1/48 Hobby Master HA9204, Curtiss Hawk P-40B Tomahawk, AVG “Hell’s Angels”, 1942

Description: 1/48 Hobby Master No: HA9204 Curtiss Hawk H81-A2 (Tomahawk IIB), “White 68”Serial No: P-8109 Flown by Flight Leader Charles Older (10 aerial victories) AVG 3rd PS, “Hell’s Angels”Burma, May 1942 NEW: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged diecast pre-built model. Scale: 1/48 Product Number: HA9204True 1/48 scaleProfessionally paintedGreat attention to detailAll markings are Tampoed (pad applied)Option to display the model on a stand that is providedModel can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positionsCanopy can be displayed open or closedPilot figure includedExtremely heavy metal with a minimum of plasticHighly collectable The export equivalent of the Curtiss P-40B was the Tomahawk IIA (Model H81-A2). They differed from the American version by having the wing guns replaced with four 0.303-inch Browning machine guns but kept the two 0.50-in guns in the fuselage. It had protective armor, externally covered self-sealing tanks, and a British radio was fitted. A total of 110 were produced for the RAF. RAF serials were AH881/990. Twenty-three of these planes were transferred to the USSR, and one (AH938) went to Canada as an instructional airframe. In 1941, the American Volunteer Group (AVG), also known as the Flying Tigers, received Curtiss Tomahawk aircraft from the U.S. to help the Chinese government in their fight against Japanese invaders. The British traded 100 Tomahawk IIBs for more advanced Kittyhawk Is, which were then sent to China through the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company (CAMCO) due to U.S. arms sales regulations at that time. Tomahawk IIA or IIB?There is some confusion about which specific version of the Tomahawk was delivered to China. Curtiss company records indicate that they were Model H81-A3, which classifies them as Tomahawk IIBs (similar to the P-40C). However, discrepancies exist between Curtiss records and RAF serials, leading to uncertainty. Many historians believe that the AVG planes were Tomahawk IIBs (comparable to the USAAF P-40C). However, Erik Shilling, a member of the AVG, claims that the planes were export models of the P-40B. The fact is that the AVG Tomahawks were actually built to a special order. The planes were indeed diverted from Tomahawk IIB contracts, which were equivalent to the P-40C, but when they were built, they were equipped with the externally sealed fuel tanks that had been used on the Tomahawk IIA. Curtiss had some surplus externally sealed fuel tanks lying around that the British did not want and decided to use them on the Chinese contract. In addition, the Chinese contract did not specifically request plumbing or shackles for an external fuel tank, so this was deleted. Consequently, the AVG Tomahawks were functionally equivalent to Tomahawk IIAs, even though they were taken from a Tomahawk IIB production batch. So, they are basically P-40Bs and not P-40Cs. AVG Flight Leader Charles “Chuck” OlderIn 1940 Charles (Chuck) Older was assigned to VMF-1. In July 1941 he resigned the Marines and joined the AVG. The 3 AVG squadrons were “Adam and Eve”, “Panda Bear” and “Hell’s Angels” to which Older was assigned. In December 1941 Older scored 5 victories over Rangoon, Burma. Older became a double Ace with the AVG and later added 8 more victories. Older fought in Korea and when he retired became a judge who presided over the Charles Manson case. Specifications for the Curtiss P-40B Tomahawk Role - Single Engine “Pursuit” Fighter Total Aircraft Manufactured - 131 B models out of more than 13,738 P-40s built (All variants) Manufacturer - North American Aviation Crew - (1) Pilot Dimensions:Maximum Length - 31 ft. 8 in.Height - 12 ft. 4 in.Wingspan - 37 ft. 4 in.Wing Area - 235.9 sq. ft. Weights:Empty - 5,812 lbs.Maximum Take-Off - 7,549 lbs. Powerplant: Engines - (1) Allison V-1710-33 in-line V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine with a power rating of 1,040 horsepower at 2,800 revolutions per minute (rpm) Propeller - (1) 3-bladed Curtiss Electric variable pitch propeller (11 ft. diameter) Performance:Maximum Speed - 345 m.p.h.Service Ceiling - 15,000 ft.Rate of Climb - 2,756 ft. / min.Combat Range – 800 miles with no drop tanks Armament: Fixed (P-40B) - (2) air-cooled Browning AN-M2. 50-caliber machine guns on the engine cowl with 235 rounds per gun (470 rounds total), (4) wing mounted Browning Model M2 .30-caliber machine guns with 500 rounds per internal gun and 480 rounds per external gun (1960 rounds total) Fixed (Tomahawk IIA) - (2) air-cooled Browning AN-M2. 50-caliber machine guns on the engine cowl with 235 rounds per gun (470 rounds total), (4) wing mounted Browning .303 Mark II machine guns with 380 rounds per gun (1520 rounds total) SHIPPING & HANDLING IN THE U.S. U.S. contiguous 48 States All items are shipped insured. INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS … All packages are shipped through Ebay’s Global Shipping Program. All Duties, Taxes and Customs Fees imposed by your country are your responsibility and are not estimated into the shipping cost. NO EXCEPTIONS! “I Combine Shipping When Possible!” PAYMENTSPayment is due within 3 days after auctions ends. If you need extra time to pay, please notify me so arrangements can be made. “Thank You For Stopping By To View My Listings!” _gsrx_vers_1680 (GS 9.8.3 (1680))

Price: 114.95 USD

Location: Chicago, Illinois

End Time: 2024-11-18T02:58:58.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD