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P-40F/L Merlin Cowling
Preview

 

AMtech's 1/48 scale resin nose for the forthcoming  Merlin-powered P-40F & L,

AMtech

 

S u m m a r y
Catalogue No. & Description TBA
Price: TBA
Contents and Media: TBA
Scale: 1/48
Review Type: Preview
Advantages: Much more accurate shape than original nose as moulded by AMT; crisp detail; looks like a fairly good fit; eliminates the problem fit areas on the plastic kit nose.
Disadvantages: Unsure of exhaust solution for final kit; bottom cut not on panel line; possible step on fitting
Recommendation: Recommended 

 

Reviewed by Steven Eisenman


AMtech's 1/48 scale P-40F/L kits may be ordered online from Squadron.com

 

FirstLook

 

AMtech's next model in their 1/48 scale P-40 series are the F and L, Rolls-Royce Merlin powered variants. Although the fuselage bears a family resemblance to the more familiar Allison Warhawks, the design of the P-40F and L nose was completely different.

AMtech will once again use unreleased AMT moulds for this kit. Upon comparison of the kit fuselage sprues with plans and references, AMtech was not satisfied with the accuracy of the profile, panel arrangements and other details on the kit nose. The new AMtech kit will therefore include a resin replacement nose that more accurately depicts the unique attributes of the Merlin engine cowl and intake.

The nose is depicted in these photographs. The overall shape, detail and location of the panels looks much better than the original styrene nose. The difference is very noticeable.

 

 

Another advantage of the replacement nose is that it eliminates several fit problems around the nose and separate cowl covers on the plastic kit parts.

The kit nose will have to be removed from the fuselage to accommodate this resin replacement. The top cut is along a panel line but the bottom line is not. In fact, the bottom cut goes through the centre of a samll access panel.

Initial test fitting to a single fuselage half suggests that there may be a small step, but this cannot be verified at this point. Otherwise, the fit looks good.

 

 

The review sample came with the standard exhaust stacks. As can be seen in the photographs, the final exhaust configuration will comprise three sets of two stacks per side. It will be interesting to see these exhausts.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Thanks to AMtech for the review sample.

AMtech models are available from good hobby shops and online retailers. For more information about AMtech future releases, please see their Preview page here on HyperScale or visit their website at http://www.amtechmodels.com

Review and Images Copyright © 2002 by Steven Eisenman
Page Created 13 October, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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