In October 1940, upon USAAC's feeling a need for long-range fighters more than attack bombers, a decision was taken to convert sixty of the production run of A-20s to night fighter status, all delivered by September 1942.
The so called P-70 was equipped with SCR-540 radar, a copy of the British AI Mk IV, with the glazed nose often being painted black to reduce glare and hide the details of the radar set.
Armament consisted of four 20 mm (.79 in) forward-firing cannons, each provided with 120 rounds, in a tray in the lower part of the bomb bay, whereas the upper part held an additional fuel tank with a capacity of 250 US gallons.
Later on, between June and October 1943, 13 A-20Cs and 51 A-20Gs were converted to P-70A.
Differences were to be found in the armament, with the 20mm cannon package replaced by an A-20G gun nose with six .50 caliber guns installed, the SCR-540 radar installation being carried in the bomb bay with the vertical-plane, twin-dipole "arrowhead" transceiving antenna protruding between the nose guns.
Further P-70 variants were produced from A-20G and J variants.
The singular air frame P-70B-1 (converted from an A-20G) and subsequent P-70B-2s (converted from A-20Gs and Js) had American centimetric radar (SCR-720 or SCR-729) fitted.
Whereas P-70s and P-70As saw combat in the Pacific during World War II with the USAAF, P-70B-1 and P-70B-2 aircraft never saw combat but served as night fighter aircrew trainers in the US in Florida and later in California.
All examples were retired from service by 1945 and no known survivor of the specific type seems to exist.
Though a stop-gap measure having its possible shortfalls and rushed into service till more dedicated types would emerge, the P-70 was nevertheless a tough, dependable aircraft which not only provided valuable training to the “soon to become'' night fighter crews, but was present when little else was available.
This is the "night fighter" version of AMT's A-20 family, built as an entrant to our friend's Jeffrey Kolln (@421stwidow) "Night Fighters" Group.
AMT A-20/Boston/P-70s are in general good, well detailed kits that have their particular points of attention, mainly less then stellar at areas fit, wrongly positioned main legs, nose leg not positioned at slightly positive caster angle and overdone tires thread pattern.
In the case of the P-70, the rear radar operator's office is a complete miss (basically it is depicted as a rear gunner's compartment, which is absolutely wrong).
All above (and, possibly, some more) discrepancies can be to a degree attended and fixed with various approaches.
Should you wish to read the full build review, you might do so by visiting my beloved site Modelingmadness:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/allies/us/usaaf/fighters/pen70.htm
Happy Modelling!
I like all nightfighters, and getting an all black camouflage that doesn’t look dull or toyish-like is not an easy affair. Very good work Spiros @fiveten
Thanks my friend @holzhamer!
The black looks quite menacing, Spiros my friend, and it appears that you corrected the discrepancies in this kit as well as adding some extra details, excellent modelling.
Thanks my friend @chinesegeorge!
A beautiful lady in black, Spiros @fiveten
This color is really difficult to weather but yours looks great.
All the extras did really pay off.
Nice supporting article, equally for the reporting on MM.
Thanks my friend @johnb!
Nice work on this uncommon subject! Your attention to small details really adds to this kit.
Thanks my friend @ssgt!
Great job, Spiros. The black paint job looks nice.
Thanks my friend @gwskat!
Looks very sinister! Great job.
Thanks my friend @marcellorosa1!
Spiros (@fiveten), glad to see you finally got her done, and she looks great. Nice paint job and weathering which keeps the toy look at bay. Well done.
Thanks my friend @tom-bebout!
Sweet looking night fighter! Great build and presentation. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks my friend @dbutlr!
You did an amazing job on this one Spiros. I remember building this version in 1/72 as a young boy. That gunpack just adds to the menacing look of the P-70. Well done!
Thanks my friend @mornem!
Well done as usual sir the satin black finish has alot of appeal. I assume this is the same AMT of model cars and trucks, I did not know they molded aircraft models...hopefully they do a better job with planes than vehicles.
Only 480 rounds of 20mm? Sounds like alot but if things got hot it would not last very long, one would think they'd be able to carry more considering the airframe. In any event, another excellent model by my buddy Spiros!
Thanks my friend @markh! Yes, it is the same AMT, having presented some interesting planes in the past.
Deep, Dark and dangerous looking.
Another Spiros creation, and as always looking so good !
Thanks my friend @bernardbedeur!
I’ve always liked the look of this plane. You did a fantastic job on this one!
Thanks my friend @guitarhack5!
Fantastic Night Fighter! I love it!
Thanks my friend @lis!
what paints did You use?
Humbrol Black (I think it was satin 85), Humbrol 226 for the greens, Modelmaster 1780 Steel for gear legs and wheel rims, my friend @lis!
Great! I wish to build Nightawk in 1:72 wcale.
Nice work on this and for fixing the fixable to get it right. A monochromatic paint job like this is hard to get right, but you certainly achieved it. A great result all the way around, @fiveten!
Thanks my friend @tcinla!
Ah, the further adventures of Spiros P. and his amazing gifts and talents. I really liked how you posed the kit and photos they really compliment your efforts in making this kit. Spiros, you have done a good job of making your article interesting with these photos. Also, the photos of the offending wheels and the empty radar operators office bring to light the kits short comings. Not to mention the comment about gear placement.
I love it when a modeler can take a solid old kit and bring it up to par with some of the more contemporary kits.
Its the only game in town in 1/48 and if it where to be made today it would be a high end kit money wise.
Two thumbs up.
Thanks so much my friend @stephen-w-towle! The A-20 family with their variations and, of course, interesting camos, is a very attractive subject modeling wise, with a number of modelers possibly reluctant to tackle the AMTs due to the combination of discrepancies they possess. Though presenting a significant industrial risk (the shelf sitters Revell 1/48 Ju-52s and Catalinas spring into our minds), I believe that we will sooner or later be treated with a new tool and, as you pointed out, quite expensive 1/48 A-20.
Great job, Spiros! I hadn't realized until a while ago that the cockpit was a single seat, having seen a B-25 up close, and how tight that cockpit was, P-70s must have really been cramped.
Thanks my friend @roofrat! Yep, a single seat cockpit!
Another winner Spiros!
Thanks my friend @dtravis!
Beautiful work Spiros, one of my favorite twins from WWII. You made this kit look great!
Thanks my friend @v1pro!
Spiros, (@fiveten)
I saw this beauty over at MM the other day, and I have been waiting for it to show up over here so I could congratulate you on your work. It looks very good, and I commend you on it.
I have always had a fascination with WW2 aircraft that flew in the skies over my home State of Florida. Someday I would like to build one of these, with US Army markings as it would have appeared while flying over sunny Florida during the War.
Please say hello to the misses, QC1 and QC2 for me. Take care my friend.
Thank you so much my friend @lgardner!
Well done, Spiros! Still a great kit.
Thanks my friend @j-healy!
Great work on this Spiros! I'm going to have to get around to doing one of these... You always seem to provoke the desire to add another "must-do-soon" project to my list of to-dos!
Thank you kindly, my friend @gkittinger!
Very nice, Spiros (@fiveten). This kit, in all of its various disguises, is one of my favorite kits, even with its many shortcomings. It is pretty large and has a pleasant mass to it. The all-black monotone finish is especially well done.
Thanks my friend @gblair!
Wow! Neat model. The extra effort you put into the this kit really paid off.
Thanks my friend @eydugstr!
Well done Spiros, @fiveten. Every time I see one these Havoc kits built up I get bug to builld one. Nice work on making a monochromatic plane interesting.
Thanks my friend @luftwaffe-birdman!
I love the A-20 and the AMT kit, you did a great job with this, Spiros! Having variations in the all-black finish really lends to it's authenticity.
Thanks my friend @robgenev665!