Kit Previews P – Z

Curtiss P-40E Warhawk

The P-40E is an icon of WWII, its shark-mouthed paint scheme bringing fame to the Flying Tigers in China and the RAF in North Africa…

The P-43 Lancer was an interim fighter design linking the Severksy P-35 to its ultimate evolution, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Having some but not all of the features of a modern fighter, it was nearly obsolete upon entering service with the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940. Mostly relegated to training roles, it did find its way to the front lines in China in limited numbers, where it performed fighter escort and photo reconnaissance duties.

P-51B Mustang Mk. III

North American P-51B Mustang Mk. III by Revell Germany 1/72 scale Kit No. 4167 Cost: $9.00 Decals: Two versions, both Royal Air Force (No. 316, Polish Squadron, August 1944; and No. 234 Squadron, December 1944) Comments: Engraved panel lines, flushed rivet detail,...

P-51 B/C Mustang

North American P-51B/C Mustang by Pro Modeler (Monogram) 1/48 scale Kit No. 5931 Cost: $22.00 (aftermarket) Decals: 3 versions - all U.S. Army Air Force: Topper III, flown by Captain Edward L. Toppins of the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group (Tuskegee...

P-63 Kingcobra

The Bell P-63 Kingcobra was a development of the P-39 Airacobra, intended to address its deficiencies in the areas of speed and armor protection. Unlike its earlier cousin, which was originally envisioned as a fighter/interceptor, the P-63 was designed as a ground-support/fighter-bomber from the beginning. The biggest operator of the P-63 was the Soviet Union, which received 2,397 aircraft, delivered between 1943 and 1945 and mainly used to support infantry units.

P-70 Nighthawk

Coming to the Pacific in the Summer of 1942, the P-70 was meant to be a stopgap night fighter, soon to be replaced by the P-61 Black Widow. But the P-70 served until 1944 due to the P-61’s teething problems….

P-80 Shooting Star

Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star by Monogram 1/48 scale Kit No. 5428 Cost: $15.00 Decals: One version - United States Air Force Comments: Raised panel lines; first released 1977; detailed cockpit with option for open or closed canopy; detailed gun bay and wheel wells; rear...

RF-4C Phantom II

Ordered by the U.S. Air Force partly in response to the Navy’s RF-8 Crusader, which highlighted deficient Air Force performance in the low-altitude reconnaissance role during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the RF-4 ushered in a quantum improvement in USAF reconnaissance capability. Italeri’s RF-4 features a three auxiliary drop tanks, a multi-part canopy and a series of clear plastic parts depicting camera ports in an elongated nose.

RF-8A Crusader (Sword)

As of October 1962, the Vought RF-8A Crusader was the one aircraft capable of the finest, most detailed low level reconnaissance photography in the entire U.S. military. Derived from the superb F-8 Crusader, the U.S. Navy’s shipboard interceptor, with its guns and fuselage-mounted missile pylons removed, it became an equally superb photo-reconnaissance platform. During the 1962 Missile Crisis, it yielded intelligence that may well have helped avoid nuclear war.

Roland D. VIa

Roland D. VIa by Fly 1/48 scale Cost: $30.00 Kit No. 48005 Decals: Three versions Comments: Engraved panel lines; resin engine and cockpit components; photo-etch seat straps and machine gun jackets History The Roland D.VI was designed by the Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft...

Ryan FR-1 Fireball

The Ryan FR-1 Fireball was the result of a 1942 U.S. Navy specification for a unique, hybrid fighter that incorporated both jet and piston engine propulsion into its design. Entering service in March 1945, the Fireball was thought to be the only hope of stopping the Japanese Ohka rocket powered Kamikaze weapon. But by the time the FR-1 was operational at squadron level, the war in the Pacific was over.

Ryan PT-20

MPM Ryan PT-20 Trainer 1/72 scale Kit No. 72084 Cost: $22.00 Decals: Three versions - One for U.S. Army Air Corps, and two for the Dutch East Indies Comments: Engraved and raised panel lines; vacuform windscreens; parts for conventional fixed landing gear or...

Saab J21A

Saab J21A by Heller 1/72 scale Kit No. 261 Cost: $10.00 Decals: One version - Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force) Comments: Older kit, unusual twin-boom fighter; raised panel lines; decals for national insignia are out of register, aftermarket replacements highly...

Saab J21R

Saab J-21R by Special Hobby 1/72 scale Kit No. SH 72207 Price: $22.00 -- 26.00 Decals: Four versions - all Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force) Comments: Engraved panel lines, resin wheels with radial tread, highly detailed cockpit including PE and film parts, PE exterior...

Saab JA37 Viggen

The Swedish Saab JA 37 “Viggen” (“Thunderbolt”) was the all-weather variant of a distinguished family of fighter-interceptor, attack and reconnaissance aircraft that served the Swedish Air Force for 34 years. Entering service with the Flygvapen in 1979, it had a radically modified Boeing 737 engine and shared avionics in common with the F-14 Tomcat and the F-15 Eagle.

Saunders Roe A.19 Cloud

Saunders Roe A.19 Cloud by Valom 1/72 scale Kit No. 72061 Cost: $45.00 Decals: Two versions - Saunders Roe touring/promotional aircraft, and Czech Airlines version Comments: Engraved panel ;detailed resin radial engines; photo-etch parts for cockpit, landing gear,...

Saunders Roe SR.45

The Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess was a multi-turboprop British flying boat developed and built by Saunders-Roe in the years following World War II. First taking flight on August 22, 1952, it was designed to serve as a larger and more luxurious successor to the pre-war commercial flying boats, such as the Short S.23 Empire. It has the distinction of being the largest all-metal flying boat ever built.

Saunders Roe S.R. 53

The Saunders Roe S.R. 53 was an advanced hybrid rocket- and jet-powered interceptor prototype designed in Great Britain in the 1950’s. For a time it competed against both an Avro design and the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter for the prize of a contract for a NATO front-line interceptor.

Savoia Marchetti SM.86W

The Savoia-Marchetti SM.86W was a divebomber prototype of the Regia Aeronautica that actually served in a combat role despite being rejected for service. It first flew on April 8, 1939 powered by two 600 hp Walter Sagitta inline engines. After its rejection by the Italian Air Force, Savoia-Marchetti arranged for it to participate in air attacks on Malta and Greece in 1941. It performed with distinction, but the Regia Aeronautica’s mind was made up.

SB2C Helldiver

SB2C Helldiver by Monogram 1/48 scale Kit No. 6831 Cost: $5.00 (way back when) Decals: One version - U.S. Navy Comments: Old kit, raised panel lines, sliding canopies, folding wings, retractable landing gear, movable arrestor hook, functioning bomb bay doors,...