1:48 Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk.Ia - Cockpit for Eduard

A shark over the African desert

The designation Kittyhawk Mk.Ia was carried in British and Commonwealth service by machines corresponding to the American P-40E. The Allison V-1710 vee engine gave the aircraft solid performance near the ground, but at greater altitudes it ran out of breath, and so the type became above all a machine for supporting ground units. Its best-known chapter came in North Africa with the squadrons of the Desert Air Force, where the radiator under the nose served as a canvas for painted shark mouths. It was from these aircraft that the motif spread across the whole world.

What the set is made up of

The cockpit equipment consists of printed and painted panels with relief. The dial faces have depth, the frames of the instruments are sharp and the side walls carry raised levers and cocks. Steel belts for the pilot's seat belong with that. The base consists of the plastic parts from the box; the set does not replace them but covers them.

Working with the set

Clean the plastic parts, smooth them and spray them in the shade of the interior. Separate the element from the backing in lukewarm water, slide it into place and let it settle. Light pressure with a soft brush helps. Once dry, the dial faces can be enlivened with a drop of gloss clear coat, which imitates the glass of an instrument.

Who it is intended for

For a builder who wants to have the cabin finished in the course of an evening and still have legible instruments in it. It will also serve anyone who does not dare to paint small dial faces or whose eyesight is no longer enough for fine brush work. The model of the aircraft is bought separately.