In 1/48 scale, October’s novelty, the reconnaissance Hurricane Mk IIc, is joined by November’s novelty, the reconnaissance Airacobra!
The new 1/48 scale Airacobra model kit is enhanced with resin 3D prints – camera parts and decals for three very attractive markings: Pacific, Caribbean and from the USA, from the legendary 118th TRS famous for its later fights in China.
Airacobra’s reconnaissance version
A number of Airacobras of almost every version (starting with the P-39 D-1) were modified for reconnaissance operations by fitting two K-24 and K-25 cameras in the lower part of the fuselage. Most ‘photographic’ Cobras were produced in the N and Q versions and this is what our kit will include.
Photo equipment installation in Airacobra. Photo: USAAF/Domena Publiczna
Installing cameras in the fuselage of a real aircraft was relatively straightforward – and the same is true of the model. The lenses ‘looked’ out of the aircraft’s interior through an oval opening, faired with a metal ‘half-dome’. Making this hole in the model is easy with the included 3D-printed template, which fits the lower half of the wing. Once the appropriate hole has been cut, simply glue the lens print with the fairing into it!
Colourful Cobras from around the world
Recon Airacobras were used operationally in a number of theatres of operations, both in the Mediterranean and Pacific, and – against German U-Boats – over the Caribbean Sea and on the Atlantic coast of the USA. Many of them were used for training, also in cooperation with ground troops. It was not until the mass arrival of reconnaissance Mustangs that the Cobras were finally replaced from operational squadrons.
In our kit, we offer three very interesting markings, each from a different area and for different tasks.
P-39Q-6 Airacobra, 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Saidor, New Gwinea, Pacific, spring 1944. This olive drab Cobra with white areas was flown by Lt. Michael Moffitt. He named the aircraft ‘Reba – Brown Eyes’ in honour of his beloved wife, who really did have brown eyes!
P-39Q-6 Airacobra, 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico from 1943 Autumn is a silvery Cobra with a beautiful pin-up girl, searching for German U-Boats over the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic.
P-39N-2 „Alan S” piloted by Ltn. Earl J. Davis Jr is an olive drab Airacobra with a broad white band on its tail, probably painted during one of the many exercises it took part in on the US East Coast in 1943. This is a plane from the legendary 118th TRS, later famous for fighting over China in Mustangs decorated with black and yellow lightning bolts.
Pre-order promotions!
The 1/48 scale Recon Airacobra model kit (40013) is being sold in a promotional pre-order during which we offer a lot of interesting options and good discounts! Do not wait with ordering, promotions are valid only during pre-order!
Big discounts on additional 1/48 models
You can add any Arma Hobby 1/48 kit to each pre-ordered Recon Airacobra (kit 40013) at a good discount. Adding another kit increases its discount in the cart. Be sure to check out what happens when you have 4 kits in your cart! If you don’t need that many, you can place an order together with a friend.
- See the detailed info about promotion and order kits at Armahobby.com store!
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Modeller, son and father of a modeller. Loves digging through references and analysing old photographs. He builds aircraft, ship and vehicle models, the older the better. He has a weakness for Polish equipment, but does not despise the RAF, FAA and Great War topics. A journalist by training.
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