Trumpeter's 1/32 scale P-40M finished as
P-40N-1 Kittyhawk Mk.IV

by Brett Green

Curtiss P-40N-1 Kittyhawk Mk.IV

It's been a long time between completed models!

Here is my Trumpeter 1/32 scale P-40M Kittyhawk, finished as the almost indistinguishable P-40N-1, only my third model completed in 2022.

Trumpeter's 1/32 scale P-40M suffers from many, many faults and inaccuracies.

The worst of these is the cockpit, which is mostly fictitious and perpetuates Trumpeter's flawed flat floor that first appeared nearly 20 years ago on their 1/32 scale P-40B Tomahawk. This has been pointed out on that kit and all subsequent releases in many reviews but sadly the criticism has fallen on deaf ears.

I replaced the kit cockpit with CMK's multimedia P-40E cockpit set. Although it is intended for the Hasegawa kit, it wasn't too hard to adapt it to Trumpeter's Kittyhawk.

I won't list all the other problems with the kit here, but you can read about them here in my recent in-box review. A few other issues surfaced during assembly too, including the inaccurate riveted 75 gallon drop tank.

Even so, the kit has a number of redeeming features.

Fit is exemplary. Building it was a true pleasure.

Surface textures are really nice too, made up from recessed panel lines, rivets and fasteners.

I finished my Kittyhawk in SMS lacquer paints' RAAF Foliage Green and RAAF Earth Brown upper surfaces and Sky Blue below.
Markings are from DK Decals' Item No. 32004, P-40N Warhawk / Kittyhawk Mk.IV.

I'll be writing this one up for a big two-part article in Military Illustrated Modeller magazine.

Purchased by the Editor

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2022 by Brett Green
Page Created 22 April, 2022
Last Updated 22 April, 2022

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