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LF Models 1/72 Curtiss XP-42 Conversion

By Chris Banyai-Riepl

For the AML Hawk 75 Kit

AML's Hawk 75 kit is broken down in such a way as to make conversions fairly simple and this is the first one to find its way into my hands.  This converts the Hawk 75 kit into the little-known XP-42 which featured a streamlined cowling around the radial engine.  Only one was built and it didn't get past the testing stage.

The conversion consists of 11 resin pieces making up the new nose.  This fits onto the fuselage of the AML kit with no cutting needed.  The complex shape of the cowl necessitated splitting it into right and left halves, so you'll want to be careful to not remove too much material when cleaning them up.  The prop blades are molded individually, so you'll have to be careful at getting them aligned on the one-piece hub.  The other resin pieces make up the various scoops and exhaust ports.  The rest of the model comes from the AML kit and while not perfect does a great job of capturing the shape of the Hawk 75 family.

The final part of this conversion is a small decal sheet printed by Tally Ho! decals.  You get four roundels, rudder stripes, the US Army for the wing, and the Wright arrow for the fuselage sides.  The registration is excellent and the colors are spot-on.  Interestingly, there is hardly any clear film around these markings, including the US Army.  This is good since the finish of the XP-42 is natural metal overall.

This will make for an interesting plane on your shelves, especially if you have a couple Hawk 75s and a P-40 or two.  While it may not be a quick build and there will need to be some extra cleanup due to the metal finish, it should be a fairly straightforward conversion without any hidden surprises.