A few years back, FCM produced a sheet in 1/32 and 1/72 that covered the P-40 in Brazilian service. This particular sheet is for the 1/48 modeler. Brazil used the P-40 into the 1950s and this unit is probably one of the longest serving P-40 units in the world, operating their planes until 1954, a remarkable longevity. Though not the only P-40 unit in Brazil, this unit at one time had up to 55 different aircraft.
Early aircraft were in the usual olive drab over neutral grey. Spinners were OD in the front and white in the back. All Brazilian P-40s with this unit had the green and yellow rudder stripes. Later planes had their paint stripped and had black anti-glare panels on the nose.
There are eight different options on this sheet , the majority of them in unpainted metal. Most of them are P-40Ns (later F-40N) with one F-40K, and one F-40M. These planes differed primarily in terms of either colors on the spinner or colored fuselage bands or colored wheel hubs. These are provided on the decal sheet. There are enough data markings for at least two planes and enough insignia for two planes.
Kits are not an issue as Hasegawa has produced most of these variants during the long production run of the series. You could also use kits from AMT or Mauve if you wished as the markings are not really kit dependent. Unlike the 1/72 offering, you'll have to paint the rudder stripes on those that require it. The sheet itself is superbly printed by Microscale. Instructions are in full color and provide a complete data placement guide. If you are a P-40 fan and are looking for some different options for your display shelf, well this is a sheet for you.
There are a number of places that sell FCM decals, so check the web for your nearest dealer.
November 2018
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