1:72 P-40 Warhawk gun camera

A gun camera for the P-40 Warhawk in a small scale

A miniature resin casting of the camera that Curtiss P-40 fighters carried in order to record their gunfire. In 1:72 scale it is a part the size of a grain, which even so catches the eye on a finished model, because kits usually do not contain such a detail at all. Behind the set stands Quickboost, the accessory range of the Aires company. The brand offers the same subject in larger scales as well, so a collection built across sizes stays consistent in its rendering.

Why aircraft carried a camera

The camera was triggered together with the guns and filmed what the pilot saw through the gunsight. After landing the film served intelligence officers to assess the sortie and above all to confirm or reject claimed kills, which otherwise had to be taken on trust. That is exactly why cameras appeared on the machines of practically all the belligerents.

Working with such a small part

Separate the casting from the block under a magnifier and work over a light surface so that it does not get lost. A drop of super glue applied with a pin is enough to attach it. It is more comfortable to paint it before seating, just leave the mating surface clean. A drop of gloss clear coat applied with the tip of a toothpick suggests the lens glass.

Who the set is useful for

• builders of the P-40 in 1:72 scale
• modelers who count on small differences
• enthusiasts of American fighters from the fighting over Africa and the Pacific
• modelers who enter competitions, where the thoroughness of the rendering decides

The small casting is sold separately; paints and glue are not included.