Republic P-47 Thunderbolt “Bubbletop”

Mushroom Models Publications (MMP) started out with their Mushroom Model Magazine and then branched out into books about various aircraft. Although these books are all printed in Poland, the text is in English.

This latest book is in MMP’s usual 9 ¼” x 6 ½” soft-cover format. It is 128 pages in length. The book covers the technical history of the late production P-47 Thunderbolts, with the “bubbletop” canopy. Running from the P-47D-25-RE through to the final P-47N, the changes in the various production series are described and illustrated, with 22 black and white 1/72 nd scale line drawings and many photos.

There are about 30 black and white wartime photos. Walk around shots of P-47’s in 10 different museums around the world and a few shots of restored ones in private hands that are still flying. There are 5 information charts, 22 color photos of the inside of cockpits (including 6 that are black and white illustrations straight out of tech manuals), 9 color photos of the engines (with 2 black and white ones out of a tech manual)and a bibliography.

At the rear of the book are color illustrations of P-47’s in profile (23 of these) and 12 two-views (showing wing tops and fuselage sides). These are showing just about every air force’s markings that ever flew the P-47D’s and N’s: Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Iran, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Portugal, Taiwan, Turkey, USSR, Venezuela and Yugoslavia! So, if you are looking for something DIFFERENT to mark your model with…this will show you.

The book will definitely appeal to modelers, aircraft enthusiasts, and students of WWII and post-war air operations. Essential for all lovers of beautiful aircraft!

I want to thank Dr. Roger M. Wallsgrove, Editor-in-Chief of MMP for this review copy.