P-40E Warhawk Pacific Star Dual Combo Limited Edition 1:48 Eduard 11185

Plastic model airplane to assemble: P-40E Warhawk Pacific Star Dual Combo Limited Edition 1:48 Eduard 11185

The P-40E Warhawk Pacific Star Dual Combo Limited Edition model kit in 1:48 scale from Eduard is a unique offering for aviation and modeling enthusiasts. This limited edition set allows you to build two complete models of the American fighter P-40E Warhawk, which played a key role in the war efforts in the Pacific during World War II.

Contents of the set:

• Plastic parts: Eduard
• Decal options: 10 different versions
• Decals: Eduard
• Photo-etched parts: pre-painted
• Painting masks: yes

Model features:

• Scale: 1:48
• Ability to build two models
• Markings for USAAF, RAAF, and RNZAF aircraft

History and significance of the P-40 Warhawk: The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engine, single-seat fighter-bomber that first took to the air in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the earlier Curtiss P-36 Hawk model, which allowed for its rapid introduction into production and operational service. The Warhawk was used by most Allied forces during World War II and remained in frontline service until the end of the war. It was the third most produced American fighter of World War II, after the North American P-51 Mustang and the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. By November 1944, 13,738 P-40s had been produced.

The P-40 Warhawk was the name given by the United States Army Air Corps, and after June 1941, the USAAF adopted this name for all models, making it official in the USA. The air forces of the British Commonwealth and the Soviet Union used the name Tomahawk for models corresponding to the original P-40, P-40B, and P-40C, and Kittyhawk for models corresponding to the P-40D and all later variants. P-40s first saw combat with British Commonwealth squadrons in North Africa and the Middle East in June 1941. No. 112 Squadron Royal Air Force was one of the first to operate Tomahawks in North Africa and was the first Allied air unit to introduce the "shark mouth" logo, copying similar markings on some German Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighters.

The lack of a two-stage supercharger in the Allison V-1710 engine of the P-40 made it inferior to German fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 or Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in high-altitude combat, which is why it was rarely used in operations in Northwestern Europe. However, between 1941 and 1944, the P-40 played a crucial role in the Allied air forces in three major theaters of operations: North Africa, the Southwest Pacific, and China. It also had a significant role in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Alaska, and Italy. In these theaters, its performance at high altitudes was not as critical, where it served as an air superiority fighter, bomber escort, and fighter-bomber.

Despite gaining a reputation as an average design suitable only for close air support after the war, newer studies, including analysis of Allied squadron records, indicate otherwise; the P-40 performed surprisingly well as an air superiority fighter, sometimes suffering heavy losses but also inflicting very heavy losses on enemy aircraft. Based on wartime claims of victories, over 200 Allied fighter pilots – from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, the USA, and the Soviet Union – became aces flying the P-40. Among them were at least 20 double aces, primarily over North Africa, China, Burma, and India, the Southwest Pacific, and Eastern Europe. The P-40 offered additional advantages of low cost and durability, which kept it in production as an attack aircraft long after it became obsolete as a fighter.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. To assemble, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.