P-39Q Airacobra

Arma Hobby kit review

The American P-39 Airacobra WWII fighter has just joined the ranks of aircraft designs miniaturised by Arma Hobby. Starting off with the "Q" version in 1:72 scale. Let's take a closer look.

Disclaimer

The review sample was kindly provided by the manufacturer. Thanks, Arma Hobby.

First look

The distinctive dark blue stripe at the top of the box (with the catalogue number 70055), the nice illustration on the front – it is immediately clear whose product we are dealing with.

Inside are two injection moulded sprues in light grey plastic, a clear one, masks, a decal sheet, assembly manual and… metal weights, so that the finished model doesn’t “tail-sit”.

But wait a minute… where's the photo-etched fret? After all, it was always present in the “experts”. Well, yes, except that this, despite the graphic similarity of the box, is not an “Expert Set”. In fact, Arma Hobby has given up on releasing sets in two main lines. Now we have one (and presumably the occasional “limited editions”) which, in terms of content, is something in between.

Plastic

The plastic parts display the execution standard which the manufacturer has already accustomed us to. Such as the traditionally split fuselage covered with a grid of recessed, relatively fine panel lines (which appear slightly deeper than usual).

Arma Hobby again decided to not reproduce the full riveting of the airframe – but this doesn’t mean that these and similar details (e.g. access panel fasteners) cannot be found on the parts surface at all.

The top carburettor air intake lacks the characteristic crossbar, but overcoming this unacceptable simplification shouldn't be difficult for anyone.

The cut-out in the nose was prepared for two, slightly different versions of machine gun ports section (parts 21 and 22). Although, for technological reasons, these are devoid of actual holes.

Another sign of the kit's multi-variant nature is the three-bladed propeller, or rather propellers – for there are three available on the sprues. Building either of the machines featured in this kit, you will use one representing Aeroproducts' 11 feet and 7 inches prop (part 59).

Meanwhile, 10 feet 5 inches in diameter Curtiss (61) and Aeroproducts (60) ones will will be left hanging on the frames.

Depending on the paint scheme chosen, 37mm gun barrel with (72) or without (73) the shield should be fitted into the spinner (58). There is also a 20mm version (71) in the kit, intended for the P-400. Drilling the tips is in my opinion recommended for all three.

Also coming from the P-400 are the twelve-pipe exhausts (53), which will remain on the frame after one use the appropriate for this version six-pipe units (52). Again, the solid ends of the otherwise quite good-looking (considering the manufacturing technology) exhausts are worth your attention. Or simply wait for some aftermarkets.

Rear of the fuselage is where the stabilisers belong. The vertical one.

And horizontal.

The corresponding control surfaces, with a somewhat overdone details, can therefore be angled without any problems. Both the rudder.

As well as the elevator. Although in this case it should also be mentioned that the designer of the model has given us one tab too many (if I’m not mistaken there should be only the left one).

The ailerons and flaps are not posable, as these were designed as part of the wing halves, which are otherwise quite nicely detailed.

Under the left wing the reflector recess can be found. The rest of the airframe lighting was reproduced directly from the grey plastic (which could already be noticed on the vertical stabiliser).

Radiator air outlets located on the wing underside…

…are covered by inconspicuous flaps (29, 30, 31).

The leading edge air intakes are divided between the lower…

…and upper wing sections.

This is completed by the element (35) which is also the rear wall of the front wheel recess.

Mounting slots have been prepared for the wings machine guns (28), behind which you will notice the shell ejection chutes. However those should be fill for the P-39Q.

Elements of the main landing gear bay have been reproduced on the inner surface of both the upper and lower part of the wings.

The inner landing gear covers were reproduced together with the part of the bay sides, which is an interesting design choice.

Their supports have not been forgotten either (48, 49).

The gear-mounted covers sport some of the kit few sinkmarks. Fortunately, these are easy to remove.

On the inside of one of the covers there was even room for an ejector pin mark. This will be a little more difficult to deal with.

Fortunately, the struts (38, 39) will obscure that area a bit.

The wheels, on which you can see tiny “Firestone” logo, are quite nice. Although without any sign of tread.

The front ones aren’t ugly either. Two versions to choose from.

Assembly of the front gear (23-26) involves bending one of the components (25), which of course is mentioned in the instructions.

The front bay covers, designed as separate elements, feature some details of the internal structure.

Meanwhile the bay itself sports raised rivets on the structural elements.

Enclosed from the top by a shelf with some cannon details and machine guns ammunition boxes. And a few ejector pin marks. On the other side of it are indentations for the metal weights supplied with the model.

Front wheel compartment ceiling details can be found on the part that is also the floor of the cockpit, which was designed together with the propeller drive shaft cover visible in the landing gear bay.

Since we mentioned the cockpit – let's take another look at the fuselage halves, this time from the inside, where the structure of the sides is indicated.

In between, the designer has stuffed quite a lot of equipment details, such as a number of control instruments which, although rendered in plastic, are quite OK.

By far the best looking in my opinion, is the instruments panel, which should be supplemented not only with dials in the form of decals, but also a gun sight. The latter can also be found on the transparent frame, but probably due to the different properties of the plastic, it is more simplified.

Reproduced as a separate element, the backs of the fuselage machine guns (6) aren't very impressive. The same goes for the pilot's seat, although in fairness it must be stated that it is of a fairly decent thickness. As Arma Hobby has given up on adding photo-etched details, we only get the straps in the form of decals.

Behind the seat goes frame with relief holes marked by raised lines, and an armour plate. However, it seems that AH forgot about the transparent armour plate mounted behind the pilot's head, because, looking a bit ahead, there is no such element on the transparent sprue.

The shelf behind the absent armour plate requires the holes marked on the underside to be drilled when the radio is installed.

Unfortunately, a sinkmark can be seen on the latter (68), but the part looks to be salvageable.

Now a word about suspensions. One pylon can be installed underneath the wing centre (by first drilling the appropriate mounting holes, marked on the inside of the lower part of the wings).

On that – an additional fuel tank, with details that are a little too pronounced for my taste.

Or a bomb – two option available, 250 or 500lb.

Under the wings it is possible to mount additional gun nacelles (32, 33), the barrels of which (34) will probably be broken by many modellers.

Just like the Pitot tube (70), or the dorsal antenna (69).

For completeness, I will also mention the radio direction finder antenna with base.

This time, however, those parts will remain on the sprues.

Transparencies

The Airacobra is in several respects a rather unconventional design for a single-engine fighter from the Second World War. It is, for example, one of the few machines of its kind with “car type” doors. In the model those were designed as separate parts, which makes it possible to install them in open position (although it is worth remembering that the left one was opened much less frequently).

The rest of the cabin glass was prepared as a single piece.

There are a couple more details on the frame, literally – the aforementioned gun sight and the under-wing reflector glazing.

The latter would benefit from a little polishing.

Masks

The included self-adhesive masks will simplify the painting of both the cab windows and the undercarriage wheels.

This also includes painting the inner surfaces of the cabin doors.

Weights

The other, admittedly rather uncommon addition are the metal beads which should be used to weigh down the nose of the model.

Little thing, but probably many modellers will be pleased.

Decals

The enclosed marking sheet is, as usual, the result of collaboration with Polish Techmod company. Closer inspection of the piece reveals nothing to complain about.

The print is clear and the colours are saturated and uniform.

In addition to the regular set of stencils (as usual crisp, you can read a fair bit of them), we also receive a second batch with a printed background, for the repainted sand-coloured machine.

On the sheet there was also room for the wing walkways, Aeroproducts company markings for the propeller, instrument panel and the seatbelts.

The overall impression is, as usual, very good.

Manual

The booklet containing instructions on how to build the model presents the typical style of this manufacturer, although for some reason the “colouring” of the assembly drawings with the appropriate paint has been abandoned.

Nevertheless, the drawings are aesthetic and easy to read, with a number of annotations highlighting critical moments of the construction process.

The table of paints needed includes numbers from Hataka (Orange / Red), AK Interactive (Real Colors), Humbrol (!), AMMO, Mr. Color (C), Vallejo and Tamiya range.

The paint schemes, as usual in colour, include also guidelines on the main markings arrangement.

Stencils layout is shown on the separate scheme.

Painting schemes

The kit in question can be made in one of five schemes, which are traditionally advertised on the back of the box. Those are.

P-39Q-10 Airacobra, 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, pilot Lt. Clarence “Bud” Anderson, Oroville, California, October 1943.