Early P-40s and Tomahawks - 1:72 Illiad Designs

[Paul A H]

Early P-40s and Tomahawks

1:72 Iliad Designs

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, known in RAF service as the Tomahawk, was a single seat fighter based on the radial engined P-36 Hawk and first flown in 1938. The P-40 series went on to be amongst the most numerically significant US fighters of the war, with more than 13,000 rolling off the production line. A popular aircraft with its pilots, the P-40 earned a reputation as a manoeuvrable yet tough aircraft.

Iliad Design is a Canadian producer of decals, colour charts and books. Their decal sheets feature all sorts of enticing and exotic subjects such as Asian MiG-19s and wartime aircraft flown by movie stars such as Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart. Their latest 1:72 scale sheet is dedicated to early P-40s and Tomahawks and is therefore the perfect companion for the Airfix kit. Six aircraft are featured on the sheet:

• An early P-40 (160) assigned to the 10th Air Base Squadron of the Air Corps Technical School, finished in natural metal with a black anti-glare strip atop the nose;

• An early P-40 (21) ostensibly belonging to the 94th Pursuit Squadron (apparently it never flew operationally with them) which was exhibited at the New York World's Fair. It is finished in an untypical scheme of Dark Olive Drab over Neutral Grey, with a Dark Earth disruptive pattern applied over the top;

• Tomahawk Mk.IIB AK490 of 73 Squadron from its time in Amriya, Egypt during September 1941. This aircraft is finished in the Curtiss equivalents of Dark Earth and Dark Green over Sky and noticeable for the pre-war-style roundel flash on the rear fuselage;

• P-40 22 of the 33rd Squadron, 8th Tactical Pursuit Group, September 1940. This aircraft is finished in Dark Olive Drab over Neutral Grey;

• Tomahawk Mk.IIA AH882 of 403 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, Bennington, May 1941. This is finished as per AK490 but with the underside of the port wing painted black; and

• Tomahawk Mk.IIB AK431, possibly belonging to 4 Sqn, South African Air Force, Western Desert, late 1942. This aircraft is finished in the desert scheme of Dark Earth over Middle Stone with Azure Blue undersides and a red spinner.

The decals themselves are neatly printed and colours appear to be very accurate. The decals are accompanied by comprehensive instructions which include colour diagrams and useful notes about each aircraft.

Conclusion

This interesting sheet is nicely printed, with crisp, clear details and bold colours. If you have the (really rather good) Airfix kit in your stash, then this sheet will enable you to produce a range of interesting aircraft. A bonus point is awarded for including full set of roundels for each aircraft too. Highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of