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Bob Dudolevitch
18 articles

AMTECH P-40L-5, Long tail

January 24, 2021 · in Aviation · · 10 · 2.2K

P-40L-5 of the 79th Fighter Group in Mediterranean Theater markings ca late 1943, most likely in Sicily. I like the USAAF aircraft in the RAF-style camo (Dark Earth, Midstone, Azure), and British fin flash obscuring the serial number. It's a great look. This aircraft was later painted in a non-standard dark green camo on the fuselage by it's pilot (Lt Erwin R Silsbee) while in (mainland).

On this version, I like the Operation Torch (Nov 42) fuselage star with yellow surround combined with the mid-43 red surround on the wing stars and white bars.

This aircraft and it's gallant pilots did great service against more advanced Bf-109F and G models and eventually won the war of attrition to gain air superiority over Tunisia, Sardinia, Sicily and Italy.

I vote 'two thumbs up' on Amtech P-40s.

Reader reactions:
8  Awesome

8 additional images. Click to enlarge.


10 responses

  1. Nice work Bob - P-40's always look good and these merlin engined birds look great in this scheme.
    The mix of US and British markings add to it as well.

  2. Nicely done, I agree the mix of markings make it an interesting scheme.

  3. Nice work, Bob. Mediterranean theater P-40s (as well as Spitfires and Hurricanes), are a treasure trove of interesting schemes.

  4. Aint she sweet. nice job on that ol' Amtech. Med F's are nice looking birds all right.

  5. I have built up two of these AmTech P-40's...they build up nicely, and they look especially good to me. You did a fantastic job with yours. Too bad the company is not around anymore, but you can still find these kits at swap meets or online auctions.

    You can easily find a lot of different paint schemes for the P-40, ranging from a bare metal finish, to what you have done here with your build and a desert finish, or anything in between. There are only a few other planes that could fall into this category of wearing a multitude of color schemes. Planes like the Spitfire, Bf-109 and Fw-190... but the P-40 wears a shark mouth the best in my humble opinion.

    My very first plastic model, which I built when I was 8 years old, was the "original" release of the 1/32 scale Revell P-40E "Flying Tiger". I have had a soft spot in my heart for the plane every since then...

    Well done my friend.

  6. A realy gem, Bob.
    That mediterranean looks great on your P40.
    Well done.

  7. Those mixed insignia are absolutely cool!
    You did a splendid job on this late P-40, Bob!
    The Merlin P-40s are said to be very good planes...
    Thanks for sharing!

  8. Ah, a P-40 in desert camouflage, what's not to like. Nicely done Bob.

  9. Yep - love everything about this - the fact that it's a P-40, the mixed markings, the RAF scheme (love desert schemes anyway). I'm going to have to do something like this in 1/72!

  10. 🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
    Nice P-40 Bob, always a good sight, a desert camouflage on a War Hawk.

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