P-40 Warhawk - Flying Tigers

Introducing the iconic shark-mouthed P-40 Warhawk!

The P-40 Warhawk was a North American built fighter used extensively in World War 2. Though slower and less maneuverable than other elite fighters of the time, its heavy armor plating and armament of six .50-caliber machine guns made it a force to be reckoned with.

The most famous use of the P-40 was by the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in the skies over mainland China. Utilizing aerial tactics devised by their company commander Claire Chennault, the pilots of the AVG achieved a success rate greater than 20 to 1 enemy aircraft shot down to lost planes. The company’s heroics earned them the nickname of “Flying Tigers”. The pilots of the Flying Tigers adopted the practice of painting a shark-mouth on the air intake of their P-40s, creating arguably one of the most recognizable and intimidating combat looks to date.

Model Details

The P-40 had many different production models with slight variations in each. This scale version primarily resembles the later, “long tail” models. The design aims to strike the balance between accurately detailed but still relatively straightforward to print and assemble.

There are multiple print profiles to choose from. They are as follows:

1. P-40_Filament Saver - The recommended profile for most printers. It is the same as the P-40_Army Markings except that parts are further separated and the tail serial number is removed in order to drastically reduce filament waste.
2. P-40_Army Markings – This model incorporates the dual color fuselage and the American Army star insignia on the wings and fuselage. This profile uses more filament but produces the cleanest final product.
3. P-40_AVG – This print profile has the wing markings of the Chinese Air Force that the AVG flew with, as well as the large-numbered fuselage. It most resembles the markings of the original Flying Tigers. This profile uses more filament but produces the cleanest final product.
4. P-40_Single Color – Use this profile if you don’t have an AMS or would prefer to do your own custom paint job!
5. P-40_Two Colors - This profile attempts to strike the balance between filament use and after-print detailing. Use it to get the main details printed and hand-paint the rest.

All parts are designed to be snap fit. Please ensure that your printer is properly calibrated before attempting this print! Some slight sanding or similar cosmetic work may be required. Many of the tolerances are very tight. The best way to seat the connector cubes is to do an initial hand fit, then to press the part and connector firmly but steadily against a flat surface until it slides fully into place.

The propeller spins!

**Note: I did not finish the stand in time to include it in the initial release. I have included my test stand but am in the process of completing a better one. I will try not to delay its release too long!

Comments from the Creator

Please be sure to leave comments and photos! I am always working to improve my models, and I love to see others enjoy them! Your comments help me to understand what details and functions are most important to you. I am always open to requests as well, though please understand that each model requires dozens of hours spent on research, design, and testing, so I simply won’t be able to get to them all! All boosts, likes, and ratings are strongly appreciated and help support my work!