Arma Hobby 1/72 Curtiss H75A1/2

The Curtiss H75 A1/A2 was the radial low wing all metal construction development of the Hawk series of fighters. It was the basis of the last of the Curtis Hawks series of fighters from the 1920s to the 1940s.

France was interested in the H75 (it was not called the Hawk by the French) when it was a mere prototype. France was having issues with their own domestically produced fighters and wanted something else to compliment them as German rearmament became more and more apparent. The USAAC fought the Roosevelt Government on any potential exports to France because they feared that export deliveries would so down their delivery schedule. Despite USAAC opposition, FDR insisted that the French test pilot, Michel Detroyat, fly the H75 prototype. Michel was impressed with it and was quite insistent that the French purchase it. Eventually they signed an initial contract for 100 airframes and 175 engines. 316 planes were exported to France before the fall.

They proved to be the best French fighter from 1939-1940, accounting for almost 1/3 of the total French kill claims while being roughly 13% of the fighter force.

The Pilot

Jan Zumbach was a Polish fighter pilot who joined the Polish Army in 1935. Signed on as a trainee pilot in 1936 and was posted to 111 Squadron in 1938. He did not participate in the defence of Poland during the German invasion as he was recovering from a broken leg suffered in a flying accident. He ended up in France via Romania after the fall of Poland and joined the French AF flying a Curtis H75 with GCII/55.

He would become more famous as a RAF pilot with 303 Squadron and later as a mercenary in the remains of the Belgian Congo.

Arma Hobbies recently produced a Curtis H75/Hawk kit in 1/72 scale. Based on my previous (excellent) experience with Arma kits, I jumped/leaped/ordered one before the kit's actual release in April of 2025. The reason is that the kit came with some extra 3D printed resin parts that improve the look of the kit.

It comes in a side folding box similar to Revell AG's with two sprues of light grey plastic and one clear sprue for the canopy and other clear parts. All the parts are finely done, crisp detail and panel lines, as well as small sprue attachment points to allow for easy removal of parts without damaging them.

The kit also comes with a finely done decal sheet for three planes. One metal one from the Phony War flown by Leon Vuillemain, one camouflaged plane from the Phony War flown by Marcel Dougoujon and Jan Zumbach's plane from the 1940 campaign. It also comes with a bunch of tiny stencils and instrument decals. Also a small set of masks made with yellow Kabuki tape are provided.

Unlike previous releases, it doesn't come with a PE fret. Instead there is a 3D printed resin fret that comes with more detailed replacement parts.

I haven't started the kit as of this previous, but if it is like the other Arma Hobby kits that I've built then it will be a fun somewhat frustrating build that will produce an excellent model not often seen in 1/72 scale. The only real difficulty for myself will be the 1/72 stencils (fortunately there aren't that many of them on a WW2 fighter.)

Dan Lee

June 2025

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