Eduard plastbyggesett av det amerikanske jagerflyet P-400 fra andre verdenskrig i skala 1/48. Inneholder foto-etset deler og dekaler for 5 utgaver.
Informasjon fra Eduard:
ProfiPACK edition kit of US WWII fighter plane P-400 in 1/48 scale.
The P-39 Airacobra was developed by the Bell Aircraft Corporation in Buffalo, New York in the late 30´s. The first XP-39 prototype had its maiden flight on April the 6th, 1939 in Dayton, where it reached a maximum speed of 628 km/h at 6100 m, climbing to that height in only 5 minutes. The XP-39 had a very good flight performance, and specifically, good manoeuvrability thanks its original concept of airframe, with its Alison V-1710-17 1150 HP supercharged engine located in its centre of gravity. This engine location also gave the aircraft a long, slim nose well suited for installation of a powerful weapon. The USAAF ordered a test series of 12 YP-39s on April the 27th, but before the series was finished the project was significantly changed. Because of supercharger troubles, the original engine was replaced by a less powerful Alison V-1710-37 without a supercharger, and just 1090 HP. The YP-39 had an engine-axis Oldsmobile T-9 cal. 37 mm cannon, two .50 calibre (12.7 mm) machine guns and two .30 calibre (7.62 mm) machine guns mounted in the nose. The pilot seat got some armour, but the weight was increased to 3160 kg against 2820 kg of the prototype. Because of these changes the maximum speed was decreased to 590 km/h and climb to 6100 m now took 7.5 minutes. Although the excellent prototype flight performances were decreased, the Air force didn´t loose interest and ordered 80 production P-39Cs. The first 20 of these were supplied as standard P-39Cs and the remaining 60 were finished as P-39Ds, with the two .30 calibre (7.62 mm) machine guns moved to the wings and two more .30 calibre (7.62 mm) machine guns were added to the same location. The USAAF received its first P-39Ds in February 1941, and the next order for 344 P-39D´s was placed at this time.
The British RAF ordered 675 P-39´s in April 1940. British Airacobra Mk.I´s were produced in P-39D standard, but with the engine-axis canon replaced with a British Hispano M1 20 mm cannon and the wing machine guns were replaced with 7.7 mm Browning´s. The first Airacobra Mk.I´s were received in July 1941, but the RAF was disappointed, when it was found that they were not suitable for service in the European war theatre. In October 1941 four Mk.I´s were tested by No. 601 Squadron in the ground attack role over occupied France, Airacobras were withdrawn from service and 212 RAF Airacobra Mk.I´s were send to Soviet Union.
When the USA came into the war, the USAAF confiscated 179 Airacobras from the British order on the production line. They were re-designated P-400, and served in the Pacific. All P-400´s have 12 exhaust pipes on each side of the engine, and this was the major difference from the P-39D series. The next block of aircraft, also with 12 exhaust pipes, were 229 aircraft of the P-39F series, and after them came the P-39K series (210 aircraft), P-39L (250 aircraft), P-39M (240 aircraft) and P-39N (2095 aircraft). All these four series were very similar, using various engines, propellers and other equipment. The final version was the P-39Q with an Allison V-1710-85 engine (1420 HP), and the main difference was the installation of two .50 calibre (12.7 mm) machine guns in under-wing pods instead of the four .30 calibre (7.62 mm) wing mounted machineguns in the older series. Most of the 4905pcs Q series aircraft were sent to Soviet Union. Production was ceased in August 1944, after the final Airacobra, number 9558, was finished.
The USAAF employed Airacobras extensively until August 1944, when they were withdrawn from front line service. The USAAF used the largest number of Airacobras, 2105 of all types, in February 1944. They served in the Pacific theatre, as well as in North Africa and Italy.
In total 4758 Airacobras were sent to Russia (actually 4924, but 166 aircraft were lost during transport) where they were very popular for their solid metal airframe and heavy weapons. The French Air Force had 165 Airacobras, and P-39´s also served with the Australian RAAF, the Italian AF and the Portuguese AF. After the war a number of Airacobras were employed in civilian service and used for air races.
A 80th FS, 8th FG, Port Moresby, New Guinea, Autumn 1942
On August 26th, 1942, also thanks to the navigational error, 80th FS Airacobra formation managed to ambush the Japanese Zeros taking off from the Buna airbase and shot down six of them during two attacks, further two of them the pilots reported as damaged. Owing to the minimal activity of the Japanese aviation over New Guinea during the second half of 1942 these were the only kills credited to 80th FS in the course of 1942. George T. Helveston and Gerald T. Rogers claimed one Zero each, so it is therefore highly probable that Airacobra carrying Y letter code and kill marking belonged to one of these airmen. Black painted propeller spinner and vertical tail surface are very unusual and not documented on any other Airacobra operating over New Guinea. The aircraft also featured replacement rudder.
B 67th FS, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, November 1942
P-400 listed in the squadron records as “Old 13” was one of few original Airacobras delivered to 67th FS in the spring of 1942 and still serving on Guadalcanal in the beginning of 1943. Primitive conditions on the remote Pacific airbases and lack of the spare parts and aircraft forced the ground personnel into many improvisations. Textbook example is the “Old 13” Airacobra story which already crash landed during her service on New Caledonia and her wreck was cannibalized for the spare parts. 67th FS heavy losses after its transfer to Guadalcanal and the critical lack of the aircraft on the island caused the abandoned Airacobra wreck to be restored to the airworthy condition after a complex repair. The aircraft received a new wing and also a number of many fuselage panels and hatches had to be replaced. According to the surviving repair record the replacement parts were painted in Olive Drab/Neutral Grey colors and therefore the Airacobra’s sported the unique display of the British and American camouflage shades. Further the more powerful engine was installed, and a damaged propeller blade replaced by another one balanced by pouring the melted plumb into its tip. The instrument panel was furnished with the essential gauges only, there were only holes after the rest of the instruments. The repaired Airacobra was christened “The Resurrection” and this inscription was painted on the both sides of the fuselage. Unfortunately, no photographic evidence exists so the inscription appearance is based on another 67th FS airplane.
C BX163, 80th FS, 8th FG, Port Moresby, New Guinea, December 1942
Airacobra BX163 originally served with 39th FS where she received the marking in the form of the numeral 18 and blue painted propeller spinner and the top of the vertical tail surface. The inscription “Helen” painted on the port of the aircraft nose originated from the service at 39th FS service as well. At 80th FS the typical shark mouth and yellow letter V were added. The camouflage in Olive Drab and Neutral Gray colors was applied before the fighter’s dispatch to the combat unit, same as with many other P-400s delivered to the South West Pacific area in the spring of 1942. On December 24th, 1942 the Airacobra BX163 was damaged during the emergency landing at Kila Drome, one of many aerodromes built in the vicinity of Port Moresby for its protection.
D AP356, flown by Lt. Edward J. Kurt, 35th FS, 8th FG, Milne Bay, New Guinea, 1942 - 1943
Airacobra named “Earthquake McGoon, personal aircraft of Lt. Edward J. Kurt, flew with 35th FS from Gurney Field built on the Eastern peninsula of New Guinea island during 1942/43. Lt. Kurt joined the squadron in August 1942 after he received his transfer orders at 15th FG based on Hawaiian Islands. His Airacobra sports the standard British camouflage scheme however with many repair patches on the surface. There is a color touch up with darker grey paint on the aircraft nose lower part and patches in distinctly darker green color are visible on the fuselage. Another curiosity is the cockpit door salvaged from the Airacobra belonging to the sister 36th FS commander, Maj. McNay who left his post in October 1942. The artwork adorning the left door was painted over during the aircraft service life and in the pictures taken on Gurney Field it only the white circle is apparent. Blue painted propeller spinner and top of the vertical tail surface indicate that this Airacobra originated from 39th FS inventory. A single bomber kill marking on the starboard side of the fuselage was probably achieved by another pilot of the same unit since Lt. Kurt did not claim any victory while serving with 35th FS.
E flown by Lt. Eugene A. Wahl, 39th FS, 35th FG, Port Moresby New Guinea, Summer 1942
One of the best known Airacobras which participated in the fiercest air combats during the defense of Port Moresby was named “Wahl’s Eye/Pat”. Teethed mouth reminded more of the jaws of the deep-sea living fish than usual shark mouth. The blue propeller spinner and top of the vertical tail surface and white number on it was a standard 39th FS marking. The airplane was piloted by Lt. Eugene Wahl who was during the middle of May dispatched, together with several other 35th FG pilots, to exchange assignment with 8th FG on New Guinea and on May 26th claimed a victory over a Zero. Luck did not abandon him on June 9th when after battling with Zeros from the famous Tainan Kokutai he had to perform the emergency landing however, after several days of hiking through the jungle he was able to rejoin his unit. Here he flew sorties until the end of June when the 39th FS was withdrawn to Australia to reorganize and re-equip with the more powerful P-38 Lightning fighters.
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