Arma Hobby P-39N Airacobra by Brett Green

Arma Hobby 1/48 scale
P-39N Airacobra

by Brett Green

P-39N Airacobra

Description

Here is my Arma Hobby 1/48 scale P-39N Airacobra, Kit No. 40011.

This is a very nice model with high levels of detail and delicate recessed surface textures.

I also like that Arma has supplied three metal balls as nose weight.

The model went together as per instructions. I had a little trouble getting a perfect step-free join for the car doors but I was happy with the eventual result. The upper nose insert looked like it might be a poor fit but it actually wound up fine after taping and a little filler.

The drop tank attachment points are very fine so I drilled and pinned the tank using 1mm brass tube.

I used the following after-market accessories:

Ultracast 1/48 P-39 Airacobra Seats (with American Harness). Kit No. 48106
Eduard 1/48 P-39Q Photo-Etched Set. Item No. 491477
Eduard EX1067 1/48 P-39Q Masks. Item No. EX1067. Arma supplies self-adhesive masks in the kit but mine was not die-cut - just a sticky yellow square - and I had the Eduard sample at hand.
Albion Precision Metals Round Brass Tube - 1mm x 0.3mm . Item No. BT1M

Paints are mostly SMS Premium lacquer paints except for the top coat. I wanted a dead flat finish so I used Winsor & Newton Galeria Flat Varnish.

I went for a faded and uneven Olive Drab finish with a large green patch on both sides of the mid-to-rear fuselage - theoretically from local Soviet stocks.

I used the kit decals. They were a delight to work with - totally opaque, robust, thin and sucked down nicely into the panel lines with a brushed coat of Tamiya Mark Fit Strong.

Very nice kit.

I'll be writing this one up for Issues 239 and 240 of Model Airplane International magazine.

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