Call it a Kittyhawk or a Warhawk, it means the same thing; P-40E. While not the most produced version (that belongs to the P-40N), nor the most famous (that belongs to theP-40C), it is the one that most think of when the P-40 is mentioned. It was the first to be properly ready for war. It had six .50 cal machine guns, a reasonably powerful engine, protection for the pilot and the ability to carry an offensive load. 

By the time the P-40E reached squadron service, it was becoming clear that it's days as an interceptor and fighter were nearing an end. It was clearly a very capable fighter-bomber and served that role well and with distinction wherever it was used. Not to say that it still couldn't operate well as a fighter. At lower altitudes (say, below 15,000 feet), it was a very capable aircraft, as many of its foes discovered. However, for escorting heavy bombers, it was a very poor performer at the altitudes that the B-17s and B-24s had to fly.

It shouldn't be surprising that the P-40 was one of the most produced American fighters of WWII with around 13,000 aircraft built. That number was exceeded by only the P-51 and P-47, respectively. Though not as prominent on the warbird scene as it used to be, there are still a number of them still flying.

Hasegawa's kit of the P-40 is really a very nicely done model. Designed in the early 1980s, it has very nice engraved detail and very little flash. It has yet to be outdone as it seems that the P-40E is not one of those planes that has been given much attention in the 1/72 ranks. The only other 1/72 P-40E that I can think of are one from Revell and another from Airfix. Neither one of them is up to the standards of the Hasegawa kit. 

Where the Hasegawa kit falls down compared to modern kits is the interior. What is there is adequate, but is pretty bare compared to today's standards. It does have a seat, control stick and instrument panel (with a decal for the instruments). The canopy is a three-piece affair that cannot be displayed open. The only option is for either a drop tank or a 500 lb bomb. 

Over the years, I have built a number of these Hasegawa P-40s. There is also a P-40 N kit that is quite similar except for the fuselage. However, this is about the E version. I even converted one to a P-40F and you can see a review of that here. There really are no faults to this kit. It is one of those that you can build in a relatively short time with no real problems. A bit of filler is needed on the wing fuselage join on the underside, but other than that, building is trouble-free and quite boring to review!!

The second scheme is one of a Canadian squadron on the west coast. The scheme is RAF Green and Brown upper with Sky undersurfaces, tail band and spinner. Again, Gunze paints were used for this one. The decals are from an IPMS Canada set that was available many years ago. This particular sheet had four aircraft of 111 Squadron, all P-40s. This one was to me, the most interesting with the large totem pole marking, the underlined unit codes and the unusual upper wing roundels. The decals were just superb and fit with no problems at all!