Valom 1/72 Bell YFM-1 Airacuda
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History
Business wise the Airacuda was probably Bell Aircraft Companies most
important, and successful project despite the fact that of the dozen or
so built none became operational. The simple fact is that Bell most likely
would have failed as a company if it had not been for the interest the
USAAF had taken in this very innovative, and technologically ahead of
time aircraft.
Larry Bell’s vision of establishing his own aircraft manufacturing
company could not have come at a more difficult financial time. The year
was 1935, it was in the middle of the great depression and what little
money the military had was being spread between the giants of the industry
such as Boeing, Consolidated, Curtiss, Martin just to name a few. Bell,
who had been an executive with several of these major aircraft manufactures
prior to going out on his own, managed to scarcely stay afloat with subcontract
work. However, and fortunate for Bell, at this time the hint of war in
Europe was starting to become a concern to American military planners,
especially the potential of attack from long-range bombers. As a response
to this threat, the Army Air Corp put out a request for proposals for
a combined long-range bomber destroyer/escort. Bell knew that if he were
going to get the attention of the USAAF he would have to come up with
a concept that was so ahead of its time that it would be impossible to
ignore.
Teamed with the young and gifted aircraft designer Robert Woods, Bell’s
ideas for a state of the art bomber destroyer took shape. Designated the
XFM-1 (FM standing for Fighter Multi-place) the Airacuda prototype (also
called the Tigerfish) rolled out of the Bell factory in the summer of
1937 with its first flight taking place a few months later on September
1. Per the design requirements the plane, when compared to contemporary
fighters, was indeed uncharacteristically big. Its wingspan was greater
than either a B-25 or a B-26 and it had a crew of five. The fuselage was
both sleek and slender with a tandem arrangement for the pilot, co-pilot/navigator/top
gunner combination and the rear side gunner. Two wing mounted Allison
V-1710 twelve cylinders liquid cooled engines, using a shaft driven pusher
configuration, powered the aircraft. Mounted above the wings, the engine
nacelles were exceptionally large in that they also served as forward
facing gunner’s positions. Each of these wing gunner’s positions
were equipped with a combined 30cal machine gun and 37mm cannon while
the fuselage positions mounted 50cal machine guns. As a side note, the
final version of the YFM-1 design would also incorporate tricycle landing
gear. Overall, the Airacuda was unquestionably a unique looking design
of which many of its advanced ideas would obviously make their way into
Bells next big project, the P-39.
As noted above the Airacuda never went into operational service and
as such was limited to a hand full of test and evaluation models. The
reason for this is that at the time the Army Air Corp felt that many of
its design features was just too revelatory and untested to risk putting
it into production. This decision, in hindsight, would show to be the
correct one. However, many of these advance ideas were subsequent applied
to other aircraft as the technology progressed.
 The
Kit
This multi-media kit includes injection molded medium gray and clear
plastic major airframe assemblies with both resin and photo-etched detail
parts. Panel lines are nicely engraved and do not appear to be overly
heavy or light. Of special note is the fact that the individual panels
have a finely engraved rivet pattern on them, considering this is a natural
metal aircraft, extra care during the assembly process, especially around
seams and joint, is a good idea. A close inspection of my sample showed
that there are no sink marks and that the need for parts clean up is minimal.
The clear parts likewise look to be of good quality, although the embossed
framing seemed to be just a tiny bit heavy. The resin and photo-etched
parts, which includes both the pilots and co-pilots instrument panels
as well as individual seat belts, also looked to be of good quality. Overall,
the interior detail is sufficient if built out of the box. However, if
inclined toward super detailing a very nice series of illustrations, of
all the aircraft’s visible areas, come with the instructions. These
illustrations have what amounts to a photographic quality about them.
 As
to the kits accuracy, I should first note that I used as my reference
the excellent 18-page article on the Airacuda that originally appeared
in volume 1, No.1 (Sept. 1971), of the magazine “Airpower”.
This article included over three dozen photos of the aircraft as well
as a very nice colored profile drawing which also happens to be the subject
of the kit’s markings. That said I find that the overall shape,
including side and top views, when compared to numerous photos and the
few drawings I have, looks to be correct. Dimensionally, when measured
against the published specification, again it is correct.
However, one area, that I noticed, that deviates from my references
is the arrangement of engine exhaust system. The kit has the engine exhaust
pipes molded as doglegged half-rounds on either side of the wing nacelles,
when in reality is only doglegged on the outboard side. In addition, both
sides of the exhaust system taper out from the forward facing part of
the engine and are almost flush with the side of the nacelle. Last, the
inboard exhaust pipe comes straight back and then curved over the engine
and then down where it joins the outboard section of the exhaust at the
top of the dogleg.
 Fortunately,
my description of how this should look is not necessary in that both the
kit’s box art and the painting and marking guide clearly show the
exhaust system’s correct arrangement. Of other note is the fact
that the fuselage halves are obviously common to other versions of this
aircraft and as such include the nose wheel bay and the nose wheel parts
used for tricycle landing gear. However, do not be tempted to use these
parts in that this particular kit is uniquely the tail dragger version,
which has a completely different main gear setup. The main gear on this
aircraft retracts to the rear, very similar to the P-40, where as the
tricycle landing gear version had main gear that retracted to the side
and inboard like the P-47 and P-51.
Markings
As I noted above this kit comes with only one set of markings. This
particular YFM-1 is the 27th Pursuit Squadron Commanders aircraft as it
appeared in June of 1940. According to kit information, this aircraft
was on display at the time at the New York World’s Fair. However,
of note is that the 27th Pursuit Squadron operated from Hamilton Field
California in 1940. As for the decals themselves, they look to be of good
quality and correct color.
Conclusion
This is a very interesting between the wars subject. Overall, the kit
looks very nice, with the only visible discrepancy a correctable exhaust
system. As always, being a first look evaluation, it is hard to judge
fit, but from what I could see it should be no problem with little filling
needed. Finally, the markings look to be of both good quality and correct
color.
I wish to thank Valom for the sample copy they provided for review. |
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