1:72 SAAF Curtiss Kittyhawks 1942-43

DK Decals 1:72 decals — South African Kittyhawks, 1942 to 1943

A sheet of decals in 1:72 scale from the Czech maker DK Decals. It holds no plastic parts — it is a set of printed decals that a modeler applies to a finished and painted model. The subject of the sheet is the Curtiss Kittyhawk fighter-bomber in the service of the South African Air Force in the period from 1942 to 1943, that is during the fighting in North Africa.

The real subject

Kittyhawk was the British designation for the later versions of the American Curtiss P-40 fighter, with a liquid-cooled V12 engine and a distinctive large radiator under the forward fuselage. It fell behind in combat at altitude, but it was sturdy, took hard treatment on field airstrips and served well as a fighter-bomber against ground targets. South African squadrons assigned to the Desert Air Force flew it in the North African campaign and carried the typical desert camouflage with a light undersurface.

Application tips

The surface under decals has to be gloss, or a silvery veil will form around the artwork. Trim the decal close to the artwork, soak it in lukewarm water and let it stand for a moment so that the adhesive releases. Transfer it to the model together with its backing and slide it off; never drag a decal across the paint with tweezers. Once the position is lined up, blot the water away, apply a decal softener and let it dry completely. Only then seal it with clear in the sheen you want. On desert machines, fine wear and fading of the upper surfaces look convincing, and that work is done after the decals have been sealed.

Who the sheet is for

• builders of models of the North African campaign in 1:72 scale
• those interested in Commonwealth air forces and less usual national markings
• modelers who want a scheme other than the one from the box
• collectors of decals for the P-40 family

This is an accessory for a model. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.