P-39N Airacobra 1/48 - COL F P-39N-1, 42-18378, 10° Gruppo, 4° Stormo, ACI, Lecce-Galatina, Italy, 1944
1. History
The Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana ( ACI ) was the Air force of the Southern italian monarchist government of Pietro Badoglio,formed in October 1943 after the armistice conclude between Italy and Allies at Cassibile. The ACI then used aicraft supplied by the USA and Great Britain in addition to italian types. At the time of handover to ACI, this Airacobra hab been operated approximately a year and a half by the 345th FS/350th FG USAAF in Africa and the Mediterranean. These worn out Airacobras were mainly used by the italians to train pilots on the news equipment. The aircarft with the Jig-Jig insignia on the nose was photographed with other decomissioned P-39s from the 350th FG an italian airfield and was problably on of the first to receive italian cockades, as the order aircraft in the picture are still in USAAF markings. The italian cockades were applied directly to the original American markings at four positions, and two were added to the upper right and bottom left wing halvws. At the same time, the yellow stripes marking the aircraft operating within the 12th AF USAAF were retine. The aircraft has not undergone any other changes and can therefore be built in its spring 1943 form, when it was still part of the 345th Fighter Squadron, tank to the alternative US markings offered in decal
2. The Kit
Eduard's 1/48 scale P-39N Airacobra comprises 126 parts in grey plastic (32 marked not for use), six clear plastic parts, one colour photo-eched fret, self-adhesive masks for canopy, doors and wheels, and markings for six aircraft.On the inside the box , there is a kit mouldes very nice, with excellent slits, a mould of very transparent glass. Surface textures are nicely rendered, with crisply recessed panel lines and selected recessed rivets. Detail is very good too. The cockpit is well equipped. Stencil markings are supplied on a separate decal sheet.
I have used the following accessories:
* Kit base: Eduard P-39N Airacobra 1/48 Cat.No.: 8067
* Eduard P-39 wheels late 1/48 - Cat.No.: 648203
* Aires 4420 P-39 Airacobra wheel bays Hasegawa
Cockpit and Seat
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The cockpit benefits most from the photo-etch with a nice multi-layered instrument panel, coloured harness straps and scale-thickness pilot's armour.I availed myself of some photos and drawings of the interior of the P-39 N, so that I could update the kit in this area. The instrument panel is very good ,but I opted to use the photo-etched example from the Eduard set. I Also added cables made from wire of different thickness, and sidewall detail and control levers from plasticard. All of the interior was painted interior green; I prefer using acrylics, and therefore used Mr. Hobby H58 .
4. Fuselage
The fuselage complete with negative panels is dimensionally scaled, but requires some minor adjustments. I just went over the panels with the addition of other rivets .
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5. Wing and Tailplane
The wings look good. Here too I have added over the panels of other rivets.
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6. Canopy
After assembling the model I installed the canopy. This was masked with self-adhesive masks for canopy, then painted. This painting included the frame of the internal. When the canopy is finished it can be positioned and secured with cement.
7. Painting
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This is the sequence of the surfaces that I painted.
1. Clean the whole with alcohol
2. Paint with a Yellow Green Tamiya color acrylic XF-4
3. All the lower surface with Mr. Hobby H53 neutral gray
4. All the panel lines with flat black and some panel more clear with flat white
5. The upper surface with Mr. Hobby H52 olive drab
6. The spinner with color Mr. Hobby RED H 327
7. Final semi-gloss with Johnson's Pledge Revive it - floor glass
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8.Landing Gears and Wheels
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The undercarriage looks good, but a deep modification was made by inserting resin kit Aires 4420 P-39 Airacobra
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I replaced the wheels, with the Eduard P-39 wheels late 1/48 - Cat.No.: 648203
9. Weathering
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The weathering of the model is very important and this entire task was undertaken carefully. In order to give prominence to the panel lines I added diluted Acrylic. The darker colors were added to the lower areas of the panel lines with the lighter shades along the edges. This latter operation will give a certain depth to the model and will eliminate the flat appearance of a standard paint scheme. The rivets around the engine hood and the various panels were worked with the help of AK's aluminum pencils. For the lines between the panels I used colors OIL - MAIMERI PURO mixing with THINNER 5816604 - Petroleum essence (278 - Burnt Sienna - 535 - Ivory Black - 018 - Titanium White ). In conclusion you will paint all the surfaces with Final semi-gloss with Johnson's Pledge Revive it - floor glass, with a thin coat of Flat clear Mr. Hobby H20.
10. References.
Bell P-39 Airacobra in Italian Service by Marco Mattioli
