The legendary Curtiss P-40 Warhawk/Kittyhawk hardly needs an introduction. Earning its fame as widely used fighter across various allied air forces, during World War Two. One such operator was the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Which flew multiple versions of the type (P-40E, P-40K, P-40L, P-40M, P-40N-1 and P-40N-5), between the years of 1942 to 1945.
Entering RNZAF service in April 1942 the P-40’s, were used in both home defense and in combat. In mid-1943 RNZAF P-40s were used in combat during the Solomon Islands campaign. The Kiwi P-40s escorted RNZAF, USAAF, US Navy and USMC heavy, medium and dive bombers to targets. To Japanese targets like the strong hold of Rabaul. The RNZAF Fighter Wing P-40 pilots acquired a fantastic reputation for providing the best escort for the bombers, always staying in close to protect them.
On these missions RNZAF P-40s often saw air to air combat against Japanese fighter aircraft. Such as the famed Mitsubishi A6M Zero. By late February of 1944, RNZAF P-40 Pilots would score a total of 99 aerial victories. With several Kiwi P-40 Pilots achieving Ace status against their Japanese foes. Like Geoffrey Bryson Fisken, DFC in his P-40 nicknamed Wairarapa Wildcat.
By May of 1944 the RNZAF P-40s were replaced by the RNZAF F-4U Corsairs, in the Solomon Islands Theatre. After being withdrawn from front line service in late 1944. The remaining P-40s in RNZAF service were still being operated back in New Zealand. In both Operational Training Units and home defense until the wars end in August of 1945. With most airframes being sold for scrap metal in the years following the end of the war.
As a Kiwi I had to make a model of a Royal New Zealand Air Force. In this case a model of NZ3136, a RNZAF P-40-N-1 that flew with No.4 Operational Training Units, Ohakea, Palmerston North, New Zealand circa 1945. Using the Academy 1/72 Scale P-40 M/N model kit. Painted in Vallejo Model Color Acrylics and using a set of decals from NZ Company, Ventura Publications.
I hope you will enjoy this video on how I made this kit. Good luck with all your ongoing scale modelling projects.
Thank you for watching