Model Tech: P-47D Thunderbolt

Model Airplane News, Dec 2002 by Onorato, Jim

I was now ready to install the engine and fuel tank. I used a Magnum FS-91AR 4-stroke engine and mounted it inverted. The engine mount is attached to the firewall with four 4x30mm bolts and blind nuts. I then assembled and installed the fuel tank and fiberglass cowl, which is beautifully painted and large enough to enclose the engine. With the engine mounted inverted, the muffler sticks out of the lower left side of the cowl and points downward. The cowl is held in place with four wood screws and hardwood blocks that are epoxied to the firewall. Be sure to sand the clear finish off the firewall where the blocks go, or they may break loose. I used a 14x8 Master Airscrew nylon prop and the polished-aluminum spinner hub that came with the kit.

Final assembly. I trimmed the moldedplastic wing fairings and attached them to the top of the wing with thin CA; they fit very well and give the Thunderbolt a neat look. I then attached the gun fairings to the wing's leading edge with thin CA, and I added a th-scale Williams Bros. pilot figure. I painted the canopy framework olive drab and attached it to the fuselage with six small screws.

I wrapped the receiver and battery in foam and installed them as far forward as they would go. I still had to add about 8 ounces of lead to the firewall to get the center of gravity to come out where indicated. The final steps were the addition of the nylon antenna to the top of the fuselage and the application of the decals.

CONCLUSION

The Model Tech P-47D Thunderbolt is a wellengineered ARF that goes together easily and has great scale appearance when completed. I thoroughly enjoyed building and flying it, and I highly recommend it for anyone who has experience flying a 4-channel, aileronequipped model. If you've always wanted a warbird but don't have the time to build one, this Jug is hard to beat!

Cirrus; distributed by Global Hobby Distributors. Global Hobby Distributors (714) 963-0133; globalhobby.com.

JR; distributed by Horizon Hobby Inc. (800) 338-4639; horizonhobby-com.

Magnum Engines; distributed by Global Hobby Distributors.

Master Airscrew, distributed by Windsor Propeller Co. (916) 631-8385; masterairscrew.com.

Model Tech; distributed by Global Hobby. Red Max (800) 742-8484; member.aol.com/fhssoil/RedMax.html. Williams Bros. (805) 534-1307; williamsbrosinc.com.