1:48 P-400 Airacobra

Bell P-400 Airacobra (1:48, Arma Hobby)

An injection-molded plastic kit of the Bell P-400 Airacobra fighter in 1:48 scale from the Polish manufacturer Arma Hobby. The P-400 was the export version of the American P-39 and this kit captures it with fine detail; according to the manufacturer, masking film and decals for several USAAF schemes are included in the package. Check the exact contents of the boxing against the manufacturer's part number for this item.

The real subject

The P-400 was the export variant of the Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter, an unusual design with the engine behind the pilot and a cannon in the nose. It was originally ordered by the British and the French before the United States entered the war, but in high-altitude combat over Europe it proved underpowered. After the attack on Pearl Harbor many of these machines were taken over by the USAAF and committed in the South Pacific, often still in British colors; others served in North Africa or were taken over by the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease, where they were successful in low-altitude fighting.

Building and painting tips

This is a kit with fine detail; glue the parts with thin plastic cement and use the enclosed masks for a clean spray of the canopy glazing. Paint the interior and the wheel wells before the fuselage is closed. Apply a primer and the colors with an airbrush, apply the decals over a gloss varnish and bring out the panel lines with a wash.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of American fighters of the Second World War in 1:48 scale
• Anyone interested in the exotic layout of the Airacobra with its central engine
• Modelers who appreciate finely detailed kits and enclosed masks
• Fans of service in the South Pacific and with the Soviet Air Force

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.