1:32 Curtiss P-36/H-75

The Curtiss that sold all over the world

The machine designated P-36 in the American army and Hawk 75 for export was one of the most modern aircraft available at the end of the 1930s. It flew in French colors over the Ardennes, in British over Burma, in Finnish against the Soviet Union and in several other countries. A radial engine and landing gear that folded rearward while turning through ninety degrees made it very easy to recognize.

The window in the cockpit floor

This type has glazing of a kind hardly ever seen on fighters. Besides the windscreen and the rearward-sliding framed hood, there is a transparent panel in the floor under the pilot's seat as well. It served for the view straight down, which helped the pilots both in finding a target and on the approach to an airfield. On a model it is a part that simply has to be masked, because paint sprayed on the inside of the fuselage would close it completely and nothing would be left of one of the most striking features of the subject. Taping by hand is awkward there as well, because the work is done deep inside a fuselage half.

Set contents

The package holds shapes for the face as well as the reverse of the glazing. The markings of the machine and decals are not included, as this is the most basic variant, aimed at the glazing exclusively.

Which model the cut was made for

The subject was the kit released in this scale by Special Hobby. On another firm's product, compare the position of the floor panel, which differs between the forms of the machine.