In Box Review of Hobbycraft of Canada 1/48th Scale
French Curtiss Hawk 75 Fighter
Kit no. HC1560
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
My kit has a copyright date of 1992. I paid $13.98 for it back in the 90's at a local shop that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
My kit has a copyright date of 1992. I paid $13.98 for it back in the 90's at a local shop that went out of business.
HISTORY:
The Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, is an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of both the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation of combat aircraft—a sleek monoplane design making extensive use of metal in its construction and powered by a powerful radial engine.
Perhaps best known as the predecessor of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, the P-36 saw little combat with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was nevertheless the fighter used most extensively and successfully by the French Armee de l'air during the Battle of France.
The P-36 was also ordered by the governments of the Netherlands and Norway, but did not arrive in time to see action before both were occupied by Nazi Germany. The type was also manufactured under license in China, for the Republic of China Air Force, as well as in British India, for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF).
Axis and co-belligerent air forces also made significant use of captured P-36s. Following the fall of France and Norway in 1940, several dozen P-36s were seized by Germany and transferred to Finland; these aircraft saw extensive action with the Ilmavoimat (Air Force) against the Soviet Air Forces.
The P-36 was also used by Vichy French air forces in several minor conflicts; in one of these, the Franco-Thai War of 1940–41, P-36s were used by both sides.
From mid-1940, some P-36s en route for France and the Netherlands were diverted to Allied air forces in other parts of the world. The Hawks ordered by the Netherlands were diverted to the Dutch East Indies and later saw action against Japanese forces.
French orders were taken up by British Commonwealth air forces, and saw combat with both the South African Air Force (SAAF) against Italian forces in East Africa, and with the RAF over Burma. Within the Commonwealth, the type was usually referred to as the Curtiss Mohawk.
With around 1,000 aircraft built by Curtiss itself, the P-36 was a major commercial success for the company. It also became the basis not only of the P-40, but two other, unsuccessful prototypes: the YP-37 and the XP-42.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter
Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright Corporation
First flight: 6 May 1935
Introduction to service: 1938
Retired: 1954, Argentina
Primary users: U.S. Army Air Corps, Finnish Air Force, French Air Force, Royal Air Force
Number built: 215 (P-36) plus 900 export Hawk 75 variants
Unit cost: U.S. $23,000
Developed into: Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
The Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, is an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of both the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation of combat aircraft—a sleek monoplane design making extensive use of metal in its construction and powered by a powerful radial engine.
Perhaps best known as the predecessor of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, the P-36 saw little combat with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was nevertheless the fighter used most extensively and successfully by the French Armee de l'air during the Battle of France.
The P-36 was also ordered by the governments of the Netherlands and Norway, but did not arrive in time to see action before both were occupied by Nazi Germany. The type was also manufactured under license in China, for the Republic of China Air Force, as well as in British India, for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF).
Axis and co-belligerent air forces also made significant use of captured P-36s. Following the fall of France and Norway in 1940, several dozen P-36s were seized by Germany and transferred to Finland; these aircraft saw extensive action with the Ilmavoimat (Air Force) against the Soviet Air Forces.
The P-36 was also used by Vichy French air forces in several minor conflicts; in one of these, the Franco-Thai War of 1940–41, P-36s were used by both sides.
From mid-1940, some P-36s en route for France and the Netherlands were diverted to Allied air forces in other parts of the world. The Hawks ordered by the Netherlands were diverted to the Dutch East Indies and later saw action against Japanese forces.
French orders were taken up by British Commonwealth air forces, and saw combat with both the South African Air Force (SAAF) against Italian forces in East Africa, and with the RAF over Burma. Within the Commonwealth, the type was usually referred to as the Curtiss Mohawk.
With around 1,000 aircraft built by Curtiss itself, the P-36 was a major commercial success for the company. It also became the basis not only of the P-40, but two other, unsuccessful prototypes: the YP-37 and the XP-42.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter
Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright Corporation
First flight: 6 May 1935
Introduction to service: 1938
Retired: 1954, Argentina
Primary users: U.S. Army Air Corps, Finnish Air Force, French Air Force, Royal Air Force
Number built: 215 (P-36) plus 900 export Hawk 75 variants
Unit cost: U.S. $23,000
Developed into: Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
THE KIT:
Hobbycraft of Canada was a model company based in Ontario, Canada. They went out of business.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Hawk 75 shooting down a German Ju-88.
The Hawk 75 is in a wave pattern of dark-brown, green and dark blue-gray over a light-blue under-side.
It has a black circle with a white no. 2 on it on the rudder sides and a vertical fin flash in red, white and blue with black CURTISS over H-75-C1 and No.217, P1, PE, PC1 and PDH on it.
It has a pennant that is half green and half orange diagonally with a black and white stork on it under the cockpit.
One side panel says the kit was made in South Korea, followed by 2 color box arts of other Hobbycraft aircraft kits: kit no. HC1552, a P-35 USAAC Fighter and kit no. HC1553, a P-35A.
This is followed by a list of the features of the kit: a detailed cockpit and landing gear, engraved panel lines, in multiple languages, including English. Paint and glue are not included.
Hobbycraft of Canada was a model company based in Ontario, Canada. They went out of business.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Hawk 75 shooting down a German Ju-88.
The Hawk 75 is in a wave pattern of dark-brown, green and dark blue-gray over a light-blue under-side.
It has a black circle with a white no. 2 on it on the rudder sides and a vertical fin flash in red, white and blue with black CURTISS over H-75-C1 and No.217, P1, PE, PC1 and PDH on it.
It has a pennant that is half green and half orange diagonally with a black and white stork on it under the cockpit.
One side panel says the kit was made in South Korea, followed by 2 color box arts of other Hobbycraft aircraft kits: kit no. HC1552, a P-35 USAAC Fighter and kit no. HC1553, a P-35A.
This is followed by a list of the features of the kit: a detailed cockpit and landing gear, engraved panel lines, in multiple languages, including English. Paint and glue are not included.
The other side panel has 2 more color box arts: kit no. HC1555, a Curtiss USAAC P-36A/C and kit no. HC1557, a Hawk 75M/N/O Export fighter.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 3 light-gray trees and a clear tree in a sealed clear cello bag, the decal sheet, instructions, a WARNING sheet and 2 cards to mail in to suggest new kits for Hobbycraft to manufacture (one in French and one in English).
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over kit features - detailed cockpit and landing gear, precise moldings and authentic markings in 5 languages, including English, over international assembly symbol explanations and Hobbycraft's street address in Ontario, Canada.
Page 2 begins with READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, over the first 2 assembly steps.
Page 3 & 4 gives a balance of a total of 6 assembly steps.
Page 5 has marking and painting instructions for the box art subject scheme as a 4-view (already described above).
It is a Hawk 75A-3 of GC 1/5, France, June 1940.
Page 6 has another marking and painting 4-view for a Hawk 75A-3, Free France (FAFL), May 1941.
This kit holds 3 light-gray trees and a clear tree in a sealed clear cello bag, the decal sheet, instructions, a WARNING sheet and 2 cards to mail in to suggest new kits for Hobbycraft to manufacture (one in French and one in English).
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over kit features - detailed cockpit and landing gear, precise moldings and authentic markings in 5 languages, including English, over international assembly symbol explanations and Hobbycraft's street address in Ontario, Canada.
Page 2 begins with READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, over the first 2 assembly steps.
Page 3 & 4 gives a balance of a total of 6 assembly steps.
Page 5 has marking and painting instructions for the box art subject scheme as a 4-view (already described above).
It is a Hawk 75A-3 of GC 1/5, France, June 1940.
Page 6 has another marking and painting 4-view for a Hawk 75A-3, Free France (FAFL), May 1941.
It is in a wave pattern of dark-green (FS 30108), green (FS 34201) and dark blue-gray (FS 36329) over a light blue-gray undercarriage (FS 36270).
It has a red, white and blue vertical flash on the rudder flap and a white stripe down the sides of the fuselage with a white 9 and a white circle with a blue Cross of Lorraine on it over the stripe.
Parts trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. They do have part no. tabs next to the parts on them.
Light-gray letter A tree holds: fuselage, engine cylinders, cowling, propeller shaft and retainer, cowl machine gun blisters, small cockpit doors and air scoop (14 parts)
It has a red, white and blue vertical flash on the rudder flap and a white stripe down the sides of the fuselage with a white 9 and a white circle with a blue Cross of Lorraine on it over the stripe.
Parts trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. They do have part no. tabs next to the parts on them.
Light-gray letter A tree holds: fuselage, engine cylinders, cowling, propeller shaft and retainer, cowl machine gun blisters, small cockpit doors and air scoop (14 parts)
Light-gray letter B tree holds: lower wing halves, landing gear legs and pants etc. (14 parts)
Light-gray letter C tree holds: propeller, upper wing halves, wheels, cockpit floor and bulkhead, seat, elevators, air intakes, tail wheel, joy stick, seat support, alternate propeller shafts, pitot tube, antenna, tail wheel doors, dashboard, ring sight and wing machine guns (34 parts)
Clear letter D tree holds the cockpit canopy and gun sight etc. (8 parts)
The decal sheet and mail in cards complete the kits contents. Model has nice engraved detail, Flaps are all molded solid and there is no pilot figure included.
Highly recommended.