Airfix P-40B Detail Sets

[woody37]

Airfix P-40B Detail Sets

1:72 Eduard

If you think of sharks teeth on an aircraft, the first design that probably comes into your head is the iconic P-40 with it's aggressive looking yet attractively lined V12 front end. Whilst it was never one of the best fighting machines of the war, it was a rugged design liked by those that flew it and found it's way into many different theatres and operated by no less than 17 countries. It's main draw back was limited performance at high altitude due to only having a single stage supercharger, however at lower altitudes and in the dive, it was certainly capable, so much so that it forced the Luftwaffe to replace the 109E in the desert war with the more capable 109F. With such a varied service career, the choice of schemes is widespread making this such an obvious and great subject to model.

P-40B Self Adhesive Detail Set (73427)

Again, Eduard have provided two options for detailing depending on your choice. The full set (73427) and the Zoom set (SS427). The full set contains two frets and an excellent instruction sheet giving very good diagrams of where to fit the parts and how to prepare the relevant surfaces for fitment, which as I've found out in the past is vital. The first fret contains self adhesive backed parts for the cockpit including coloured side walls and a two layed instrument panel to add the depth. The side walls are further enhanced by a lot of detail that is then fitted to them. These many small parts will need care and a good set of tweezers if you have sausage fingers like me, however your patience will be well rewarded. A very detailed seat is also included with coloured seat belts.

The second fret focuses on the exterior of the kit and does it very well. The flaps are catered for with no detail spared, again careful handling will be required to fit all the ribs to both flap surfaces on each wing. The business end is brought alive with nicely detailed nose inlet coolers and cooling gills. Undercarriage doors and hinges are welcome replacements due to the limitations of injection moulded detail at this scale. The final bit of detail provided is the gun sights in front of the windscreen, again, another key element of the character of the P-40 captured beautifully.

Zoom Detail Set (SS427)

If the thought of fitting all those ribs to the flaps sends you to the beer fridge, but you want to enhance your Airfix kit, then you may want to use the Zoom set instead. This contains just the interior fret, which with the canopy open would be a great treat. With such a fine panel, seat and side wall detailing, it would be quite rude not to !!

Conclusion

The Airfix kit is already proving popular, however as mentioned, injection moulding has limitations at this scale and that's where these sets really step in. I have a P40 gathering dust on the shelf from years back that was also treated to a PE set, so I know how well a 1:72 scale P40 responds to such detailing & TLC. The quality is superb and although there are quite a few small parts, the instructions are so clear, that you don't need to be an experienced modeller to get good result from them.

Review sample courtesy of