1:48 P-40N

When tape is not enough

The P-40N was the last and lightest development branch of the Warhawk: in 1943 Curtiss cut out of it whatever could be cut in order to raise the rate of climb. The cockpit stayed long and busy, with a fixed windscreen, a sliding center section and above all the elongated rear cover, which on late machines is divided by both a lengthwise and a transverse bar. It is precisely that rear cover which decides whether to get a masking set or not.

When tape is enough. On aircraft with a simple bubble a roll of good crepe tape and a quarter of an hour really is enough. The Warhawk is not among them: there are too many bars, they are narrow and they converge at sharp angles. A hand-cut strip twists there and the finish bleeds mainly in the corners.

What the set contains. Fully cut glazing from both faces plus two stencils for the national insignia, which are sprayed into the paint. Neither decals nor brass barrels are in it.

Who it is for. For anyone building an American fighter of the early Pacific or Burma period who wants clean windows first time. On this shape of cockpit the time saved runs to about an hour, even for an experienced hand.

What you will need in addition. Besides the model and paints, only fine-tipped tweezers, a wooden toothpick for pressing the edges down and a degreasing agent. An airbrush is an advantage for the sake of thin coats, but with a little patience a spray can from twenty centimeters will manage too.