P-39 Airacobra Propeller Sets

S.B.S. Model, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

Eduard's 1/48 scale MiG-21 Wheel Wells are available online from Squadron.com

S.B.S Model has released two propeller upgrade sets for the Eduard and Hasegawa 1/48 P-39 Airacobra kits.  While these are both good, accurate kits, the S.B.S sets will subtly improve the business end of each. 

Each set contains a replacement spinner, four different nose cannon fittings, and either Curtiss-Electric or Aeroproducts propeller blades (apart from the prop blades, the sets are identical).

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The Curtiss-Electric blades were seen mainly on early series P-39s – S.B.S suggests P-39C, D, L, M1 and P-400/Mk.1 aircraft as likely candidates.  The Aeroproducts blades were installed on many later series aircraft – S.B.S suggests P-39F, G, H, J, K, M, N and Q.  These suggestions roughly align with the specifications in Bert Kinzey’s Detail and Scale book on the P-39, although there are some discrepancies.  Given the number of P-39 variants, and the mixing and matching of parts that went on between aircraft – particularly in the field – I would recommend using photos to confirm the make of propeller that was fitted to the specific aircraft you are modeling.  In this context please note that the Aeroproducts set does not cater for the four-bladed unit fitted to some P-39Qs – only three blades are included in the set. 

I have an Eduard but not a Hasegawa P-39 kit to use for comparison purposes.  There isn’t much wrong with Eduard’s spinner and propeller blades, but the S.B.S parts are a definite improvement.  The plastic prop blades, in particular, lack the finesse of their S.B.S equivalents.  The S.B.S blades appear to be slightly more accurate in shape than Eduard’s Curtiss-Electric and Aeroproducts blades.  The shapes of the cut outs in S.B.S’s one-piece spinner are also an improvement on those in the two-part Eduard spinner.  You will need to use a jig to ensure that the S.B.S blades are correctly aligned, but then you will also have to do this if you are using Eduard’s single-piece blades.

The replacement nose cannon parts are beautifully moulded, with a level of detail that cannot be achieved with injected plastic.  With careful installation and painting, these parts should look very convincing.

These are two useful sets from S.B.S Model that will allow modelers to further improve the already good Eduard and Hasegawa P-39 kits.  Highly recommended.

Thanks to S.B.S Model for the review sample.

Reference

Bert Kinzey, P-39 Airacobra in Detail (Squadron Signal/Detail and Scale, 1999).

My thanks to S.B.S. Models for the review sample www.sbsmodel.com

Review Text Copyright © 2013 by Brad Fallen
Page Created 27 November, 2013
Last updated 27 November, 2013

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