Curtis Tomahawk IIB

To prevent me racing on in my normal uncontrolled way and to let the glue harden on an Me410 commission I've just kicked off, I thought I’d make a start on a small Airfix Starter Kit, the Curtis Tomahawk, which was picked up a few weeks back by a friend in a Bristol charity shop. I’ve built a few of these and they are great fun. 

Flying Officer Neville Duke of 112 Sqn RAF in November 1941

North African RAF camouflage applied and decals added. 

Don’t know why, but although not an old kit, these decals broke up into so many pieces that I’m going to use this kit for some serious and experimental weathering! 

I said having had a bad crop of decals with this Airfix Curtis Tomahawk IIB Starter Kit that I would have to try out some serious weathering! 

This is AK402 GA-F Tomahawk IIB (P-40C) flown by Flying Officer Neville Duke of 112 Sqn RAF in November 1941. While flying this aircraft, Duke was credited with three kills in nine days (a CR.42, a Me 109F, and a G.50) and became the Allies' highest scoring ace in the Mediterranean theatre.

On 30 November, the aircraft was lost when Duke was shot down by Luftwaffe ace, Otto Schultz of JG27 flying a Messerschmitt Bf 109. Duke belly landed and survived the crash, it was however, the last flight of the aircraft AK402.