Bella - The P-39 Airacobra in Red Army service 'Dual Combo'
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Kit Review
This is a special limited edition reissue of the P-39K, N or Q versions, all of which were first released in 2000. The Dual Combo nature of this edition means that you get two complete kits in the box
Inside the box you will find two clear and six dark grey-coloured sprues, plus three frets of photo-etched (all pre-painted), clear acetate film and a set of self-adhesive masks. Surface detail is via engraved lines, with no rivets, plus subtly raised ribs for the fabric-covered control surfaces. All colour call-outs are via Gunze-Sangyo Mr Aqueous Hobby Color and Mr Color ranges. The bomb/tank rack is used in this edition but the bomb or tank itself is not used. You get standard or 'weighted' main and nose wheel tyres along with the option to have one or both car doors open. The instructions have been modified to denote that weight is required in the nose, as the die-cast version seen in the original release/s is not included any more - the instructions lack the amount required though.
Colour Options
The kit offers ten decal options:
• P-39K-1, S/No.42-4480, 'White 13', 494th IAP, 303rd IAD, Smolensk area, autumn 1943
• P-39N-0, S/No.42-8747, flown by Guard Capt. Grigoriy Andreevich Rechkalov, 16th GIAP, Germany, spring 1945
• P-39N-1, S/No.42-9434, 'White 45', flown by Senior Lt Alexandr Fedoroich Klubov, 16th GIAP, east Poland, August 1944
• P-39N-0, S/No.42-9004, 'White 100', flown by Guard Capt. Alexandr Ivanovish Pokryshkin, 16th GIAP, Kuban, Soviet Union, May 1943
• P-39Q, 'White 50', flown by Guard Senior Lt Konstantin Vasilievish Sukhov, 16th GIAP, Aslau, Germany, March 1945
• P-39Q-10, 'Yellow 44', 212th GIAP, 22nd GIAD, Stockerau, Austria, 1946
• P-39Q-15, S/No.44-2567, 'White 67', 68th GIAP, 5th GIAD, 1st Baltic Front, winter 1944-45
• P-39Q-15, 'White 103', 213th GIAP, Germany, spring 1945
• P-39Q, 'White 43', flown by Guard Major Anatoliy Leonidovich Kozhevnikov, 212nd GIAP, 22nd GIAD, Dabern, Germany, May/June 1945
• P-39Q-30, S/No.44-71147, 'White 110', 213th GIAP, 22nd GIAD, Germany, spring 1945
The decal sheet, which is printed by Cartograf, is excellent and has perfect register and colour density. It includes two sets of airframe stencils as well as the wing root walkways and instrument panels.
Conclusion
Still the best choice for the P-39/P-400 in this scale, the parts have remained crisp and well moulded with no sign of flash or other mould wear. The lack of the die-cast nose weight seen in the original is no great problem, although you will have to add quite a lot of weight into the nose area to ensure it does not sit on its tail.
UK modellers can obtain this kit from Hannants (here), or you can visit the Eduard website directly (here).
This is a special limited edition reissue of the P-39K, N or Q versions, all of which were first released in 2000. The Dual Combo nature of this edition means that you get two complete kits in the box
Inside the box you will find two clear and six dark grey-coloured sprues, plus three frets of photo-etched (all pre-painted), clear acetate film and a set of self-adhesive masks. Surface detail is via engraved lines, with no rivets, plus subtly raised ribs for the fabric-covered control surfaces. All colour call-outs are via Gunze-Sangyo Mr Aqueous Hobby Color and Mr Color ranges. The bomb/tank rack is used in this edition but the bomb or tank itself is not used. You get standard or 'weighted' main and nose wheel tyres along with the option to have one or both car doors open. The instructions have been modified to denote that weight is required in the nose, as the die-cast version seen in the original release/s is not included any more - the instructions lack the amount required though.
Colour Options
The kit offers ten decal options:
• P-39K-1, S/No.42-4480, 'White 13', 494th IAP, 303rd IAD, Smolensk area, autumn 1943
• P-39N-0, S/No.42-8747, flown by Guard Capt. Grigoriy Andreevich Rechkalov, 16th GIAP, Germany, spring 1945
• P-39N-1, S/No.42-9434, 'White 45', flown by Senior Lt Alexandr Fedoroich Klubov, 16th GIAP, east Poland, August 1944
• P-39N-0, S/No.42-9004, 'White 100', flown by Guard Capt. Alexandr Ivanovish Pokryshkin, 16th GIAP, Kuban, Soviet Union, May 1943
• P-39Q, 'White 50', flown by Guard Senior Lt Konstantin Vasilievish Sukhov, 16th GIAP, Aslau, Germany, March 1945
• P-39Q-10, 'Yellow 44', 212th GIAP, 22nd GIAD, Stockerau, Austria, 1946
• P-39Q-15, S/No.44-2567, 'White 67', 68th GIAP, 5th GIAD, 1st Baltic Front, winter 1944-45
• P-39Q-15, 'White 103', 213th GIAP, Germany, spring 1945
• P-39Q, 'White 43', flown by Guard Major Anatoliy Leonidovich Kozhevnikov, 212nd GIAP, 22nd GIAD, Dabern, Germany, May/June 1945
• P-39Q-30, S/No.44-71147, 'White 110', 213th GIAP, 22nd GIAD, Germany, spring 1945
The decal sheet, which is printed by Cartograf, is excellent and has perfect register and colour density. It includes two sets of airframe stencils as well as the wing root walkways and instrument panels.
Conclusion
Still the best choice for the P-39/P-400 in this scale, the parts have remained crisp and well moulded with no sign of flash or other mould wear. The lack of the die-cast nose weight seen in the original is no great problem, although you will have to add quite a lot of weight into the nose area to ensure it does not sit on its tail.
UK modellers can obtain this kit from Hannants (here), or you can visit the Eduard website directly (here).
