircraft, using its rugged, air-cooled radial engine to absorb heavy anti-aircraft fire while delivering thousands of pounds of bombs and rockets against Japanese targets until the end of hostilities.

The kit: MiniArt's 48th scale P-47N-2-RE
The "Advanced Kit" version of the Republic P-47N-RE Thunderbolt from Miniart in 1/48th scale. This will be one of the more popular and well-kitted variants.
- A full Pratt & Whitney The R-2800-57 engine is included in the box. Wiring harnesses are the only thing you need to add, one would think.
- Both opened and closed canopies are included in the box.
- The flat floor and extra bomb toggles can be seen in this cockpit.
- The kit includes a filled tail, squared-off wingtips and extra antennae, which are the most obvious external changes present in these views.
- Open or closed canopies are, of course, included, as are the options for the open or closed cowl flaps.


The parts that make up this kit in plastic & decals.
We look at the CAD layouts of the sprues and the etch in the kit as well as the decal sheet supplied in the box.

The sprues that make up the main parts of the aircraft are the wings, fuselage and flying surfaces. Note the wet-square-tipped wings and N-model fillet in the tail, the biggest difference from the D version to most people.
The smooth floor of the N model Thunderbolt cockpit floor and late-model instrumentation are here.
There are weighted wheels that are supplied with this kit, along with six- and eight-spoke wheels and the covered disc type. Ribbed and diamond-patterned tread tyres, the rear tyre and the easy-to-install four-barrelled 50 cal. barrel jackets are on these sprues. The clear parts of the bubbletop's canopy, gunsight and navigation lights.
The R-2800 engine in full, with the only real thing you would need being a wiring harness. The four-bladed needle prop is included with this kit. Cowlings can be removed if you like with this kit.
250 and 500-pound bombs, plus three different types of drop tanks, are included, as well as underwing rockets.

Decals
There are two marking versions on a decal sheet included in the instructions, one with the national markings, nose art & serial numbers. The markings for the propellers & the instrument panel are included along with some serials. The photo-etch is mainly for the engine harness plus some other small parts.

Markings:
Inside the kit there will be four marking choices:

P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt, s/n 44-87953, #11, "Ssanori S" (June 1945 - Solid Yellow Tail)
This Republic P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt, carrying serial number 44-87953 and tactical number 11, was nicknamed "Ssanori S"—an intentional anagram of "Iron Ass". Flown by Captain Judge E. Wolfe of the 333rd Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, 301st Fighter Wing, 20th Air Force (attached to the 7th Air Force), the aircraft operated from the island of Ie Shima in June 1945. The natural metal finish features a solid yellow nose cowl ring and a matching solid yellow vertical stabiliser tip, which served as the official identifying markings for the 333rd Fighter Squadron during this period.


P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt, s/n 44-88211, #146, "Li'l Meaties' Meat Chopper"
Flown by Lt. Oscar F. Perdomo, 464th Fighter Squadron, 507th Fighter Group,
301st Fighter Wing, 20th AF (attached to 7th AF), Ie Shima, 15 August 1945. The yellow tail and yellow stripes on the wings were the identification mark of the 507th F.G.
The identification mark of the 464th Squadron was a diagonal black stripe (not blue) on
the vertical stabiliser and a yellow and black spiral painted on the spinner.

P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt, s/n 44-87953, #11, "Ssanori S" (August 1945)
This profile depicts the Republic P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt, serial number 44-87953, as it appeared during the first half of August 1945 while based at Ie Shima. Assigned to Captain Judge E. Wolfe of the 333rd Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, 301st Fighter Wing, 20th Air Force, the bare-metal airframe retains the tactical number 11 and its "Ssanori S" nose art. The markings reflect an update to the theatre camouflage directives, featuring bold yellow and black diagonal theatre stripes across the vertical stabiliser and rudder, which were introduced as the standardised group markings for the 318th Fighter Group in July 1945.


P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt, s/n 44-88219, #BD, "Little Girl Yip"
This Republic P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt, serial number 44-88219, carried the tactical codes "BD" and the nose art "Little Girl Yip" while being flown by Lieutenant William W. Ennis during the first half of August 1945. Operating from Ie Shima with the 21st Fighter Squadron, 413th Fighter Group, 301st Fighter Wing, 20th Air Force, the aircraft features a distinctive solid medium blue tail section, which was introduced in July 1945 to designate the 413th Fighter Group. This fresh blue paint entirely concealed the squadron’s original yellow rudder and black heart insignia, though the aircraft retained the yellow spinner and nose cowl ring characteristic of the 21st Fighter Squadron while lacking the typical yellow wingtips.

This kit should be available soon (not sure when) from MiniArt's distributors worldwide. You can see more about this kit on the MiniArt Website...