| Built by: | Laurence Farrugia |
| Kit: | 1/48 Planet Models XP-40Q-2 “Last Version” |
| Kit Media: | Resin, etched-metal and vac-form canopy |
| Modifications and Additions: | Built ‘Out Of Box’ |
| Unit: | Factory Prototype |
| Location: | Buffalo, New York, USA, 1943 |
| Pilot: |
Area of Operations
History
The Curtiss XP-40Q was the ultimate version of the Curtiss Hawk line that began with the P-36 of 1935. It was an attempt to produce a truly contemporary fighter by refining the P-40 design whilst minimising tooling changes and thereby avoiding production delays.
Three prototypes were built by modifying existing P-40 airframes (two P-40Ks and a P-40N) with the
installation of a more powerful Allison V-1710 engine and other refinements that included redesigned cooling system, a bubble canopy and clipped wings.
Although these changes resulted in an improved P-40 that began to approach the performance of more modern fighters, it was still outclassed by the contemporary P-47 and P-51 fighters and was not put into production. Therefore, the P-40N was the final production version and the last successful Curtis fighter.
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