<H2>Hobbycraft 1/48 scale Curtiss Tomahawk IIA</H2>
Marketed as a "British" RAF Tomahawk MkII, this kit is also available as a P-40 AVG Tiger shark, and a P-40 "Pearl
Harbor" . However this kit is a little gem! Moulded in light grey plastic, the kit contains some 50 parts, plus 4 clear pieces
for the canopy. Panel lines are finely engraved and overall outline shape is very good. Construction starts as usual, with
the cockpit, and although basic, the instrument panel, sidewalls, seat etc. are o.k when painted, and I intended to build the
kit from the box anyway! Assembly proved very straightforward, the only areas requiring attention being the underside
wing to fuselage joins and around the adjacent tube, which runs along the eentre section. A touch of Green Stuff taking
care of any problems here.
<BR><BR>
   A choice of two finishes are provided on the decal sheet, these being numbers 2 and 403 squadrons. I decided to take the
opportunity for the model to represent an unusual subject, this being Tomahawk 11A, AH899, attached to 1683 Bomber
Defence Training Flight, based at Bruntingthorpe and Market Harborough from June 1943 to May 1944.
<BR><BR>
  The model was painted with Xtracolor, in the fighter scheme of the day:
Dark green and Ocean grey camouflage, with Medium sea grey undersides, an 18" Sky rear fuselage band and spinner and
the leading edges of the wings, outboard of the machine guns, in Yellow.
<BR><BR>
  The following decal sheets provided the markings:
<UL>
<LI>Aeromaster sheet 48:244 : 48" B type, upper wing roundels, 32" C type under wing roundels, 36" C1 type fuselage roundels.
<LI>Xtradecal sheet X023-48: 24" Sky codes.
<LI>Xtradecal sheet X021-48: 8" Black serial letters and numbers.
</UL>
When all the markings were applied, allowed to dry, and the model rinsed to remove any residue from the Set/Sol, two
thin coats of Xtra matt varnish were sprayed over the model, and when dry the canopy masking was removed, and final
construction of the model could commence.
<BR><BR>
  In conclusion, I am well pleased with the final result, a good value for money kit (Ł11), and an interesting subject.
<BR><BR> Review by Mike Batten (from SIG newsletter 1/98)
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&copy 2003 IPMS(UK) RAF WWII SIG
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