In Box Review of AMT-Ertl 1/48th Scale Douglas P-70 Night Fighter
Kit no. 8646
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1997
I paid $8.00 for my kit at the Ertl factory discount store, years ago.
Available from one individual in the U.S.A., on the web, for $22.50.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1997
I paid $8.00 for my kit at the Ertl factory discount store, years ago.
Available from one individual in the U.S.A., on the web, for $22.50.
HISTORY:
The Douglas A-20 Havoc (company designation DB-7) is an American medium bomber, attack aircraft, night intruder, night fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft of World War II.
Designed to meet an Army Air Corps requirement for a bomber, it was ordered by France for their air force before the USAAC decided it would also meet their requirements. French DB-7s were the first to see combat; after the fall of France, the bomber served with the Royal Air Force under the service name Boston. From 1941, night fighter and intruder versions were given the service name Havoc. In 1942 USAAF A-20s saw combat in North Africa.
It served with several Allied air forces, principally the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), the Soviet Air Forces (VVS), Soviet Naval Aviation (AVMF), and the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom. A total of 7,478 aircraft were built, of which more than a third served with Soviet units. It was also used by the air forces of Australia, South Africa, France, and the Netherlands during the war, and by Brazil afterwards.
In most British Commonwealth air forces, the bomber variants were known as Boston, while the night fighter and intruder variants were named Havoc. The exception was the Royal Australian Air Force, which used the name Boston for all variants. The USAAF used the P-70 designation to refer to the night fighter variants.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 3
Length: 47 ft 11+7⁄8 in (14.63 m)
Wingspan: 61 ft 3.5 in (18.68 m)
Height: 18 ft 1+1⁄2 in (5.52 m)
Wing area: 464 sq ft (43.1 m2)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23018; tip: NACA 23009[53]
Empty weight: 16,031 lb (7,272 kg)
Gross weight: 24,127 lb (10,944 kg)
Fuel capacity: 400 US gal (330 imp gal; 1,500 L) normal capacity
300 US gal (250 imp gal; 1,100 L) in an optional external tank
676 US gal (563 imp gal; 2,560 L) in four optional auxiliary tanks in the bomb-bay
Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-2600-23 Twin Cyclone 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) each
Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton-Standard Hydromatic, 11 ft 3 in (3.43 m) diameter constant-speed fully-feathering propellers
Maximum speed: 317 mph (510 km/h, 275 kn) at 10,700 ft (3,300 m)
325 mph (282 kn; 523 km/h) at 14,500 ft (4,400 m)
Cruise speed: 280 mph (450 km/h, 240 kn) at 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
Stall speed: 98 mph (158 km/h, 85 kn)
Range: 945 mi (1,521 km, 821 nmi)
Ferry range: 2,300 mi (3,700 km, 2,000 nmi)
Service ceiling: 23,700 ft (7,200 m)
Rate of climb: 2,000 ft/min (10 m/s)
Time to altitude: 10,000 ft (3,000 m) in 8 minutes 48 seconds
Wing loading: 52 lb/sq ft (250 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.141 hp/lb (0.232 kW/kg)
Armament:
Guns: 6 fixed forward firing 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns in the nose, 2 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns in dorsal turret, 1 flexible 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine gun, mounted behind bomb bay
Rockets: 4 triple tube t30/m10 rocket launchers
Bombs: 4,000 lb (1,800 kg)
The Douglas A-20 Havoc (company designation DB-7) is an American medium bomber, attack aircraft, night intruder, night fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft of World War II.
Designed to meet an Army Air Corps requirement for a bomber, it was ordered by France for their air force before the USAAC decided it would also meet their requirements. French DB-7s were the first to see combat; after the fall of France, the bomber served with the Royal Air Force under the service name Boston. From 1941, night fighter and intruder versions were given the service name Havoc. In 1942 USAAF A-20s saw combat in North Africa.
It served with several Allied air forces, principally the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), the Soviet Air Forces (VVS), Soviet Naval Aviation (AVMF), and the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom. A total of 7,478 aircraft were built, of which more than a third served with Soviet units. It was also used by the air forces of Australia, South Africa, France, and the Netherlands during the war, and by Brazil afterwards.
In most British Commonwealth air forces, the bomber variants were known as Boston, while the night fighter and intruder variants were named Havoc. The exception was the Royal Australian Air Force, which used the name Boston for all variants. The USAAF used the P-70 designation to refer to the night fighter variants.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 3
Length: 47 ft 11+7⁄8 in (14.63 m)
Wingspan: 61 ft 3.5 in (18.68 m)
Height: 18 ft 1+1⁄2 in (5.52 m)
Wing area: 464 sq ft (43.1 m2)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23018; tip: NACA 23009[53]
Empty weight: 16,031 lb (7,272 kg)
Gross weight: 24,127 lb (10,944 kg)
Fuel capacity: 400 US gal (330 imp gal; 1,500 L) normal capacity
300 US gal (250 imp gal; 1,100 L) in an optional external tank
676 US gal (563 imp gal; 2,560 L) in four optional auxiliary tanks in the bomb-bay
Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-2600-23 Twin Cyclone 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) each
Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton-Standard Hydromatic, 11 ft 3 in (3.43 m) diameter constant-speed fully-feathering propellers
Maximum speed: 317 mph (510 km/h, 275 kn) at 10,700 ft (3,300 m)
325 mph (282 kn; 523 km/h) at 14,500 ft (4,400 m)
Cruise speed: 280 mph (450 km/h, 240 kn) at 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
Stall speed: 98 mph (158 km/h, 85 kn)
Range: 945 mi (1,521 km, 821 nmi)
Ferry range: 2,300 mi (3,700 km, 2,000 nmi)
Service ceiling: 23,700 ft (7,200 m)
Rate of climb: 2,000 ft/min (10 m/s)
Time to altitude: 10,000 ft (3,000 m) in 8 minutes 48 seconds
Wing loading: 52 lb/sq ft (250 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.141 hp/lb (0.232 kW/kg)
Armament:
Guns: 6 fixed forward firing 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns in the nose, 2 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns in dorsal turret, 1 flexible 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine gun, mounted behind bomb bay
Rockets: 4 triple tube t30/m10 rocket launchers
Bombs: 4,000 lb (1,800 kg)
THE KIT:
AMT-Ertl was a farm toy manufacturer, based in Dyersville. IL.
Which is 50 miles north of me. They used to manufacture plastic model kits too for a while. They sold the plant to another company that also makes farm toys. I used to drive up there to buy kits at their discount store.
This kit comes in a very blousy, shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. It is 6” too long and 2” too wide.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Douglas P-70 that is shooting down a Japanese Nakajima A6M2-N Zero float plane fighter.
The P-70 is overall dark Navy-blue. It has an illustration on the side of the nose of a light-blue circle with an image of a black-panther on a tree limb, over 6 palm-trees on it. Followed by a red DUSTY.
Skill level on the box art is 2.
One side-panel of the box shows a color photo side-view of the model made up. It further shows a white star on the fuselage sides and a yellow serial no. 9768 on the rudder sides.
Followed by specification of the P-70 (already listed above).
Copyright of the kit is 1997 and Ertl’s address in Dyersville, IL is provided. Kit was made in Mexico. A 1-800 phone no. is provided for customers who have questions or comments.
AMT-Ertl was a farm toy manufacturer, based in Dyersville. IL.
Which is 50 miles north of me. They used to manufacture plastic model kits too for a while. They sold the plant to another company that also makes farm toys. I used to drive up there to buy kits at their discount store.
This kit comes in a very blousy, shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. It is 6” too long and 2” too wide.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Douglas P-70 that is shooting down a Japanese Nakajima A6M2-N Zero float plane fighter.
The P-70 is overall dark Navy-blue. It has an illustration on the side of the nose of a light-blue circle with an image of a black-panther on a tree limb, over 6 palm-trees on it. Followed by a red DUSTY.
Skill level on the box art is 2.
One side-panel of the box shows a color photo side-view of the model made up. It further shows a white star on the fuselage sides and a yellow serial no. 9768 on the rudder sides.
Followed by specification of the P-70 (already listed above).
Copyright of the kit is 1997 and Ertl’s address in Dyersville, IL is provided. Kit was made in Mexico. A 1-800 phone no. is provided for customers who have questions or comments.
The other side-panel of the box begins with features of the kit: Over 85 parts.Detailed cockpit and landing gear. Recessed panel lines.
Markings include a P-70 of Detachment A, 5th Night Fighter Squadron, based at 3-Mile Airstrip, Port Moresby, New Guinea, during May 1943. Followed by 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up.
Markings include a P-70 of Detachment A, 5th Night Fighter Squadron, based at 3-Mile Airstrip, Port Moresby, New Guinea, during May 1943. Followed by 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up.
The box contains 7 off-white parts trees, 2 loose off-white fuselage halves, a clear tree and the decal sheet in 3 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that is folded into 6 pages in 18” x 7 ½” format and folded twice more to fit the box.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions.
The 1st off-white tree holds: the front sections of the cowlings, gear doors, cockpit part etc. (12 parts)
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that is folded into 6 pages in 18” x 7 ½” format and folded twice more to fit the box.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions.
The 1st off-white tree holds: the front sections of the cowlings, gear doors, cockpit part etc. (12 parts)
The 2nd off-white tree holds: the rear sections of the cowlings and floors. (6 parts)
The 3rd off-white tree holds the engines (4 parts)
Next is the loose off-white fuselage halves (2 parts)
The 4th off-white tree holds: the fuselage nose halves, ventral gun tub, antenna (6 parts)
The 5th off-white tree holds: the props, dashboard, landing gear etc. (22 parts)
The 6th off-white tree holds tail wings (5 parts)
The 7th off-white tree holds: wheels, wing spar, more landing gear legs etc. (17 parts)
The 8th off-white tree holds lower wing halves. (2 parts)
The 9th off-white tree holds upper wing halves. (2 parts)
The clear tree holds cockpit windows and light lenses (10 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
There are no figures included.
The detail is excellent.
Highly recommended.
The detail is excellent.
Highly recommended.