User Name: T Bolt
Name: Glenn
Category: Advanced
Kit: Revell 1/72 P-47M Thunderbolt
Scale: 1/72nd
Accessories: Fastrodney resin conversion kit and home made decals for the tail fin.
The XP-72 was a development of the P-47 Thunderbolt. It was the first fighter to be designed around the 28-cylinger Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major and was to have a six-bladed Aeroproducts contrarotating propeller. Two prototypes were constructed, 43-6598 and 43-6599
Because delivery of the Aeroproducts propeller was delayed, the first XP-72 was equipped with a single four-bladed prop as a temporary measure. During test flights a speed of 490 mph was reached.
The second prototype was the first to be fitted with the contrarotating props, but unfortunately was written off in a takeoff crash in an early test flight although it was expected to have a top speed in excess of 500 mph with the contrarotating propellers, so an order of 100 production aircraft was placed.
By this time the war rapidly coming to an end and the jet age was looming so the P-72 order was cancelled and the remaining prototype scrapped.
I worked onna 1/24th P-51B I think was a Revell, fits were sorta okay.
Knowing now I wonder if it's just removing the parts too soon from the molds.
Molds wearing from too soft dies? A conundrum. They sure test your medal!
You shall overcome!
I finished painting and assembling the cockpit and glued the fuselage halves together. I think the cockpit detail is more than enough for what can be seen in this scale. Next I will start slicing the lower fuselage apart to take the resin part.