Probably one of the most produced engines of WWII was the Pratt & Whitney R-2800. This was a powerful two row radial of 18 cylinders that displaced 2,800 cubic inches and in most versions produced around 2,100 to 2,400 horsepower, though 2,800 hp could be coaxed out of it with additional cooling and high octane fuel. When initially developed in 1939 it was the most powerful engine in the US inventory. No wonder that so many aircraft used this engine. It was built in a staggering number of 'dash numbers' and used on a wide variety of US aircraft including the Hellcat, Corsair, Marauder, Mitchell, Black Widow and many others.

This set from Flying Fish Models is a Universal R-2800 (though what 'universal' means is unknown to this reviewer). The FFM website indicates it is for types such as the P-61 and Ventura. The engines themselves are very nicely molded, especially when one considers they are 1/72 scale and are pre-drilled to accept a prop. Once removed from the pour stub, it will be an easy task to paint them and used them to replace the often inaccurate kit engines. Image is several times the actual size of the engines

May 2006

My thanks to Flying Fish Models for the review sample. You can get these direct.

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