1:24 P-40B

Early P-40s and their glazed rear deck

The Curtiss P-40B was one of the first American fighters to get into combat. Its Allison V engine gave the machine good performance near the ground but fell behind at altitude, so the type proved itself above all over the desert and at low levels. Examples of this form were on the ground during the attack on Pearl Harbor and several pilots managed to get into the air with them. The type's fame, however, came from the volunteer group fighting over Burma and China, whose aircraft carried a painted shark mouth on the nose. Behind the cockpit a glazed spine continues, made up of several small panes. British squadrons knew the same aircraft as the Tomahawk and used it mainly for reconnaissance and attacks on ground targets.

How the set is divided

The sheet is cut to the framing of the windscreen, the sliding section and the rear panes. According to the stated contents the set covers the glazing from both sides. The film holds by its own adhesive layer and is lifted once the paint has dried.

Where most of the work is

The glazing behind the pilot's head consists of several narrow panes divided by thin frames. Anyone masking them with tape cuts eight to ten small rectangles, and a single piece laid on askew is enough for the result to show on a large model. In 1:24 such a deviation shows even in a photograph taken from a distance. Pre-cut shapes handle that part in one go. The painted mouth, the stars and the tail bands are not in the envelope; they are carried over from decals or dealt with by another set.