The Vultee Vanguard (also designated as the P-66) was a fighter designed just before World War 2. It’s performance was mediocre so it only saw action in China against Japan until better fighters became available there.

Vultee began design of the Vanguard in 1938 and the prototype made its first flight on 8 September 1939.

In February 1940 the Swedish government ordered 144 of them but when production deliveries began in September 1941 the United States placed an embargo on their export to Sweden.

Instead they were given the US designation P-66 and allocated to the USAAF as fighter trainers.

A total of 146 P-66s were produced.

Britain took over 100 P-66s to be used as trainers in Canada but relinquished them after tests.

Most P-66s were then sent to China where they performed poorly.

This model represents a Vanguard in British colours and markings.

AZmodel 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in April 2017.