LF Models 1/72 Curtiss P-40EA (M-105 engined)

LF MODELS 1:72 CURTISS P-40EA (M-105)
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Johan De Wolf (rec.models.scale)

Aircraft: Curtiss P-40E (M-105)
Kit: LF models #7225
Scale: 1/72
Parts: 23 resin, 2 white metal, 2 vacuform, 31 etched, 2 film
Decals: 1 option
Surface detail: engraved
Accuracy: good
Price: around 30 USD.

History
I don't think I need to say much about the P-40 as information about the type is abundant. Less well known is the type's use in the USSR. Almost 3000 P-40's where supplied to Russia under the lend lease agreement. Soviet pilots achieved quite good results with them even though the P-40 was inferior to the Me 109. The Curtiss was ill suited to the harsh Russian winter, and attrition because of mechanical defects was high. Especially the honeycomb radiators where prone to freezing and cracking up. Another problem was that there where no spare engines. In the spring of 1942, 154th IAP had several machines standing around with used up engine hours. As fighters were desperately needed the regiment commander proposed to fit the P-40E's with Klimov M-105P/R engines. At an aviation repair base over 40 P-40E's had a Klimov engine fitted while some where converted to two seaters at the same time. Modifications to the airframe were kept to a minimum. The exhaust slots were moved up slightly and the carburettor intake on the nose removed. A complete Lagg 3 engine/prop assembly was then fitted into the P-40 nose. This gave it a decidedly odd look as the new spinner was smaller than the Curtiss original. With the M-105P the P-40 was some 12 km/h slower than the Allison engined machines. The converted P-40's where mainly used by the 196th IAP in the ground attack role.

The kit
This is basically a copy of the old Hasegawa P-40E, but the fuselage halves have been changed for a two-seater with a Klimov engine. The resin parts have some bubbles here and there but nothing serious that's difficult to fix. The cockpit is a mix of resin and etched brass. The landing gear legs have been thoughtfully provided in white metal, so no wobbly legs for this kit. The vacuform canopies are clear and well defined, but there are no spares.

Accuracy
Span is almost 2mm short, length is ok. The completed model will capture the odd look well.

Construction
Because the resin copies of the fuselage halves are slightly thicker than the originals, the also copied interior parts will not fit without adjustment. The kit contains a copy of the original radiators too but its unlikely these were fitted to the real machines because: first, it's unlikely the Allison's radiators were compatible with the Klimov, and second, these radiators were the cause of frequent defects in winter. So only use part #13 and discard #14. The cockpits are made up of basic resin floors, resin control columns and a headrest. and etched seats, belts, map case, rudder pedals, switch box and instrument panel.

For the instrument panel there is a backing film with the dials. The instruction drawing would have you fit the switch box (part # P3) to the right side of the fuselage, however this belongs underneath the instrument panel. Also parts P15 are not needed because the trainer had open cockpits and therefore doesn't need a canopy lever. No colours are given for any of the details. The wing is moulded in one piece.

It took me quite a lot of cutting and scraping to get it to fit underneath the fuselage. If done right minimal filler will be needed once it's been made to fit. Remove the gun ports as the trainers where unarmed. Radiator flaps are in etched brass and will look better than the plastic part in the Hasegawa kit. The mainwheels and tailwheel are in resin, the gear itself is white metal with a piece of metal wire provided for the actuator link (no length for cutting stated). Gear covers are in etched metal. The resin spinner needs a slight sanding to make it more "pointy". The prop blades are separate pieces...oh joy! The Klimov engine had the early style exhaust which combined the exhaust stacks in one long pipe. The resin exhaust pieces in kit capture the look of the original well.

Another fairing needs to be added to the top centreline of the cowling. A complete canopy is given for the front cockpit so the sliding hood needs to be carefully trimmed off as only the windshield is needed.

Camouflage and markings
As mentioned before no colours are given for the interior and details, so check your references.

Decals are provided for one machine, red 27, of 196 IAP which flew from Kapiolove airfield on the Leningrad front in the winter of '42-'43. This machine has shown up in a few publications but sources do not agree on its colours. The kit instructions suggest light blue lower surfaces with an irregular pattern of white and green on top. PKR shows this machine as having a light grey underside (this magazine is considered to be a modelers tabloid by many Czech modellers and isn't taken too seriously). AC and MBI both show this machine as being all white with an irregular blue grey pattern on top. I tend to favour this last scheme in which the blue is probably Russian underside blue.

Conclusion
This is a nice resin kit of an interesting subject. However i would have preferred to just have resin parts, canopies, etched brass and decals as a conversion kit. This combined with the Hasegawa kit would have been a lot cheaper than a complete resin kit, while having less fit problems. A complete resin kit of the single seater P-40 with Klimov engine is also available (kit # 7231).

References
Ac #1 October 1990
Ac #2-3 1993
PKR #25 1994
MBI Curtiss P-40 second edition (excellent reference!)

Footnote
The information on Russian use of the P-40 in PKR and MBI seems to be based directly on the article in Ac #1. Ac (aviatsiya journal) was one of the first independent Russian aviation magazines and contained excellent historical reference material. It's only let down was the paper it was printed on. Sadly it demised after only some 5 issues spread over 4 years.

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