Master Model of Poland has come out with brass barrels in 1/72 scale for the P-47 Thunderbolt. This is the second issue in the Air Master 72 series and a handy one it is! These brass barrels are small at only .0315” in diameter and .4055” in length, yet each front end is drilled out to a depth of .020”. One simply has to cut off the original plastic barrel, drill a hole using a #67 drill (.0320”) and insert the brass barrel and use cyanoacrylate adhesive to bond it in. The instruction sheet provides a drawing to help in getting the length of the protruding barrel correct. I took out my Tamiya P-47 Thunderbolt kit and tried these barrels out on one set of wing guns. Drilled out and inserted one barrel at a time and I had no problems (see photos).

I can highly recommend this P-47 brass barrel set for anyone who is looking for the most realistic appearance for their model. I want to thank IPMS/USA and Master Model for the opportunity to review this product.

This book is the most recent in MMPs Orange Series, chronicling the history and development of one of Germany’s most unique fighter aircraft of World War II. From the beginning, with Alexander Lippisch’s “flying wing” glider designs, through the development of the Me-163B operational rocket fighter, on through the experimental Me-163C, Me-163D, and the Me-263/Junkers Ju 248, this book covers an incredible amount of history and detail.

Several weeks ago, I attended a change of command ceremony for a unit of the United States Army Special Forces at Ft. Bragg. My mind was still full of memories of Ft. Bragg and the visit to the Airborne & Special Operations Museum when this book became available for review. I jumped at the chance to do the review. Thank you SAM Publications for providing the review sample.