In February 1944, Republic Aviation proposed the XP-72, an experimental version of the P-47 Thunderbolt using the more-powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360, 28-cylinder radial engine in place of its 18-cylinder R-2800. Only two were built – one with a standard 4-bladed prop, and one with a pair of 3-bladed contra-rotating props. The project was not proceeded with.
WHAT IF… Republic had manufactured a run of these planes? Moreover, what if they’d continued to improve it, resulting in a very-long-range (VLR) version paralleling the P-47N for the Pacific war? Here, then, is a Republic “P-72N” assigned to the 318th Fighter Group, 333rd Squadron, based on Ie Shima in August 1945. She’s fitted out for a VLR attack mission to the Kagoshima Bay area of Kyushu, with ten 5-inch rockets and two 1,000 pound bombs. The pilot’s scoreboard shows two kills, four bombing missions, two napalm missions, and four rocket-attack missions.
The model uses Halberd Models’ XP-72 conversion fuselage for the 1/48 Tamiya P-47D, with Tamiya’s cockpit, plus panel and seatbelts by Eduard. The wings and dorsal fin are taken from the Academy P-47N. The wing fit to the Halberd fuselage was excellent on the upper seam, but left a large gap on the underside requiring much filling. The bombs are from the Miniart P-47D. Decals are from Thundercals, Furball Decals, both plastic kit sheets, and the personal markings are home made.

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