AML
1/72 Curtiss Hawk 81-A2
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Overview
The early variants of the P-40 make for a convoluted mess, with changing
designations, differing weaponry, and different names. The name H81, Tomahawk,
and P-40 all are used interchangeably in literature, and the wide range
of operators of these early types confuses the issue further. Not wanting
to further this confusion, I will just say that the early P-40 variants
saw service with the RAF, the VVS, and the USAAC, and is most famous for
its role with the AVG in China.
The Kit
 AML
has understandably built upon their earlier Curtiss Hawk 75 family with
this release. While the differences between the two are rather significant,
the lineages are quite close and to research one inevitably leads to the
other. The end result is that this is probably the most accurate P-40B/H81-A2/Tomahawk
II kit out there, which will make 1/72 modelers quite happy. The kit is
a blend of injection plastic, cast resin, etched brass, and vacuformed
acetate. The large decal sheet provides markings for no less than six
aircraft.
Starting with the interior, this is a very nice collection of resin
and brass parts, with the main tub consisting of separate sidewalls and
a one-piece floor and rear bulkhead. The resin seat gets a set of photoetch
seatbelts, while the resin instrument panel has photoetch rudder pedal
straps. Other separate details include separate throttle handles, and
a resin control stick. Dig out your references, as this detailed interior
will really shine under some careful painting and weathering.
 The
fuselage is split into right and left halves, and the wing opening will
allow you to fit the cockpit after the fuselage is together. The exhaust
stacks are separate, and while the plastic ones are adequate, replacing
them with a set of Moskit exhausts would really enhance the finished look
of the kit. Also separate is the chin intake, which is provided as a resin
insert. The propeller has separate blades fitting into a two-piece hub,
which in turn fits onto a separate disc in the fuselage. This is a lot
to line up, so be ready for some test fitting here.
The wings are in three pieces, with the one piece lower wing capturing
the proper dihedral. Resin inserts are included for the wheel wells, and
the landing gear gets both photoetch and resin details. The lower cowl
flaps are separate, as is the section immediately behind the cowl flaps
on the wing, resulting in a high level of detail. The tailwheel is molded
with the strut, with separate tailwheel doors.
The most impressive sight on opening the box, though, is the extensive
decal sheet. The bottom of the sheet has a bunch of sharkmouths, while
the top of the sheet has RAF and Chinese roundels. In between are a bunch
of numbers and individual markings, making it a challenge to pick a specific
aircraft. All of the options on the sheet are AVG aircraft, with the instructions
stating that the camouflage colors are dark green and dark earth over
aircraft gray. The patterns of each aircraft differs, and the instructions
capture those differences.
 The
first aircraft is the aircraft of R. Neale and is marked by a white 7,
the flying tiger emblem, and a green apple emblem on the fuselage sides.
A white stripe is around the rear fuselage, and the sharkmouth is in black,
white, and red. The second aircraft, white 21, was flown by both Frank
Schiel and Gregory "Pappy" Boyington. This plane also has a
white band around the rear fuselage and a different green apple emblem
on the rear fuselage and a red, white and black sharkmouth. The final
option on the sheet that has just a red, white, and black sharkmouth is
Robert T. Smith's white 47. This plane has a red band around the rear
fuselage and the flying tiger emblem on the fuselage, as well as a red
female angel figure in front of the windscreen and a string of kill markings.
The remaining three options on the sheet have sharkmouths finished in
red, white, black, and blue. As an aside, all of these aircraft have different
sharkmouths, all of which have been faithfully reproduced on the decal
sheet. The first one with blue in the sharkmouth is Ken Jernstedt's white
88, which carries a couple of kill markings in addition to the red female
angel figure. Next is white 75, the plane of William Reed. This aircraft
still has the original RAF roundels still on the wings, and a trio of
kill markings under the windscreen. The last option is white 47, flown
by both Robert Layher and John Petach. This plane has the sharkmouth outlined
in blue and features a blue band around the rear fuselage.
The decals are very nicely printed, with excellent register. The Chinese
roundels come in two colors, with a darker and duller blue for the lower
wing roundels. In addition to the basic markings, the sheet also includes
several stencils and serial numbers, as well as the tricolor wheel disc
markings. It definitely will be tough to pick just one of these options
to finish the model with.
Conclusion
While this kit may not be a quick build, it looks to be quite accurate
and well researched. The markings are very nicely done, and the quality
of the resin and brass will add to the realism of the finished model.
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