Revell (MPM) 1/72 P-70 Nighthawk
The 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group (481 NFOTG) was the primary night fighter Operational/Replacement Training Unit (OTU/RTU) of the Army Air Forces during World War II.
The Group's history can be traced back to March 1942, where the Air Corps observers returned from England prior to the United States' entry into World War II. Upon review of their recommendations, the Air Defense Operational Training Unit was established by Third Air Force on 26 March, re-designated as the Interceptor Command School on 30 March.
In January 1943 the school was expanded from Orlando to Kissimmee Army Airfield, where the first operational night fighter combat squadrons were activated (414th and 415th NFS) and operational training was carried out.
The first graduates were deployed to England as the 414th, 415th, 416th and 417th Night Fighter Squadrons.
With the arrival of the P-61 Black Widow, the school moved to California. In the meantime, the AAF gradually came to conclude that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization, were proving less well adapted to the training mission.
The well used by the school Douglas P-70, while being a stop gap measure that had its limitations (and, expectedly, achieving limited access in combat), proved to be a solid asset to the school, being there and offering its valuable training services when little else was available: an unsung hero in its own manner.
This is the Revell reboxing of the very good, yet limited run in nature MPM offering. It was a surprise present from my friend @lis and was built through his Pacicic Theater GB.
Should you wish to read the full build review, you may do so by visiting my beloved site Modelingmadness:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/allies/us/usaaf/fighters/penp70.htm
Happy Modelling!
@fiveten - Fantastic build and article Spiros! This one should look quite noticeable in any collection. I don't think I've seen many (if any) all black fighters. Very cool.
Thanks my friend @brithebuilder! Indeed, you don't see too many of them built, a pity, as it is a cool modeling subject.
Excellent looking Havoc and interesting article !
Thanks my friend @ssgt!
That’s a beautiful looking Havoc, Spiros @fiveten. I recall you built a similar P-70 - the ERTL/Italeri release in 1/48 not that long ago. Aside from scale differences, how do they compare?
Thanks my friend @eb801! This Revell (reboxed MPM) is, clearly, better, with correct general shapes of parts, well detailed (the key areas included - cockpits, landing gear, engines and so on). No oversimplifications, no short cuts and with the correct parts to cater for the various versions...
...BUT...
...it clearly is a limited run kit, albeit done in full styrene, meaning clean up everything, test fit three times before gluing once, "scale" thickness of the landing gear legs/struts (meaning too sensitive) and so on...
Fantastic Build!
Thanks for everything, my friend @lis!
Nice job, Spiros. Especially on the black paint job...looks good.
Thanks my friend @gwskat!
She surely is Black Magic, Spiros @fiveten
Excellent result on this P70.
Thanks my friend @johnb!
Excellent build Spiros!
Thanks my friend @blackmopane!
Great looking build Spiros, love the scheme, must be day for blackbirds.
Thanks my friend @roofrat! Indeed, a blackbird day!
Great job on The P-70! Black paint jobs are hard to pull off and you did it well.
Thanks my friend @ferrw!
'Black Magic' indeed, Spiros.
It appears that Bernard (@lis) chose well when he sent this detailed P-70 to you.
Great post and another great write up for the MM followers too.
Thanks so much, my friend @georgeswork!
Very nice canopy framing, especially for the scale.
Thanks my friend @tomhering!
Pure Black Magic, Spiros, marvelous, they probably wouldn’t be allowed to call it that these days.
Thanks my friend @chinesegeorge! Times have changed, haven't they?
Really nice finish and details on this one, Spiros. I was sure it was the AMT 1/48th scale until I looked more closely at the write-up. I admire how smoothly you got the decals to go down in spite of all that black to cover. I would have thought major risk of silvering defects but non visible.
Thanks my friend @coling! The fresh Cartograph decals did not disappoint.
Nicely done Spiros, the markings stand out well against the black.
Thanks my friend @kalamazoo!
Nicely done, Spiros @fiveten
I was not previously aware of this airplane. You've done an excellent job on the kit, and the P-70 seems to be a handsome plane that made it's contribution by training crews for the task and preparing them to use more advanced equipment.
I'll have to look for the 1/48 AMT.
Thanks my friend @tankgrrl!
Looks great! Love those markings. I have an MPM kit of this - wonder if they are the same markings in the box...
Thanks my friend @gkittinger! Your MPM boxing should have the following four markings:
481 NFOTG 53/43-9753
1943 World War 2 - Florida
Overall Black
6 NFS 43-9776 (Donald Hyland)
1943 World War 2
Overall Black
6 NFS, Det. A 43-9768 "Dusty" (Fred Secord)
May 1943 World War 2 - Port Moresby PG
Overall Black
6 NFS, Det. A 43-9785 (Donald Hyland)
1943 World War 2 - Port Moresby PG
Overall Black
Great build and article, thanks for sharing!
Thanks my friend @gruntdoc!
As usual Spiros a great build and dialogue. Excellent read Spios 👍
Thanks my friend @thom!
Beautifully done Spiros, and certainly some learning for many of us in the writing. Fantastic work.
Thanks my friend @yellow10!
Great model, Spiros (@fiveten). I really like the way it looks with the black camo and light decals. Makes a nice contrast. This is a real tail-sitter, so you must have added some weight. I am warming up an A-20B/C in 1/48 that I want to start soon. Well done.
Thanks my friend @gblair! Looking forward to your A-20!
Great looking P-70 Spiros @fiveten! The markings used on this plane really make it stick out, nice pick!
Thanks my friend @v1pro!
That's beautiful work, Spiros @fiveten!
Thanks my friend @garybrantley!