A05130A Curtiss P-40B Warhawk

This 1:48 scale model kit of the Curtiss P-40B Warhawk represents a pivotal fighter aircraft for the Allied Air Forces in the early years of WWII. Comprising 106 parts and rated at skill level 2, this plastic model accurately depicts the unique short-nosed design of the Allison V-1710-33 powered fighter. It includes two genuine paint options, featuring the renowned shark-mouth design that elevated these planes to legendary status in aerial warfare.

Key Features

• 1:48 scale model with 106 plastic components
• Includes two genuine paint options
• Skill level 2 - ideal for intermediate modellers
• Assembled wingspan measures 237mm
• Captures the distinctive early P-40B short-nose design
• Features the famous shark-mouth artwork popularised by RAF No.112 Squadron

History

In the initial phases of WWII, the American-manufactured Curtiss P-40B emerged as a crucial fighter aircraft for the Allied Air Forces. Operating with the RAF in North Africa and the American Volunteer Group in China, the Allison V-1710-33 powered P-40B became one of the most recognisable fighters of the war, adorned with its intimidating shark-mouth design.

The early P-40 models were perhaps the most visually striking, with their menacing silhouette - characterised by a shorter, pointed nose and the deep roar of the Allison V-1710 engine, the P-40B (known as Tomahawk IIa in RAF service) resembled airborne Great White sharks. In 1941, RAF No.112 Squadron of the Desert Air Force added menacing shark teeth and eyes to their aircraft, inadvertently transforming their Tomahawks into some of the most iconic and visually striking aircraft of WWII. This trend in aircraft decoration spread widely during the war, but it was the RAF Desert Air Force that initiated it.

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