Tomahawk IIa - 403 Sqn RCAF - Airfix 1/72

[RainierHooker]

The Curtiss P-40 was sold via the Lend Lease program in great numbers to Great Britain and the Commonwealth throughout WWII. While it's high altitude performance could not compare with that of the Merlin Engined Spitfires and Hurricanes, it found a niche in the low level "Army Cooperation" role, that being the term for infantry air support and ground attack missions. Most importantly, they were available in quantity at a time when the RAF was suffering severe shortages in modern fighters.

The Royal Canadian Air Force's 403rd Squadron was equipped with the Tomahawk IIa variant of the P-40 when they deployed to England in 1941. They used their aircraft primarily for high speed low level raids across the English Channel, hunting for German targets of opportunity in northern France. They flew their Tomahawks in this fashion until sufficient numbers of Spitfires came available later in the year. Their Spitfires would eventually be replaced again by another American fighter: the NAA Mustang after the end of the war.

 

A7AB6588-2D85-4111-910A-A73DAF70ABE5 by Evan Bailly, on Flickr

 

E457D014-B1C4-4FA4-A322-6FE2B8F55F7D by Evan Bailly, on Flickr

 

89F7A483-61CE-4794-9EBD-A1AB94A332BB by Evan Bailly, on Flickr

 

33A1C91B-450A-4F34-A675-28BB9CA18690 by Evan Bailly, on Flickr

This model is yet another 1/72 scale Airfix P-40 for me, this time their Tomahawk IIb version. It was backdated to a IIa by changing the wing armament and re-scribing some panels. The markings came from an aftermarket set and depict Tomahawk IIa serial AH882 of RCAF 403Sqn. Paints are mostly Vallejo Acrylics. I decided to build it wheels up and in flight and made a base with a postcard sized picture frame, a cut down portion of a blurred background form Costal Kits, and a piece of stainless rod.

Edited November 5, 2022 by RainierHooker
grammar

[stevehnz]

That looks very smart, not a scheme we see modelled that often & you've made it look good. Were the colours from the Vallejo Model Air RAF set? To my eye they look pretty good.

Steve.

[Head in the clouds.]

Love a P40 and yours is no exception, great work.

[RainierHooker]

Thanks all!

 

@stevehnz all the exterior colors came from the Vallejo Battle of Britain set, the cockpit colors were done in one of their US-spec greens but I can't for the life of me remember which one as I type this.