1:48 Italian Cobras #1 Bell P-39 In Regia Aeronautica - Part 1

The real subject

The Bell P-39 Airacobra is an American single-seat fighter with an unusual layout: the engine is mounted behind the pilot, roughly at the center of gravity of the fuselage, and drives the propeller through a long shaft run under the cockpit floor. You get into the cockpit through a door at the side, not a sliding canopy, and the aircraft stands on a nose gear, which at the time it appeared was still rare on fighters. Some of the machines reached Italian service as well, and it is to those that the sheet is devoted; it carries the Regia Aeronautica designation, that is, the Italian royal air force.

What the sheet offers

Decals in 1:48 scale for a model of the Bell P-39. This is the first part of a series run under the name Italian Cobras, with further parts following on from it. Which particular machines the sheet covers, what numbers, national insignia and personal markings it carries and whether it also contains technical lettering is stated by the manufacturer in the enclosed placement guide.

Application tips

Prepare the surface smooth and glossy; on a matte surface air gets trapped under the part and silvering appears. Separate the parts with a sharp blade, not with scissors. The application procedure and the recommended decal softener are given in the manufacturer's instructions. Set one part at a time and let each one dry properly before you touch the next. Go over the finished model with a varnish, which will sink the edges and bring the sheen into line with the surrounding surface.

• a decal sheet in 1:48 scale
• the subject is the Bell P-39 fighter in Italian service
• the first part of a series run under the name Italian Cobras
• the range of the sheet and the placement guide are provided by the manufacturer
• it calls for a smooth glossy surface and a final coat of varnish

Terms of supply

The aircraft model, paints, varnish and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.