'' CURTISS P-40K / Kittyhawk Mk.III ''

The Curtiss P-40 was designed in 1938 in order to meet the USAAF need for a high-altitude fighter based on the P-36A. The orginal Wright Cyclone radial engine was replaced by an Allison in-line engine with a ones-stage mechanical compressor. The montage of the more powerful Allison and Packard-Merlin engines in the original airframe substantially altered the appearance of the front, the cockpit glazing and armament. A number of other versions, rounded out by the P-40N, followed. The last version, wich differed substantially from the orginal type, was the P-40Q wich was not put into series production. The P-40K evolded from the P-40E in 1942. The orginally installed Allison V-1710-39 engine was replaced by the more powerful Allison V-1710-73 unit. This more powerful engine caused problems with directional stability during takeoff. A simple solution was adopted te remedy the problem - the tail fin was enlarged with te short transition part to the fuselage. This modification was made to the first 800 P-40K-1 and the P-40K-5 planes. The solution used to elimate this problem in the P-40F powered by the Merlin engine was adopted for another 500 K-10 and K-15 sereis fighters - the back part of the fuselage was extended and the vertical tail surfaces were moved, back by 20 inch. The Curtiss P-40K fighters served with US Troops in the Mediterreanean the Middle East and the Far East India and the Pacific. .P-40` deliverd to Commonweahlt troops, the UK received 192 P-40K version planes under the name Kittyhawk MK.III. The second largest buyer was the soviet Union, wich received some of 2069 P-40 fighters of the K version. altough the p-40 never performed up to specification and was one of the most inconsistent planes of its era, it became the first US one-seat fighter to be put into mass production. a total of 13,738 were build.

Drie uitvoeren mogelijk;

Versie A: P-40K, USAF, pilot G.D.Hoobs, Tunis 1943.
Versie B: Kittyhawk Mk.III, Soviet Air Force, pilot N.F.Kuzn?cov, Rusland 1943.
Versie C: Kittyhawk Mk.III, RAF, 112 "SHARK" Squadron, 239 Wing Desert Air Force, Medenine - El Hamma, Tunis, 1943.

Aantal onderdelen: 40

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