Academy P-39

I have a soft spot for the Airacobra, an interest that probably started with the old Revell '3-in-1 collectors series' kit as well as dalliances with the Airfix, Frog.Novo and Heller models, the latter being the best of the bunch by a long shot. The fact that it was a bit of disaster as a fighter didn't seem to dampened my youthful enthusiasm - with it's gun in the propeller and it's tricycle undercarriage, it looked cool!

Enter Academy with their latest addition to their growing 1/72 WWII fighter lineup, the P-39Q/N. Form the outset there is much to admire in this kit - the recessed panel and fastener detail is excellent, the wheel wells are boxed in with some nice 'plumbing', the pilots entry door is moulded as a separate, clear piece, allowing modellers to show off the neatly detailed cockpit interior. The rest of the forward canopy is moulded in one piece, a much better approach than the old Airfix kit with its separate frames and glass. The wings are moulded full span underneath with separate left and right halves. Unlike Academy's new 1/72 P-47D kit, there are no interval control surfaces, but the trailing edges are still nice and sharp. The fit of parts cannot be faulted either - the wings slot snugly into the fuselage and I didn't need any filler.

Optional parts include a centreline bomb or drop tank and cannon pods or machine guns for the wings. The kit also provides an additional spinner with the extended cannon and the 12 stubbed exhaust stacks for the P-39F or P-400 - obviously something Academy may have in mind as a future release, but there nothing to stop modellers from using them now.

Decals are supplied for "Fresno Calif", a USAAF P-39Q of the 71st TRS/82nd TRG, and a Russian P-39N of the 17th IAP, both in the olive drab/neutral grey finish. Academy's decals are usable, but there is no shortage of alternative sheets out there from the specialist manufacturers, another factor that should see healthy sales of this kit. The instruction booklet is well illustrated, clear and concise, something some Academy's contemporaries might take a look at.

The kit scales out well dimensionally and there are no seriously glaring shape errors that I could find - Academy seem to do better with their 1/72 kits than they do with 1/48. The finished model is almost a pleasure to look at as it is to build.

A beautiful little kit that almost defies criticism - superbly moulded, easy to build, competitively priced and it provides modellers with a state-of-the-art replica of this rather unfortunate but interesting aircraft.