Posted 5 years ago
fortapache
(3287 items)
To start off the title uses the name for this model as printed on the box. It is actually "Flying Tigers" with no hyphen. The P-40 was known as the Warhawk. Also called the Tomahawk and Kittyhawk by the British.
The most famous use of this plane was of course the Flying Tigers. Basically they were American mercenaries fighting for China against Japan. The Flying Tigers first flew in combat on December 20th 1941 and it ended on July 4th 1942. They shot down 296 Japanese aircraft while losing only 14 of their own, this is well documented and not just hearsay.
The P-4 has a reputation as a mediocre plane but it was a decent design and cheap to build so built until 1944. It was used in the areas where it wasn't facing the top German fighters. It was used for ground attack in the later stages of the war.
As to the model I believe this one is missing the drop tank. Apparently it was dropped. The model has 6 machine guns in the wings but I believe there were only 4. That would be two in each wing. The 3 per wing was used in a few other models so I am thinking they did not think it important to make a new molding. Not many moving parts on this just the landing gear and prop.
Next I will post the Me 109 I am thinking.
The Flying Tigers were not really mercenaries. They were almost entirely US military personnel recruited with American government approval and financing. They were one part of FDR's deceptions to get the US into the European war through the back door while promising the country that he would not send its young men to fight a foreign war at the behest of his NYC constituents. This was known at the time but suppressed by the fake press monopoly of that time. It has since been conceded. From wiki: "Just before their 50th reunion in 1992, the AVG veterans were retroactively recognized as members of the U.S. military services during the seven months the group was in combat against the Japanese. The AVG was then awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for "professionalism, dedication to duty, and extraordinary heroism.' In 1996, the U.S. Air Force awarded the pilots the Distinguished Flying Cross and the ground crew were all awarded the Bronze Star Medal."
Another nice Bachman rendition of an iconic US WW II aircraft. It's almost the Air Corp/Force counterpart of the USN F4F. It was a design behind the curve of the more modern fighters, but its ruggedness gave it better survivability than some of the planes it faced. Claire Chenault preached to use group tactics, not to play Red Barron by yourself.
The six wing mounted .50's indicates it's a P40-E or later. The AVG transitioned to these when possible, so Bachman is correct to have this version as a "Tiger".
The AVG gave 1/2 kills to their pilots if they were with another plane that was engaged with the enemy. Two 1/2 kills counted a one kill in the AVG, but zero if you rejoined the US armed forces. The USA only credited one aircraft a kill. Pappy Boyington rejoined the Marines from the AVG after the US entered the war, he claimed he was the top USMC ace, but the US didn't allow any of his 1/2 kills to count officially. I like Bachmann's selection of planes and markings.
Thank you very much fattytail. I fear I was being a bit lazy and your description of the nature of the Tigers is correct.
Thank you very much Toyrebel. Again a better description of the P-40 than I had andfor clarifying the issue of the 6 machine guns. Yes I agree that the markings on this are the best for this model. Probably the iconic version of the P-40.
Thank you
fattytail
Rulandma
Toyrebel
Cathyz
yougottahavestuff
Brunswick
PhilDMorris
Newfld
TheGateKeeper
truthordare
valentino97
elanski
blunderbuss2
vetraio50
iggy
Thank you
Trey
Manikan
Thank you
ho2cultcha
clockerman
Thank you mikelv85.
Thank you pw-collector.
It's been months since I checked in. Your models are cool. My brother made these in his "crow's nest" off the second story of our home when I was a kid. He also made crude fighter planes from scrap, added line and conducted battles amongst the neighborhood kids. Whoever's plane remained airborne was the champion. I guess my little wood and metal plane is about 55 years old and I still have it. Thanks for sharing and for jogging some good memories of my brother and his creations.
So cool! I had a model of a P-40 Flying Tiger when I was a kid. I remember it took me a month to assemble and paint.
Thank you very much mareredware. Sounds like your brother was talented. Cool that you still have your little plane.
Thank you very much Scott. I fear I was that talented or patient back then. You must have done a great job on that.
Thank you SEAN68.