P-39Q Airacobra – Academy 1/72
I have had a passion for the P-39 since I was a child, when my oldest brother (80 old now) bought the Revell P-39 kit in the 1960s. That was indeed the first kit I saw in my life, and I have fond memories of that time.
The Academy’s P-39 D / Q Airacobra 1/72 kit follows the manufacturer’s format, with correct proportions, fine recessed lines, but still misses in details. The model certainly deserves the inclusion of resin and / or PE detailing sets.
The building was based in Tamiya’s primer and Drycolor’s (polyester) inks. I just inserted some cockpit details, like a box on the left side of the seat, the elevator trim, the throttle quadrant, the pedals, the seat belts and the sight acrylic. The parking wedges werre made of balsa wood and the base of MDF. The figure is part of USAAF Personel Airfix set. Oil based inks for wheathering (black, brown and gray).
Finally, it’s a simple but very showy model due to the chosen paint scheme. The open door gives a special touch.
Search source:
P-39 Airacobra In Action – Squad Books
P-39 in detail – Squadron Books
Kittyhawk 1/32 Kit Instruction
Internet sites
7 additional images. Click to enlarge.
bob mack said on August 8, 2019
great piece all around
Roberto Lúcio - Boblucio said on August 8, 2019
Thank you, Bob.
Tom Bebout said on August 8, 2019
Nicely done Roberta,like you I’ve always liked P-39’s probably because of the ti-cycle landing gear and the mid-engine concept. It was essentially a plane build around a cannon and the USAAC place so many requirements on it that it never achieved it’s full potential. However,the Russia’s loved the plane and achieved great results with it in their theater of operations. Only one American, 2Lt William Fiedler, became an Ace flying a P-39. Tragically, he was killed when a P-38 lost an engine on take off and slammed into his aircraft. I did a model of his P-39 and posted it here on iModeler.
Roberto Lúcio - Boblucio said on August 8, 2019
Tom, thank you very much for your coments.
Indeed the p-39 was a so unusual project, perhaps the reason it got so interesting for us, and for the history.
Allan J Withers said on August 8, 2019
Nicely done Roberto, looks good.
Roberto Lúcio - Boblucio said on August 8, 2019
Thank you, Allan.
Craig Abrahamson said on August 8, 2019
Excellent presentation, sir…I wouldn’t have guessed 72nd – great work!
Roberto Lúcio - Boblucio said on August 8, 2019
Thank you, Graig.
Tom Rodgers said on August 8, 2019
Very nice work…especially in 1/72 scale.
Roberto Lúcio - Boblucio said on August 8, 2019
Thank you, Tom.
Greg Kittinger said on August 8, 2019
Nicely done! I love the Aircobra in that Pacific scheme (I also did a 1/72 version – old MPC kit if I remember right). Great detail work on this.
Roberto Lúcio - Boblucio said on August 8, 2019
Thank you, Greg.
Robert Royes said on August 8, 2019
Nice work, great presentation. one of the first kits that I did as a kid was the old Airfix version.
Tom Cleaver said on August 8, 2019
Really nice work on this. When I first saw the photo on the main page, I thought it was 1/48. Not only nice work on the model but also the “supporting cast.”
Roberto Lúcio - Boblucio said on August 8, 2019
Thank you for your coments, Tom.
George R Blair Jr said on August 9, 2019
Wow, really nice job. The detail makes it look more like a 1/48 kit.
Roberto Lúcio - Boblucio said on August 9, 2019
George, thank you for your coments.
Jeff Bailey said on August 10, 2019
Outstanding! I too, have liked the P-39 since I first laid eyes on one. It’s a plane apart from the rest of the crowd. It’s not the best at anything, but it was a solid workhorse and was an example of things to come.
Bravo! @boblucio
Roberto Lúcio - Boblucio said on August 10, 2019
Be sure I agree with you about the workhorse. Thank you Jeff.