By Chris Banyai-Riepl

The XP-72 was an experimental project by Republic and was developed off of the P-47 family. They tried to make the P-47 into a high-altitude interceptor by replacing the engine with a Pratt & Whitney R4360 Wasp Major. Two prototypes were ordered in June of 1943, the first of which was finished in January of 1944. The first prototype had a standard 4-bladed propeller, while the second prototype went with the more exotic contra-rotating propellers. Armament was somewhat less than the standard P-47, with six .50 machine guns in the wings. The performance of the XP-72 was exceptional, and as a result 100 were put on order, with a slightly improved engine and four 37mm cannons replacing the machine guns. However, the changing factors of the war required more long-range escort fighters rather than interceptors, and the order was cancelled.

The CMK kit is a representation of the second prototype with the contra-rotating propellers. It is molded in light tan resin, and the surface detail is very fine. There are no decals provided, but from the one picture I have seen there isn’t much on this plane anyway. The detail parts such as the landing gear are well done, but the cockpit is very basic. All that is given for the interior is a seat, floor, instrument panel, and rear bulkhead. With the bubble canopy on this plane there will be a lot visible, so you may want to get a P-47 interior set to put in this kit.

There is also no engine detail at all, but with the tightness of the cowling there really isn’t anything to see anyway. The contra-rotating propellers will also cover the front up quite thoroughly as well. The front fuselage scoop is opened up, but nothing is given to blank it off, while the rear scoop isn’t opened up at all. The wing armament is not given in the kit, nor is it depicted in the drawings. From what I can see in the one photo I have, the wing guns are staggered, with the inner and outer ones further back than the middle one.

With this plane being finished in a natural metal finish, getting a smooth surface is going to be essential. The parts breakdown of the kit makes this easy to do. All of the joint lines fall on natural breaks, and in dry fitting it together it looks like it will go together with very little trouble. Some scrounging in the decal spares box to come up with some stars-and-bars and a serial number, and then you’ll have a nice addition to sit next to a P-47.

This kit offers a simple beginning for someone just getting into resin kits, while those who want to go the extra step can do so as well. With some minor additions this kit could be made into a show stopper, but right out of the box (bag, actually) it can still be built up into a decent example of this high performance interceptor.