Review of FCM 1/32ND SCALE
1/14 G.Av. P-40N Decal Set
No. 32017
By Ray Mehlberger
Available at Sprue Bros at $15.99 marked down from $18.00
By Ray Mehlberger
Available at Sprue Bros at $15.99 marked down from $18.00
HISTORY:
The P-40N was the most produced variant of the Warhawk, with 5220 aircraft built.
In an attempt to increase performance, Curtiss lightened the P-40M by introducing a lightweight structure, lighter, smaller diameter undercarriage wheels, removing two of the guns, and installing aluminum radiators and oil coolers. Head armor was also re-introduced. With these changes, the P-40N-1 (Model 87V) was the fastest production Warhawk, reaching a speed of 378 mph below 12,000 feet.
Starting with the P-40N-5 (Model 87W), the canopy was redesigned to give the pilot a better field of vision. This variant also reverted to the six gun wing and one rack was added to each wing, these could carry either bombs or drop tanks.
A more powerful V-1710-99 engine was introduced on the N-20, and a further improved V-1710-115 was introduced on the N-40. Curtiss attempted to further improve visibility and fitted one P-40N with a bubble canopy, this feature never made it to production.
The P-40N was the most produced variant of the Warhawk, with 5220 aircraft built.
In an attempt to increase performance, Curtiss lightened the P-40M by introducing a lightweight structure, lighter, smaller diameter undercarriage wheels, removing two of the guns, and installing aluminum radiators and oil coolers. Head armor was also re-introduced. With these changes, the P-40N-1 (Model 87V) was the fastest production Warhawk, reaching a speed of 378 mph below 12,000 feet.
Starting with the P-40N-5 (Model 87W), the canopy was redesigned to give the pilot a better field of vision. This variant also reverted to the six gun wing and one rack was added to each wing, these could carry either bombs or drop tanks.
A more powerful V-1710-99 engine was introduced on the N-20, and a further improved V-1710-115 was introduced on the N-40. Curtiss attempted to further improve visibility and fitted one P-40N with a bubble canopy, this feature never made it to production.
FCM is based in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
This decal set comes in a clear self-sealing clear cello bag.
The set consists of 1 decal sheet and the painting and marking instructions.
The marking and painting guide is 16 ½” x 8”, folded twice to fit the envelope. It is printed in color on slick coated paper.
One side shows two color side views of 2 F-40s. One is a F-40E as it appeared in October 1953. It is with Brazilian Air Force and carries their star markings. It is bare metal overall with a black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit. It has a yellow and green vertical stripe on the rudder flap, a white narrow fuselage band and a small black serial number F-40E-4021 on the rudder. On the side of its nose there is a logo of a illustration of a parrot in a pilot’s suit who is laying on a black bomb on top of a cloud next to a black letter 1. On the cloud it says “JA TE ATENDO TCHE” (We will catch you) It has a black and white spinner.
This decal set comes in a clear self-sealing clear cello bag.
The set consists of 1 decal sheet and the painting and marking instructions.
The marking and painting guide is 16 ½” x 8”, folded twice to fit the envelope. It is printed in color on slick coated paper.
One side shows two color side views of 2 F-40s. One is a F-40E as it appeared in October 1953. It is with Brazilian Air Force and carries their star markings. It is bare metal overall with a black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit. It has a yellow and green vertical stripe on the rudder flap, a white narrow fuselage band and a small black serial number F-40E-4021 on the rudder. On the side of its nose there is a logo of a illustration of a parrot in a pilot’s suit who is laying on a black bomb on top of a cloud next to a black letter 1. On the cloud it says “JA TE ATENDO TCHE” (We will catch you) It has a black and white spinner.
Above these 2 profiles there are upper views of a P-40K and a P-40N. Both are overall olive drab with black wing walks. The P-40K has some darker green spots on it and a yellow no. 02 on the sides of its nose. It carries the Brazilian Air Force star insignias and was with Grupamento de Monomotores Recife-1943.
The P-40N is in the same camouflage, with a green and white spinner. It was also with the Brazilian Air Force 3rd Gr. De Caca 1947.
A top view of a Brazilian Air Force F-40N is shown. It is overall bare metal, with a black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit and a white spinner. It was with 1/14 G Av. 1951-1954.
The P-40N is in the same camouflage, with a green and white spinner. It was also with the Brazilian Air Force 3rd Gr. De Caca 1947.
A top view of a Brazilian Air Force F-40N is shown. It is overall bare metal, with a black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit and a white spinner. It was with 1/14 G Av. 1951-1954.
Suggested kits to use this decal on are the Hasegawa kits of the P-40E, P-40K, P-40M and the P-40N.
A book to use for reference is suggested titles “Curtiss P-40 in Brazil” with a web address provided to use to purchase the book there.
A book to use for reference is suggested titles “Curtiss P-40 in Brazil” with a web address provided to use to purchase the book there.
To the right of this sheet there is a 5-view line drawing to use for placing stencil marks.
The reverse side of the sheet begins with a suggested color listing that includes FS (Federal Standard) numbers for the colors.
It is followed by 7 color side views of Brazilian Airforce F-40s and P-40s. Five of these are bare metal overall with black anti-glare panels in front of the cockpit and vertical yellow and green stripe on the rudder flap.
The first bare metal one is a F-40N. It has a narrow black fuselage band and a black and white spinner. The parrot logo is on the side of it nose, followed by a black 3. Small black serial no.F-40N-4064 is on the rudder. It is shown as it appeared in July 1953.
The second bare metal one is a P-40N with a white and yellow spinner, the parrot logo on its nose followed by black no. 2. Small black serial no. P-40N-4092 on the rudder. It is as it appeared in August 1951.
The third bare metal one is a F-40M with a white and blue spinner, narrow blue fuselage band, parrot logo on side of nose followed by black no 4 and small black serial no. F-40M-4053 on the rudder. It is as it appeared in March 1954
The fourth bare metal one is a F-40K with a black and white spinner, narrow white fuselage band, parrot logo on the side of the nose, followed by black no. 5. Small black serial no. F-40K-4038 on the rudder.It is as it appeared in October 1953.
It is followed by 7 color side views of Brazilian Airforce F-40s and P-40s. Five of these are bare metal overall with black anti-glare panels in front of the cockpit and vertical yellow and green stripe on the rudder flap.
The first bare metal one is a F-40N. It has a narrow black fuselage band and a black and white spinner. The parrot logo is on the side of it nose, followed by a black 3. Small black serial no.F-40N-4064 is on the rudder. It is shown as it appeared in July 1953.
The second bare metal one is a P-40N with a white and yellow spinner, the parrot logo on its nose followed by black no. 2. Small black serial no. P-40N-4092 on the rudder. It is as it appeared in August 1951.
The third bare metal one is a F-40M with a white and blue spinner, narrow blue fuselage band, parrot logo on side of nose followed by black no 4 and small black serial no. F-40M-4053 on the rudder. It is as it appeared in March 1954
The fourth bare metal one is a F-40K with a black and white spinner, narrow white fuselage band, parrot logo on the side of the nose, followed by black no. 5. Small black serial no. F-40K-4038 on the rudder.It is as it appeared in October 1953.
The fifth bare metal one is a F-40N with a red, white and blue spinner, the parrot logo on the side of the nose. Followed by a black no. 1. It has red white and blue fuselage bands as a bundle. It is as it appeared in October 1953.
Next are 2 profiles of P-40s that are olive drab above light grey under carriages .
The first one has a yellow O2 on the side of the nose and a yellow 210 on its rudder. It has a totally different parrot logo on the side of its nose. This time the parrot is wearing a top hat and dark trousers. He is standing in front of a cloud on a grass mound and holding a Thompson machine gun. This aircraft was with the Brazilian Air Force and carried its star markings. It was with Grupamento de Monomotores Recife -1943.
The second olive drab one is a P-40M with green and yellow vertical stripe on the rudder flap and a green and white spinner. It has a small white serial no. P-40M-4079 on the rudder. It carries a third version of the parrot logo on the side of the nose. It is a white circle with a red no. 3 on it. Sitting in the bottom of the 3 is the parrot who is reclining and smoking a cigarette. He wears a straw hat, white shirt with a black neck tie and black pants. He has a machine gun in his lap.
Next are 2 profiles of P-40s that are olive drab above light grey under carriages .
The first one has a yellow O2 on the side of the nose and a yellow 210 on its rudder. It has a totally different parrot logo on the side of its nose. This time the parrot is wearing a top hat and dark trousers. He is standing in front of a cloud on a grass mound and holding a Thompson machine gun. This aircraft was with the Brazilian Air Force and carried its star markings. It was with Grupamento de Monomotores Recife -1943.
The second olive drab one is a P-40M with green and yellow vertical stripe on the rudder flap and a green and white spinner. It has a small white serial no. P-40M-4079 on the rudder. It carries a third version of the parrot logo on the side of the nose. It is a white circle with a red no. 3 on it. Sitting in the bottom of the 3 is the parrot who is reclining and smoking a cigarette. He wears a straw hat, white shirt with a black neck tie and black pants. He has a machine gun in his lap.
The sheet was made in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and printed by Micro Scale.
I want to sincerely thank Mr. Felipe Canuto Miranda, head of FCM Decal Co. for this review sample.
All FCM decals can be viewed on their web site at:
All FCM decals can be viewed on their web site at: