Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan, 1942

[Dizzyfugu]

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Some background:
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational service. The Warhawk was used by most Allied powers during World War II, and remained in frontline service until the end of the war. It was the third most-produced American fighter, after the P-51 and P-47.

P-40 Warhawk was the name the United States Army Air Corps adopted for all models, making it the official name in the United States for all P-40s. The British Commonwealth and Soviet air forces used the name Tomahawk for models equivalent to the P-40B and P-40C, and the name Kittyhawk for models equivalent to the P-40D and all later variants, which were used by many Allied nations during and even after WWII: The last P-40s in military service, used by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), were only retired in 1960.

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Another, minor operator of the P-40 were The Philippines: At the outbreak of World War II, after a few months of the Philippine Army Air Corps' (PAAC) induction into the USAFFE by General Douglas Mc Arthur on 15 August 1941, the PAAC found itself unprepared for a shooting war. Japanese invading forces separately struck Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and the Philippines. Using only Curtiss P-26A "Peashooters", which were obsolete at that time, PAAC officers and men fought gallantly against the superior enemy raids.

At that time the whole PAAC force only consisted of a mere 28 P-26s, and the growing Japanese threat in the Pacific theatre prompted the USA to immediately send further support to the PAAC - namely a batch of thirty brand-new P-40Es that were originally intended for the RAAF and literally "on the way" into the Pacific.

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


These aircraft were a quantum leap for the PAAC, concerning performance and firepower. The Kittyhawks arrived in November 1941, just in time to be operational during the Japanese raid of Zablan Field at Camp Murphy (now Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo) near Manila on December 10, 1941. This event became the baptism of fire for PAAC pilots against an incoming invasion, and left the PAAC with heavy losses.

Among these brave PAAC pilots was 6th Pursuit Squadron leader Capt Jesus Villamor, a fearless fighter pilot in whose honor, Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base, the home of the Headquarters of today's Philippine Air Force, is named after. Fighting was fierce: on December 12, 1941, remnants of Villamor's squadron, again gallantly fought, engaging 17 Japanese Zeros and 27 bombers in an incredible dogfight over Batangas Field, as a result Lt Cesar Basa was killed in that action. The more superior Japanese invading forces, with the advantage in aircraft ratio against the PAAC, lost a bomber and a fighter during the encounter. These feats would later earn Capt. Villamor two Distinguished Conduct Star awards.

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Anyway, the late 1941 battles were rather disastrous for the PAAC - especially the P-40E crews suffered heavy losses due to the unfamiliarity with the new aircraft as well as the lack of tactics and experience against the more agile Japanese fighters: a total of eight P-40's was lost within three days!

The RP-US forces and the whole country later on succumbed to Japanese regime but Capt Villamor and few of the PAAC officers continued to fight under guerrilla movements. Several aircraft could be rescued and were, after WWII, returned to military service. Capt Villamor's courage and bravery during delicate missions of Mc Arthur's Allied Intelligence net became instrumental for the RP-US forces in liberating the Country, which earned him the Medal for Valor.

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


After the war, the surviving P-40's (only a dozen was left in airworthy condition) were relegated to the ground attack role, and the PAAC was immediately reconstituted and pilot training was intensified. By 1st of July 1947, the PAAC was renamed Philippine Air Force (PAF) and rose to a major service command of the AFP.

Additional units were formed and PAF organizational structures were enhanced in response to the equipment and air assets provided by U.S. Military Aid. In the early years of the PAF, the Command was instrumentally engaged in anti-HUK and anti-Kamlon insurgency campaigns. The PAF then had established Sulu Air Task Group (SATAG), with an initial force of P-51 "Mustangs", PBY "Catalina" amphibian planes and L-5 "Sentinel" liaison aircraft to intensify the campaign against Hadji Kamlon, who eventually surrendered in 1955 - and at the same time the last P-40E was eventually retired from PAF service.

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr









General characteristics:
    Crew: 1
    Length: 31.67 ft (9.66 m)
    Wingspan: 37.33 ft (11.38 m)
    Height: 12.33 ft (3.76 m)
    Wing area: 235.94 ft² (21.92 m²)
    Airfoil: NACA2215 / NACA2209
    Empty weight: 6,070 lb (2,753 kg)
    Loaded weight: 8,280 lb (3,760 kg)
    Max. takeoff weight: 8,810 lb (4,000 kg)

Powerplant:
    1× Allison V-1710-39 liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,150 hp (858 kW)

Performance:
    Maximum speed: 360 mph (310 kn, 580 km/h)
    Cruise speed: 270 mph (235 kn, 435 km/h)
    Range: 650 mi (560 nmi, 1,100 km)
    Service ceiling: 29,000 ft (8,800 m)
    Rate of climb: 2,100 ft/min (11 m/s)
    Wing loading: 35.1 lb/ft² (171.5 kg/m²)
    Power/mass: 0.14 hp/lb (228 W/kg)'

Armament:
    6× 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns with 235 RPG in the wings, plus
    a total of 2.000 lb (907 kg) of bombs on three hardpoints (one under the fuselage, two
    underwing)



The kit and its assembly:
Nothing fancy - this P-40E is the Hobby Boss model and it was built almost OOB, even the drop tank comes with the simple but very nice kit. I just added a Matchbox pilot, some antennae and a metal axis for the propeller - that's all.


Painting and markings:
This was the real challenge – the whole thing was actually inspired by a PrintScale P-26 decal sheet which features, among others, a camouflaged PAAC aircraft. I wondered what aircraft could have been a plausible replacement for the vintage Peashooters, and the P-40E appeared as a perfect choice - and I had one in the huge kit pile...

The paint scheme was chosen to match the fictional background story behind this whiffy model, as a field-modified factory finish for the Kittyhawk's original operator – a practice that was more common than one might think. For instance, some early P-40s in RAF 'temperate day' scheme (painted with US colors, though!) ended up with the Flying Tigers in China. For the PAAC I chose a similar approach, as these fictional aircraft would be diverted from running Commonwealth deliveries (for the RAAF) from the USA, too.

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The basic tones I used are FS 34096, FS 30118 and FS 34554 (two Modelmaster tones and Humbrol 23, simulating a pale/fake Sky Type 'S'), modified with a light black ink wash, some shaded panels and some weathering, simulating the harsh climate in which this aircraft would have operated.
As an extra I mimicked overpainted RAAF roundels and codes, done with ANA 613 Olive Drab (Modelmaster) on the upper surfaces and FS 36440 for the lower sides. The result is a slightly shaggy look, but the kit is otherwise pretty "normal", so I think it's O.K. and adds a unique touch.

Spinner and rudder were painted in French Blue (again from Modelmaster), inspired by the PAAC P-26's blue cowlings. All interior surfaces were painted in US Cockpit Green (Humbrol 226) and Zinc Chromate.

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Curtiss P-40E 'Kittyhawk' Mk. I; aircraft '11' of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC); Zablan Airfield/Manila, early 1942 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



A rather simple project, done in a couple of days – the PAAC P-40 is simple, but the odd roundels certainly catch attention. And finally a good use for a kit that I had bought as part of a lot without a true plan!

[Captain Canada]

Beauty. Love the colours on this one, the camo and the blue really go together well. Looks almost like a 109 in the b & w photo, with those markings.

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you. It's a rather simple whif, but the result is nice and subtle.   

[NARSES2]

You do live in a different Space, Time Continuum, don't you ? 

Great work Dizzy 

[Dizzyfugu]

I had two weeks for two kits...?