Eduard 1/48 P-39N Airacobra
| KIT #: | 8067 |
| PRICE: | $41.64 shipped from overseas |
| DECALS: | Six (seven) options |
| REVIEWER: | Scott Van Aken |
| NOTES: | 2023 release |
| HISTORY |
The vast majority of P-39s were exported to the Soviet Union. Some were sent to the British who rejected the type as not being suitable for the European theater after trying out some in squadron service. The aircraft's saving grace was that it was rather heavily armed. In addition to six machine guns, it also carried a 20mm or 37 mm cannon in the nose, firing through the spinner. Thanks to having the engine behind the pilot, there was lots of room in the nose for weapons, a feature much loved by the Soviets.
Americans used them in the Southwest Pacific with the 5th Air Force in the Solomons and in New Guinea, where their ruggedness and heavy firepower made them especially good at ground attack (as the Soviets had already discovered). Though not able to hold their own against the more nimble Japanese fighters, they were able to do passably well in air to air combat when flown by an experienced pilot. The Soviets found them more than a match for the less agile 109s and even did well against the FW-190, often bringing the pilot home when his aircraft was heavily damaged.
The type eventually metamorphed into the excellent P-63, though none really saw any combat until the very last months of the war and then with the Soviets.
| THE KIT |
Eduard's P-39 could well be considered their first 'mainstream' kit. Previous
to this, their kits were fairly well done, but were obviously short run efforts.
Anyone who has built an early Eduard kit can attest to this. The kit was
initially released in 2000 and this is at least the 20th release. In all the
kits I have seen, the plastic is pretty much the same. If you know the features
of your favorite variant, you can build that version with the parts that come in
the kit.
Unlike
Eduard's current crop of kits, this one is no where near as fussy to build as it
does not have a plethora of tiny parts. Since it is a profipack kit, there is a
photo etch fret that mainly concentrates on interior details like instrument
panels and seat harness along with knobs and switches. The two entry doors are
molded in clear to make it easier to have seamless side windows. This kit does
come with a full mask set, which will be appreciated. What it does not have is
the nose weight that came in earlier boxings, but there is a lot of room for it.
Some of the options you have are standard and flattened main wheels, the choice of a bomb or drop tank on the centerline, and the option for open or closed cockpit doors. This kit also has p.e. for intake screens, oleo scissors and a few other external enhancements.
Instructions
are quite well done with lots of notes on adjustments that will need to be made
to duplicate the sub variant you are building. Some of these are dependent on
which of the six(seven) markings options you are choosing. All are in OD over
neutral grey with additions to the scheme, most of which will need to be painted
on. First is the box art plane from the 346 FS based in Tunisia during 1943.
Yellow fuselage and wing bands need to be painted. Next is a 40 FS plane with
white tail and wing leading edges as based in New Guinea during 1943. Next, also
from New Guinea but without the wing white areas is 41 FS aircraft. A Soviet
P-39 with large areas of the fuselage overpainted in Soviet green is next. A
sharkmouth aircraft based on Corsica in 1943 is the fifth option. This one has a
fairly unusual upper and undersurface color that will require some more
sleuthing to verify. Finally, an Italian plane based in Italy during 1944. This
one can also be modeled in its USAAF markings before being transferred. You are
also provided with a full stencil suite and placement guide. The large decal
sheet is well done and should work as well as any aftermarket set.
| CONCLUSIONS |
The P-39 has not been all that well represented in 1/48 as have other mainstream WWII fighters. However, all the kits produced so far from Monogram, Hasegawa, and Eduard have been good ones and make into nice models. Arma Hobby has announced a 1/48 P-39 so I'm sure that one will be the new darling, relegating all the others to the sales piles from those who can only build the newest kits. A good chance to get some bargains for the rest of us.
July 2024
Copyright ModelingMadness.com. All rights reserved. No reproduction in part or in whole without express permission from the editor.
If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.