The Curtiss Kittyhawk III was the British name given to the Curtiss P-40K which was a slightly modified Curtiss P-40E It has a more powerful engine which necessitated a slightly modified tail to maintain lateral stability. The P-40E was an almost complete redesign of the P-40 based on the lessons learned in the first year of World War 2. A total of 1,300 P-40Ks were ordered and deliveries began in 1943.

The Curtiss P-40E was a major revision of the earlier P-40 with improvements that included a redesigned nose with the radiator enlarged and moved forward and the air intake relocated, a revised cockpit canopy to improve the pilot’s vision and armament increased to six .50 calibre machine guns mounted in the wings.

Over 2,000 were manufactured for the United States Army Air Corps and British air forces including the Royal Australian Air Forces.

They served in all theatres of the war where it poor high altitiude performance was not a problem.

Their ability to carry bombs and the power of their six machine guns also made them a good ground attack aircraft.

This model represents a Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk III of 112 Squadron, RAF, in Sicily in 1943.

Data Engines one Allison V-1710-73 in line piston engine of 988kw. Wing span 11.27m. Length 9.66m. Gross weight 8515kg. Maximum speed 538 km/h. Range 1152km. Armament six 12.7mm machine gune and up to 910kg oof bombs. Crew 1.

Academy 1/72 kit completed by Steve Pulbrook in 2011.