Master Details 1/32 P-47D Cockpit Finishing Set First Look

By Michael Benolkin

 

 

First Look

Here's an interesting new release from Master Details, this is billed as a 'Cockpit Finishing Set' for the Hasegawa 1/32 P-47D (bubbletop) Thunderbolt. According to the instructions, this set can be applied directly to the kit, but it is actually tailored to 'finish' the details missing in the Avionix cockpit.

While the Avionix set has an armored headrest, it doesn't have the sloped forward angle of the real installation, nor does the set address the details aft of the headrest but still visible under that huge canopy. Master Details makes this easy by casting the rear bulkhead, armored headrest, and rear canopy slide frame all in one piece.

Where the Avionix seat has the usual jumble of seatbelt and shoulder harness, this set provides two other alternatives:

1. Use the beautifully cast pilot's figure that is molded into the seat and drops right into place
2. Use the beautifully cast seat sans pilot and add your own (or Eduard color photo-etch) seatbelt and harness.

As a first in this series, this set provides a vacuformed canopy that is crystal clear, and provides the side frames of the canopy interior in resin. As you'll see in the photo, the canopy frame is virtually in scale, meaning that you can hardly see it. Masking and painting the canopy will be a challenge, and only one canopy is included, which could spell disaster if you're wanting to separate the windscreen and canopy and won't have a spare should you mis-cut on the near invisible line.

If you've invested in the Hasegawa Thunderbolt and its corresponding Avionix cockpit set, here is a handy supplement to correct and augment the Avionix suite, plus man the aircraft with a nice seated figure. The figure's head is interchangable with the heads provided in the previously released WW2 fighter pilot figure to provide more options.

My sincere thanks to Master Details (http://www.masterdetails.com) for this review sample!