Hobby 2000 48001 - 1:48 P-40N Warhawk Aces of The 49th Fighter Group

Plastic model kit of the Curtiss P-40N Warhawk fighter in 1:48 scale

Hobby 2000 48001 is a self-assembly model of the American Curtiss P-40N Warhawk fighter – the most numerously produced variant of the P-40 family, noticeably lightened and optimised for performance. The kit is based on Hasegawa plastic, supplemented by a Polish box, illustrated assembly instructions, self-adhesive masks and an entirely new decal sheet.

The release is devoted to the aircraft of aces of the 49th Fighter Group – one of the most distinguished units of American aviation in the Pacific. The sheet covers two marking options: the aircraft of Maj. Arland Stanton of the 17th Fighter Squadron and the machine of Maj. Gerald R. Johnson, serial number 42-105826, used over the Philippines in October 1944.

The model captures the characteristic silhouette of the N version: the slim nose with the radiator under the engine cowling, the glazed rear section of the canopy improving rearward visibility, and the wings with their heavy machine gun bays. Vinyl tyres are included as well.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wings, tail surfaces and equipment parts
• Clear parts for the canopy
• Vinyl tyres
• Self-adhesive masks for the glazing
• Waterslide decal sheet printed by Cartograf for two marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:48
• Catalogue number: 48001
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Assembled length: approx. 212 mm
• Model wingspan: approx. 237 mm
• Skill level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

Hasegawa plastic is characterised by good fit and subtly reproduced panel lines. The cockpit with its seat, instrument panel and control column is best painted and finished before the fuselage halves are joined – once the fuselage is closed, access to the interior is very limited. The self-adhesive masks noticeably speed up painting the canopy framing and help achieve crisp edges.

The 49th Fighter Group aircraft of 1944 wore typical USAAF finishes: olive drab upper surfaces and grey undersides, often with clearly visible fading and wear. Acrylic paints matching Olive Drab and Neutral Gray, applied with an airbrush, work well here. We recommend gloss varnish before the decals to limit decal silvering, and satin varnish as the final finish, typical for aircraft. Panel lines can be accentuated with a wash. To raise the level of detail, consider a metal pitot tube or resin wheels available separately in our shop.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes and an airbrush for even finishes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash for accentuating panel lines
• Gloss varnish under the decals and satin varnish for the final finish
• Decal setting solution

About the aircraft – Curtiss P-40N Warhawk:

The Curtiss P-40 was one of the mainstays of American fighter aviation in the first half of the Second World War. It was created in the second half of the 1930s as a development of the P-36 Hawk fitted with an Allison inline engine in place of the radial. Although at high altitude it was inferior to the newest enemy fighters, at low and medium levels it was fast in the dive, rugged and heavily armed.

The N version, introduced in 1943, was the last and most numerously produced variant of the family. The designers focused on reducing weight: lighter radiators and aluminium structural components were used, and on some aircraft the armament was reduced to four heavy machine guns instead of six. A characteristic feature of the version was the glazed rear section of the canopy, which significantly improved rearward visibility.

The P-40N was used intensively in the Pacific, in China, Burma and over India, as well as by Australian, New Zealand and Soviet aviation. The 49th Fighter Group flew these aircraft from the defence of Australia in 1942, through New Guinea, all the way to the Philippines, where its pilots scored a large number of aerial victories. Shark mouth markings on the engine cowling became one of the most recognisable motifs of Second World War aviation.

Original aircraft specifications (Curtiss P-40N Warhawk):

• Length: 10.16 m
• Wingspan: 11.38 m
• Height: 3.76 m
• Empty weight: approx. 2720 kg
• Maximum take-off weight: approx. 5170 kg
• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: Allison V-1710-81 inline engine of approx. 1200 hp
• Top speed: approx. 610 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 11,600 m
• Range: approx. 390 km, up to approx. 1200 km with an underwing fuel tank
• Armament: four or six 12.7 mm heavy machine guns in the wings
• External stores: bombs of up to approx. 230 kg or a drop tank
• Production: approx. 5200 aircraft of the N version; nearly 13,700 P-40s of all variants were built in total

About the manufacturer – Hobby 2000:

Hobby 2000 is a Polish model publisher based in Katowice that prepares its own boxings of plastic kits using sprues from established manufacturers. This kit is based on plastic by Hasegawa. The company adds its own box, illustrated assembly instructions and new decal sheets tailored to the specific subject of the release. The Hobby 2000 catalogue has a clear thematic profile – a large part of it covers aircraft and vehicles connected with Polish military history and with the modern Polish Armed Forces, as well as less common variants and theatres of operations. Individual releases appear in limited runs, often only once. For the modeller this means access to proven plastic combined with markings that are usually not available in the original boxings. The brand develops its range in 1:72, 1:48, 1:35 and 1:32 scale, covering both aviation and armour.