Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1703 P-39 Mk. I, Airacobra, “AH601”, 601 Squadron “County of London”, Duxford, Oct. 1941

Die-cast metal. Superb detailing in 1/72 scale. Pre-painted with pad applied markings. Fully assembled. Weapons that are not permanently attached. Comes with a pilot figure. Display stand included. Option to display model with wheels up or down. Movable propeller. Minimum use of plastic. Very collectable.

The P-39 was very innovative having tricycle landing gear and an engine mounted in the middle of the fuselage behind the pilot. The primary reason for this was weight counter-balance to allow for the use of the large Oldsmobile 37mm cannon mounted in the aircraft nose and for shooting through the propeller hub. One major problem with this plane was the lack of a good turbo super-charger and this seriously hampered the performance above 20,000 feet. To compound the matter there was also a weight- problem.

The only RAF unit to use the P-39 was the 601 Squadron. Based on the performance of the test model the RAF ordered 675 of these aircraft armed with 0.50-inch machine guns in the fuselage and four 0.30-inch machine guns in the wings, the 37 mm gun was replaced by a 20 mm Hispano Suiza. What the RAF received were aircraft without the turbo-superchargers severely reducing its effectiveness and after only one operational use by the 601 these aircraft were deemed unfit with further orders cancelled and the aircraft removed from service.

Specifications Bell P-39 Mk. I Airacobra RAF ordered the Model 14, on delivery they first named it Caribou but in 1941 renamed it Airacobra I Crew: 1 Number built: 1,767 with the RAF initially ordering 675 and accepting about 80 Dimensions Wingspan: 34 ft. Length: 30 ft. 2 in. Height: 12 ft. 5 in. Wing area: 213 sq ft.

Armament Guns: Originally 4 X 8 mm MGs - RAF replaced with 0.30 in. MGs, Originally 2 X 12.7 mm MGs - RAF replaced with 0.50 in. MGs, Originally 1 X 37mm cannon - RAF replaced with 20 mm Hispano Suiza cannon. Bomb load: 1 X 500 lb.

Performance Engine: 1 X 1,150 hp Allison V-1710-35 Maximum speed: 360 mph ROC: 2,400 ft/min Maximum ceiling: 32,100 ft. Range: 600 mi., extended range with drop tank 1,100 mi.

Weight Empty: 5,462 lbs Loaded: 7500 lbs Maximum: 8,200 lbs

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT