Curtiss P-40F-5

1/5th scale

wingspan 2276 mm (89,6″)
length 2032 mm (80″)
weight appr. tba
engines: tba
min. 6 channel radio (elevator, rudder, gas, aileron, flaps, gear)
building skills: advanced

Kit development

The P-40 is probably one of the all-time warbird classics when it comes to USAAF and US Navy fighter aircraft. It flew in almost every theater except Europe, but did not see standard carrier-based operations in the Pacific. To be exact: some P-40 squadrons were transported on carriers and took off for the Mediterranean or Pacific, but they landed on land-based airfields to join operational duties.

The Curtiss P-40 saw plenty of variants and modifications. When I first looked through my books, a few rare versions caught my attention. First, the license-built Rolls-Royce Merlin engine was mentioned for increasing top speed at medium and high altitudes, and for improving climb rates. Then, I noticed the characteristic scoop on the cowling was missing. Some variants even had longer tails.

Finally, I found my favorite version in terms of looks and outline: the F-5. It is obviously a matter of taste, but this variant appealed to me right from the start. I revisited some early sketches I did a long time ago, updated the size and outlines in late 2025 to 1/5th scale, and took it further in 2026 with my P-40F-5 wood kit design. I hope you like it. It is definitely one of those rare cases where engine mounting and cooling present virtually no challenges for scale modeling purposes.