NATIVE AMERICAN WEAPON

Garry Tobiss enhances the latest incarnation of Airfix’s 1/48 P-40B

INTERMEDIATE BUILD

TOMAHAWK Mk.IIb

The original test-shot build of the P-40B Warhawk featured in AMW’s September 2016 issue, built by yours truly. Airfix has now released the tooling in British markings, though, to portray the Tomahawk Mk.II. The Editor provided the welcome opportunity to tackle it again, but this time with various aftermarket items, to enhance what is already a thoroughly decent kit of this instantly recognisable aircraft. Another part of the brief was to try one of the latest acrylic paint systems on the market, by Mission Models, and markings from Xtradecal to represent 112 Squadron RAF. This unit’s crews painted distinctive shark mouths on their Tomahawks, apparently copying German aircraft. The famous American Volunteer Group ‘Flying Tigers’ in turn copied the Tomahawk livery after seeing photos of 112 Squadron in a magazine article!

Here are the basic components for the cockpit prepared ready for the PE additions. Note the prominent ejector pin marks; happily, these were covered by some of the pre-painted PE.

Careful preparation