1:48 Curtiss P-40 K LööK

P-40K LööK 1:48: a quick cockpit accessory from Eduard

This is not an aircraft model but a detail accessory for a kit. The LööK line from the Czech manufacturer Eduard (Obrnice near Most) is the quickest way to lift a cockpit: in the package you will find a color-printed instrument panel with glossy, realistic-looking glass-like dials and steel seat belts. The panel is simply glued in and the belts are self-adhesive, so there is no assembling of small parts and no painting of instruments. The set is intended for the Curtiss P-40K plastic kit from Eduard in 1:48 scale, which you must have as the basis.

The real subject

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American fighter and ground-attack aircraft of the Second World War, famous for the painted shark mouth on the nose and for its service with the Flying Tigers in China. It was powered by an Allison V12 engine. The K version is one of the later renderings, with a more powerful engine and a modified rear fuselage. The cockpit of the P-40K typically has a divided instrument panel, and it is exactly that which this set replaces, with maximum realism for minimum work.

Fitting tips

Glue the panel in with a tiny drop of super glue (cyanoacrylate), and thanks to their self-adhesive backing the steel belts only need shaping and pressing onto the seat. Leave the surface of the instruments alone, as it is finished. Handle everything with tweezers and clean hands so that no greasy fingerprint lands on the glossy dials.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want a striking cockpit quickly and without lengthy painting
• Owners of the P-40K plastic kit from Eduard (1:48)
• Beginners and advanced modelers alike, as the fitting is undemanding
• Anyone wanting to go further will choose a complete 3D-printed cockpit instead of the LööK; the engine and the underwing stores are covered by separate sets

This is a detail accessory, not a stand-alone model. It calls for the matching P-40K kit from Eduard. Glue and paints are not included in the package.