1/48 Monogram P-47D Thunderbolt

Gallery Article by Gregor de Ste Croix on July 26 2013

 

 

This is my Monogram P-47 bubbletop mostly built straight from the box. I re scribed the major panel lines, and used some Eduard photo etch in the cockpit, and on the bomb attachments. The wheels are resin replacements from True Details. This has been the first time I’ve tried re scribing and I found it a bit arduous but worth the effort. Some of Monogram’s raised detail I think is quite good so where possible I’ve retained it. The model itself went together without any real problems despite its age. I removed the tail stabiliser flaps and positioned them in a dropped attitude to add interest. The original kit detail is ok but not up to modern standards. Overall the outline of the kit looks good, and I was pleased with the end result. Paints used are mostly Humbrol, with the main areas sprayed from a rattle can. Decals are from Sky Models Thunderbolts Part1, and went on without any trouble at all.

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I chose to model Captain Kenneth Dahlberg’s P-47D from the 353 Fighter Squadron based at Rosieres in France Feb 1945. Dahlberg amassed 14 aerial victories between June 1944 and February 1945 mostly flying a P-51. In that time he was shot down 3 times and evaded capture twice, the first time with help of the French Resistance who helped him escape disguised as a woman. He made his escape on a bicycle traveling 40 miles through occupied France to reach his own lines. On the 19 December 1944 Dahlberg led a flight of 8 P-47’s against and enemy formation of 90 aircraft. During the ensuing battle he managed to destroy 4 German planes before being shot down himself. Captain Dahlberg was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for this action. Once again he escaped capture, landing close to US ground forces who returned him to his unit. On 14 February 1945 Dahlberg made his final sortie being shot down by flack over Bitburg, Germany. He was captured after landing suffering from a bad head wound. He spent the rest of the war as a POW.

Quite a character eh? In 2010 a German construction team unearthed the remains of a P-47 Thunderbolt near Bitburg in Germany, which was identified by a local historian as being the plane I have modelled here. Kenneth Dahlberg was a successful business man after WW2, and piloted his private jet up until he was 92. Kenneth H Dahlberg passed away in 2011 aged 94 having lived a full, and dare I say charmed life.

Gregor de Ste Croix

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Photos and text © by Gregor de Ste Croix