LPS Hobby is a Brazilian that recently added three more Republic P-47D decal sets to their 1:72 scale line. This set, # LPM72-16, provides markings for three P-47D Razorback Thunderbolts that sported Malcolm hoods late in WWII. The set includes two small decal sheets that provide all of the unique markings for the three aircraft and enough national insignias and stencil data to do two of the three (National markings from kit decals will be needed to do the third one).

As the photos below illustrate, the decals are nicely printed in vivid, opaque colors by Microscale and everything is well registered. They are printed on thin film like other Microscale decals, and should respond well to mild setting solutions such as Mr. Mark Softer. It is recommend that the decals be applied by ‘floating’ them in place with enough water to keep them from bonding to the surface before they are properly positioned…then gently blotted when they are in place.

The three aircraft are:

• P-47D-20-RE, s/n 42-76594, ‘Zombie’ piloted by Capt. Ronald J Upp, 361stFS, 356FG, based in Martlesham, England, in November, 1944
• P-47D-22-RE, s/n 42-26250, ‘TURTLE’ flown by Lt. Charles D. Dooney, 509thFS, 405FG, based in St. Dizier, France, Winter, 1944
• P-47D-22-RE, s/n 42-26261, flown by Lt. Walter A. Gabrowski, 511thFS, 405FG, in Zima, Italy, 1944/45

This decal set is highly recommended to any 1/72 model builder who would like to build a Razorback Thunderbolt with a Malcolm Hood…that is, if he also can locate a Rob Taurus vacu-formed Malcolm Hood (part #72059).

My thanks to LPS Hobby for providing the product sample and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review it.