1/32 scale P-47 B, C, or D: When?

When, oh when, will a major manufacturer come out with a new, improved, highly detailed and lovely 1/32 scale P-47? One would think that the only fighter aircraft on the Allied side was the P-51. ( It’s a lovely plane, BTW, and I used to watch them flying when Dad was stationed at Scott Field, years ago.) But so far, no offerings in 1/32. What are the latest juicy rumors floating about? Also, how about a new Spitfire Mk I and a new Hurricane Mk I in 1/32 scale, while we’re at it?[2c]

With best regards to all.

Steve Mack

I think Trumpeteer is supposed to release a 1/32 P-47, don’t know when tho.

I’m with you on this one, Steve.

I did a quick google check on any Trumpeter P-47 mentions in 1/32 but came up empty. Let’s hope that the rumours are true and we can get our hands on such a kit soon.

-Jeff

I’ve heard rumors about both a Trumpeter P-47 and a Tamiya one. I wouldn’t hold my breath for a Tamiya Jug, but the Trumpeter one might be a reality at some point.

There is a resin kit from Jerry Rutman if anybody is up to a resin Thunderbolt.

Bill

Jerry Rutman’s Thunderbolt kits and upgrades are superb, but you need experince working with resin models to do it justice. They’re wonderfully detailed, and he also has a 1/32 scale figure of Gabby Gabreski as well.

Mind if I modify the question?: “When, oh, when will a major manufacturer come out with a re-tooled 1/32 P-47 WHICH WE CAN ALL AFFORD?” I know Trumpeter is good at coming out with the largr scale kits but I haven’t gotten any of them because they are priced way out of my range. So please, somebody, come out with a reasonably priced kit. I was reading in my Detail & Scale book about the Revell offering and they don’t make it sound half bad. It’s obviously no shake-n-bake like Tamigawa but it’s still respectable. And since when are we modellers prone to shy away from a kit just because it needs a little touch up here and there? I’m working on a a High Planes Reno Racer right now that’ll probably make Revell’s kit look like an absolute gem!

Eric

And I hate to always be the Grinch when the subject of Trumpeter comes up, but every time modelers wait breathlessly for Trumpeter to fill that much-needed niche, we get a model that cost twice what it should, with half the research and a fourth the accuracy such a pricey model should have. The F4F, the Vigilante, the Spitfire floatplane (and incredible mess at $129, which I so far have put $200 in correction resin on – the build is for a job, not pleasure – and it’s going to take at least one more $50 resin part to make it look like a Spitfire floatplane), the list goes on and one. Trumpeter gets away with as little as possible. I don’t need or want, necessarily, Tamigawa shake-and-bake kits, but with a few notable exceptions (the famous 1:48 Meteor Mk. I jumps to mind), Tamiya can’t be faulted for their research and execution.

But I agree: a new series of Jugs in the big scale w ould fill a big hole for modelers in 1:32.

I would love to see a new molding of the P-47 from Revell-Monogram in 1/32 myself. I built their 1/32 Hawker Hunter was an absolute gem to build and reasonably priced. Perhaps they could perform the same magic on both a razorback and bubble top P-47D.

Revell-Monogram US hasn’t really been producing many new molds lately. The last all new aircraft kit from them that I recall is the Do-217. As far as I know, all their releases since getting new owners a few years ago have been re-releases.

Revell Germany produces some new kits. The did release the He-163 a year or two back. They have also issued some other new kits. If Revell does come out with a new P-47 in 1/32 scale, I would put odds on it coming from Germany.

The two biggest players in 1/32 these days are Trumpeter and Hasegawa. If anyone does come out with a new P-47, it will probably be from one of them. Either way, it’s going to be expensive.

People complain about the high cost of new kits, but the cost really is justified. Making the molds for a new kit is very expensive and that cost has to be amoratized over the sale of kits. The model market is tiny compared to 40 years ago. Each modeler is spending many times what he did 40 years ago, but the total number of modelers is far less. A kit that sells 10,000 world wide is doing pretty good these days. Some kits from the 60s sold over 1 million.

Each model sold needs to include a bigger chunk of the cost of the molds. The kit makers have done some price gouging by putting old kits in new boxes and upping the price. But generally new kits are priced at a point that will pay off the cost of production within a few years.

Revell Germany can produce the old 1/32 Revell and Matchbox kits from the 70s and sell them for $20 US because the molds were paid off a long time ago. The downside is that they are old technology molds, made in lower pressure molds, which produce softer detail. Many of those older kits also have less detail and innacurate detail compared to newer releases. Newer 1/48 scale kits have a lot more detail.

1/32 is also a niche scale. It has become more popular in recent years because people are moving to bigger scales as they get older, but sales in 1/32 are still a small fraction of 1/48 and are even a smaller market than 1/72. Since more detail is expected in 1/32, making the molds is a more expensive process.

Unfortunately, no matter who makes it, I think a new mass market 1/32 P-47 is likely going to cost about $60 US. If they cut corners and didn’t include the level of detail people expect now, they will be strung up in the reviews, which will effect sales. That’s just the economics of making new kits.

Bill

Maybe if they (Trumpeter) did away with the features of the moving control surfaces it would help cut down on their engineering and manufacturing costs. It always sort of bugged me that when Revell had moving surfaces on their planes so many years ago they are referred to as “toy-like features” whereas now if Trumpeter does it, it’s the most innovative thing since sliced bread. But I’ll bet they could cut some costs by not having to go through the engineering and prodcution of making the PE hinges, separate parts, radial engines with 75 parts or more, etc…

Eric

Trumpeter is beginning to do away with the moveable controls. The Me-262 doesn’t have them, I don’t think the Mig-3 does either. I haven’t seen a single review that thought favorably of Trumpeter’s moveable controls.

I happen to like the engine detail, but then I like building 1/24 scale kits too. (I also don’t like dealing with resin, I’m allergic to the stuff.:slight_smile:

Bill