Hawk 81,
P-40B/C Cockpit

1/32 scale

Cutting Edge Modelworks

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Meteor Productions

Trumpeter's 1/32 scale P-40B is a fundamentally decent kit with a few problems. The issues include an incorrect hinge line for the elevators, some peculiar cross-section profiles around the mid fuselage and some inaccuracies around the cockpit.

In my opinion, the cockpit problems are the most obvious. It would seem to me that Trumpeter has probably misinterpreted the height of the sidewalls, meaning that the floor is mounted far too high. In fact, the cockpit seems to be around 1/3 too shallow - very noticeable in this large scale.

The seat also looks too short and squat because it has to fit in the shallow cockpit. Finally, I believe that the floor of the P-40B was curved. On the real P-40 the floor was actually the top of the wing centre section, so it followed the shape of the wing.

Cutting Edge has now addressed all of these shortcomings with its two new Hawk 81 / P-40B/C cockpits.

Both sets are identical except for the seats. Set number CEC32137 has harnesses cast integrally with the resin seat; while set number CEC32145 has separate harness straps in Cutting Edge's flexible resin (click the thumbnail to the right to view the seat and harness is set no. CEC32145)..

Each set comprises 13 parts in grey resin plus a clear sheet of acetate with printed instruments. These sets completely replace the kit cockpit.

The first point to make is that this set does address the depth problem of the cockpit. The sidewalls, bulkhead and seat are all the correct height. This alone would make the replacement cockpit worthwhile but there is more.

Detail is excellent - a definite improvement over the kit parts. The sidewalls are appropriately busy and the rear bulkhead is very well done, including a section of the fuel tank cast into the part. Nice touch. The headrest and armour fastener detail are also very impressive. The seat is clearly different to the squat kit part. The impression of pressed metal is conveyed well. The buckles and straps of the cast-on harness look great too.

Details are equally as good. Throttle and mixture handles are supplied as separate parts. New rudder pedals and a control column are also included. The kit counterparts of these latter items were also afflicted by the overall shortness of the kit cockpit

Most of the parts are cast onto fairly easily manageable resin blocks, but the floor is the exception. The casting block under this part is pretty chunky. Fortunately, there is plenty of room under the floor in the kit, so you'll really only have to saw off the sides of the block.

I am surprised that it has taken so long to see a high quality, corrected cockpit for Trumpeter's 1/32 scale P-40B, but Cutting Edge's two resin replacements have made the wait worthwhile.

I have seen Trumpeter's 1/32 scale P-40B built, and it does look impressive when complete. Overall fit is pretty good, and the outline is more than acceptable. The addition of Cutting Edge's replacement cockpit will be a great investment, correcting the biggest problem in the kit and adding a heap of detail that will be very obvious under an open canopy.

Highly Recommended to anyone considering building Trumpeter's 1/32 scale P-40B..