The Curtiss P-40 was a fighter aircraft that served with most Allied air forces during World War II. A total of over 13,700 P-40s of all variants were manufactured.

The prototype P-40 was a modification of a the earlier Curtiss P-36 and first flew in October 1938. It was tough and dependable with competitive performance at lower altitudes.

In April 1939 the United States Army Air Corps ordered 524 P-40s and the final 324 aircraft of that order were completed as the slightly improved P-40B which had additional armour, self-sealing tanks and improved armament.

During the Japanese attach on Pearl Harbour 72 P-40s were destroyed or damaged on the ground.

Five P-40s launched during the attack. Two were shot down before gaining altitude whilst the remaining three flew seven sorties claiming seven or eight Japanese dive bombers.

This model represents a P-40B flown by the 47th Pursuit Squadron, 15th Pursuit Group from Wheeler Field, Hawaii, on 7 December 1941.

Airfix 1/72 kit completed by Steve Pulbrook in 2018.