Oxford Diecast 1/72 AC033 Airacobra P39

Oxford Diecast 1/72 Airacobra P39 AC033
Decorated in the dark green drab and sand camouflage colours with grey underbelly with black US Army lettering, this aircraft represents the Bell P400 (P-39) Airacobra of the USAAF, as flown by Lt. Zed Fountain of 67th Fighter Squadron at Tontoura, New Caledonia in the South West Pacific in May 1942. The menacing shark's mouth npse art is decorated in black, red and white and the American star is printed on the side and also on the under surface in red, white and blue. Additional details include black gun barrels on the front edge of the wings and black cannon muzzle on the front of the propeller spinner, which in turn is masked in off white, housing black propellers with yellow tips. Note too, the name if Lt Zed Fountain's aircraft 'Whistlin' Britches' faithfully reproduced on the model. In real life, the Bell P-39 was one of the principal American fighter aircraft in service when the United States entered WWII after the attach on Pearl Harbour. The aircraft was introduced in 1941 and produced until 1944, during which time over 9,500 were built. It was also flown by the Royal Air Force and particularly successfully by the Soviet Air Force. Because of design constraints, it was used chiefly for low altitude work and was the first fighter to be fitted with a tricycle undercarriage.