1:48 P-47D-26-28 Thunderbolt cockpit (Detailed edition) for MiniArt kit

A fighter pilot's workstation for a long flight

The crew of a Thunderbolt could spend four hours at a stretch in the seat over Europe, because the type escorted bomber formations deep over the opponent's territory. The layout of the working area matched that: a massive stick with switches for eight guns, the gunsight in front of the windscreen, the oxygen set to the right hand and distribution panels the pilot operated in a thick leather glove. None of it was elegant; all of it was made for hard service.

What the more detailed edition consists in

While the simpler version relies on one main casting, this variant divides the compartment into smaller groups. The seat comes separately, the side walls separately, the controls separately. The builder can therefore paint each of them on its own and shade them apart from one another, which is practically impossible with a compartment assembled as a whole. The gain shows above all when the model stands with the canopy slid back and the viewer looks down into the compartment.

What to reckon with

Greater subdivision means a longer build and demands patience when seating small parts. Fine-tipped tweezers and glue applied with a wire are more a necessity here than a comfort. The result is worth it, though: on this type the depth of the compartment is not lost even under the glass, because the canopy is clear along its whole length and hides almost nothing.

When to reach for the subdivided variant

It comes out best on a piece in a display case, where the viewer looks down into the compartment above the seat. It serves just as well as a basis for photographic documentation of the build, because each group can be photographed on its own before it disappears inside the fuselage.