Starfighter Decals 1/72 Pre-War USAAC P-40B Decals
By Matt Bittner
Now that we finally have an accurate and affordable 1/72 P-40B/Hawk 81 - from Airfix - more and more companies are releasing decal sheets for this kit. Unfortunately there seems to be some problems in getting the kit here, in the U.S.A., but they are available if you're willing to buy them from elsewhere.
This time it's Starfighter Decals that come to the fray, with this set of four P-40Bs:
- P-40B, 33rd Pursuit Squadron (PS), 35th Pursuit Group (PG), 1941, with a red-and-white nose and spinner
- P-40G, (export P-40 remanufacturered to P-40B specs), 77th PS, 20th PG, 1941, with a white spinner
- P-40B, 79th PS, 20th PG, 1941, with a yellow spinner
- P-40B, 55th PS, 35th PG, 1941, with a white spinner
All aircraft are finished with Olive 41 uppers and Neutral Gray 43 undersides. The last two aircraft have the red/white/blue stripes on the rudder. The decals are nicely printed and in register. Along with markings for all four aircraft, you receive national markings and propellor stencils for two.
If you're looking for alternate markings - or more, if you're going to be like me and pick up more than one kit - for the Airfix 1/72 Hawk 81/P-40B, then you'll want this sheet. Note that this sheet should also work on the other early P-40s, such as the kit from AML and Trumpeter.
Many, many thanks to Starfighter Decals for sending this set to review.