AMtech 1/48 P-40F-1 Merlin Engine Conversion First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | January 2005 | Manufacturer | AMtech |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | P-40F-1 Merlin Engine Conversion | Scale | 1/48 |
| Kit Number | 48002 | Primary Media | Resin |
| Pros | Beautiful Detailing | Cons | |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | MSRP (USD) | Out of Production |
First Look
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This conversion is a simple one-piece affair - a solid resin Merlin nose for your P-40. My example is free from bubbles and has some nice detailing cast into the part. The instructions have clear photography to step you through the simple surgical nose job that converts the AMtech 1/48 P-40E and includes templates to scratch-build new cowl flaps.
This nose could likely be adapted to other P-40E kits with a little work. The result is an early P-40F, before the tail section was extended to try to improve longitudinal stability. Of course there is not much point in converting the aircraft into an F-model if there aren't any markings.
AMtech includes a decal sheet from their earlier P-40F release. There are three P-40F-1 Warhawks to choose from:
- P-40F-1-CU, 113898, 66 FS/57 FG, Libya, November 1942
- P-40F-1-CU, unknown, 79 FG, Tunisia, March 1943
- P-40F-1-CU, 114217, 44 FS/347 FG, Guadalcanal, April 1943
If you're looking for a Warhawk that will catch the judge's eye, the P-40F is just what you've been looking for!
My sincere thanks to AMTech Models for this review sample!