Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA8403 P-47M Thunderbolt Major George Bostwick, 61st FS, 56th FG 8th AF, Boxted, United Kingdom 1945

1/48 scale pre-finished Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic. Professionally painted. All markings pad applied for superb results. Cockpit slides open. Comes with a pilot that can be removed. Comes with display stand. Can be displayed with landing gear up or down.

The P-47M was designed to run down and destroy the German buzz-bombs and the Luftwaffe’s new jets and rocket powered aircraft. To accomplish this a Pratt and Whitney P&W R-2800-57 (C) engine was added as well as a new larger super-charger. The engine also had water injection and all this allowed the P-47M a war-emergency power of 2,800 hp @ 32,500 feet. Air brakes were added to help the aircraft slow during a dive. No under-wing racks were attached because the P-47M was strictly meant to be a fighter. Because of delays the P-47M didn’t reach the ETO until December 1944.

Major George Eugene Bostwick was assigned 2 P-47s during his tour with the 62nd FS, 56th FG, US 8th AF stationed at Boxted, Essex, England. Both of the P-47s were named “Ugly Duckling” but this name was never painted on his aircraft. Bostwick scored eight aerial victories between June 7, 1944 and April 7, 1945. On March 25th 1945 Bostwick shot down an ME-262 and damaged another on April 7, 1945. Along with his eight aerial victories Major Bostwick is credited with 2 aerial damaged and 6 ground victories.

P-47M was based on the P-47D-30 model and given a 2,800 HP R-2800-57(C) engine and used to intercept V-1 rockets. There were 130 M variants produced Republic Aviation P-47D specifications Number Produced - 12,602 most numerous variant Crew - 1 Dimensions Length - 36 ft. 1 in. (11 m) Wingspan - 40 ft. 9 in. (12.42 m) Height - 14 ft. 8 in. (4.47 m)

Performance Engine - 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 twin-row radial, 2,535 hp (1,890 kW) Maximum Speed - 433 mph @ 30,000 ft (697 km/h @ 9,145 m) Service Ceiling - 43,000 ft. (13,100 m) Rate Of Climb - 3,120 ft/min (15.9 m/s) Range - 800 mi. combat, 1,800 mi. ferry (1,290 km combat / 2,900 km ferry)

Armament 8 x .50 in. (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns w/ 3,400 rounds Maximum 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg) of bombs 10 x 5 in. (127 mm) unguided rockets