1:285 Scale WW2 Aircraft

Curtiss P-40F Warhawk

The Merlin engine did much to overcome the limitations imposed by the Allison, and a total of 1311 aircraft powered by the American-made version of the Merlin, built by the Packard Motor Car Company, were ordered under the designation P-40F. The P-40F and later versions were known by the name "Warhawk" in US service.

The first 699 planes of the P-40F series produced had fuselages of 31 feet 2 inches and had no dash numbers as the production block designation system was not yet in effect. Dash numbers were introduced beginning with production of the first P-40F-5-CU model, introducing a fuselage elongated to 33 feet 4 inches to improve directional stability. This longer fuselage was retained in all later P-40 versions. The P-40F-10-CUs had manual instead of electrically-operated cowl flap controls with the P-40F-15-CUs also being equipped with winterizing equipment, and the P-40F-20-CUs being equipped with a revised oxygen flow system for the pilot. A radio mast was fitted to late production P-40Fs.

The P-40F was powered by a Packard-built Merlin V-1650-1 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine rated at 1300 hp for takeoff and 1120 hp at 18,500 feet. Maximum speed was 320 mph at 5000 feet, 340 mph at 10,000 feet, 352 mph at 15,000 feet, and 364 mph at 10,000 feet. An altitude of 10,000 feet could be attained in 4.5 minutes, and an altitude of 20,000 feet could be reached in 11.6 minutes. Maximum range was 700 miles at 20,000 feet (clean), 875 miles (one 43 Imp gal drop tank), and 1500 miles (141.5 Imp gal drop tank). Service ceiling was 34,400 feet. Weights were 6590 pounds empty, 8500 pounds normal loaded, and 9350 pounds maximum. Dimensions were 37 feet 4 inches wingspan, 33 feet 4 inches length (P-40F-5-CU and later), 10 feet 7 inches high, 236 square feet wing area. Armament consisted of six 0.50-inch machine guns in the wings.

Information Sources:

• War Planes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume Four, William Green, Doubleday, 1964
• Curtiss Aircraft, 1907-1947, Peter M. Bowers, Naval Institute Press, 1979
• The Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk, Ray Wagner, Aircraft in Profile, Volume 2, Doubleday, 1965

Package Contents:

• 1x Scale Aircraft Model

More Information:

• Scale: 1:285
• Materials: White Metal

Models supplied unpainted, may require assembly