Hawk 75 / P-36 Conversions
plus decals and masks

Cutting Edge Modelworks, 1/32 scale

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Meteor Productions

Cutting Edge Modelworks has released a new selection of merchandise across a number of its product ranges to allow the modeller to choose from a wide assortment of interesting and colourful 1/32 scale Hawk 75 and P-36 variants in US and foreign service.

The lynchpins of these large scale Hawk 75 products are the resin conversions.

Hawk variants have always seemed a bit confusing to me, but Cutting Edge has simplified the task of identification by some clever planning. Both conversions are based on Trumpeter's 1/32 scale P-40B kit, and both conversions share a number of common parts including the lower centre wing, undercarriage gear and wheel covers, new style of tail gear enclosure, turtledeck insert and forward fuselage/wing root replacement panels.

In addition, each of the conversions is supplied with clear resin turtledeck windows and a replacement windscreen. These resin parts are very clear and smooth on both sides. These clear parts are supplemented with Black Magic self-adhesive painting masks - a nice touch.

Instructions comprise an illustrated double-sided letter sized sheet. As with any major conversion, I urge you to read the instructions thoroughly before doing anything drastic with a razor saw!

The differences between the conversions are as follows:

CEC32148 P-36 and long nose Hawk 75 Conversion

The US Army Air Force was the exclusive operator of the P-36, while the Hawk 75 "long nose" variants were exported to France. A number of these aircraft fell into the hands of Germany and found their way to Finland where they performed admirably against the weight of the VVS.

This conversion set provides all of the common elements mentioned above, plus specific parts required to convert the 1/32 scale Trumpeter P-40B into the P-36 or a Hawk 75 "long nose" variant with the two row Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp engine.

The specific parts comprise resin for the engine cowl, forward fuselage deck, firewall, exhausts and accessories.

Cutting Edge also supplies an injection moulded Twin Wasp engine. I believe that this has been sourced from Williams Bros. The plastic has some flash surrounding the parts, but detail looks good and moulding is very crisp. Push rod tubes are included, but you will have to add your own ignition wiring.

CEC32151 - Hawk 75 Conversion (short nose)

The initial export versions of the Hawk 75 were fitted with the less powerful, single bank Wright R-1820 Cyclone engine. This resulted in a shorter nose than the P-36, and a revised exhaust system. Operators of this type included France (who beefed up the powerplant in service), Finland, the RAF and the Netherlands (including service in the Far East).

Once again, this set includes specific parts for the engine cowl, forward fuselage deck, firewall, exhausts and accessories. A Williams Bros Wright Cyclone engine is provided too.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The resin in both conversions is very crisply detailed and flawlessly cast. The lower wing centre section retains the Trumpeter-style recessed rivets, so this will match up nicely when painted. Some of the casting blocks are necessarily large. The modeller should spend a little time planning the best angles and most appropriate tools for effective removal.

There is a significant amount of cutting of the donor kit required but all of this surgery is along panel lines.

Both conversions will also benefit from the addition of the Cutting Edge 1/32 scale P-40B cockpit released during 2004. Although there are some differences between the Hawk 75 and the P-40B cockpit, they are really very minor.

Four new decal sheets have been released to coincide with the new P-36 and Hawk conversions. These cover a good selection of variants, schemes and nationalities.

The decals are produced to Cutting Edge's usual high standard - thin and with a minimum of carrier film. Artwork is in full colour, and the instructions include a text description of each aircraft. Each set includes two decal sheets.

Specific subjects are as follows:

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

CED32061 - P-36 Hawks Part 1

• P-36A, Maj. Ken Walker, 18th Pursuit Group Commander, Wheeler Field, Hawaii, 1940;

• P-36A, 12/MD, Air Materiel Division, Wright Field, 1939;

• P-36A, #86, 46th Pursuit Squadron, 15th Pursuit Group, Lt. Phil Rasmussen, Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

CED32062 - P-36 Hawks Part 2

• P-36C, #69, Maj. Willis R. Taylor, 1 PG/27 PS, Cleveland National Air Races camouflage scheme, 1939 (note that BlackMagic Precut Painting Masks are available separately for this complicated camouflage scheme in set CEBM32086);

• P-36A, PA/91, 94th Pursuit Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, Selfridge Field, 1939; P-36A, PT/1, Capt Ross G. Hoyt, 20th Pursuit Group Commander, Moffett Field, 1939-1940;

• P-36A, PA/70, 94th Pursuit Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, Capt. Henry H. George, Commander 94th PS, Selfridge Field, 1939;

• P-36A, PT/1, Capt Ross G. Hoyt, 20th Pursuit Group Commander, Moffett Field, 1939-1940;

CED32063 - Hawk 75 Part 1

This set is particularly good value, with three sheets of Black Magic painting masks for wing walks, and Dutch and Norwegian  markings. These markings cover total of six subjects:

• Hawk 75A-8, "Little Norway" Base Camp, Ontario Island, Canada, 1942

• Hawk 75A-7, Sgt. P. C. Van Breen, ML-KNIL, 1-VLG-IV, NEIAF, Maospati Air Base, Netherlands East Indies, 1941;

• Hawk 75A-8, Kjeller Air base, Oslo, Norway; 1940;

• Hawk 75A-8, Lt. Veikko Evinen, Commander, 3/LeLv 32, March 1944;

• Hawk 75A-4, Capt. Auvo Maunula, Leader, 1/LeLv 12, Joroinen, Finland, July 1941;

• Mohawk IV, F/O Tim Meyer, 155 Sq. SEAC, RAF, Imphal, India, December 1943.
   

CED32064 - Hawk 75 Part 2

Another big set with two sheets of Black Magic masks to help paint the cowl and tail Vichy stripes:

• Hawk 75A-3, White 9, GC I/4, 2 Esc., Sgt. Georges Lemare-5 kills, Cap-Vert, Dakar, 1942;

• Hawk 75A-3, White 7, GC II/4, 3 Esc., Sergent-chef Antoine Casenobe, 7 Kills in WW II, 1940;

• Hawk 75A-3, White 7, GC II/5, 3 Esc., Lafayette Escadrille, 1940;

• Hawk 75A-4, Possibly Lt Georges Ruchoux, GC II/5, North Africa, 1940

CEBM32086 -
Black Magic Masks for Cleveland Races scheme