P-40E Detail Set
1/32 Scale

J. Rutman

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com

Reviewed by Brett Green

Revell's 1/32 scale P-40E has long held an attraction for me, even after much better kits became available in 1/48 scale. I don't know if this is a throwback to my early teenage years and the impact of the dramatic "Flying Tiger" and "Aleutian Tiger" boxart; or if I can really see a potential gem glowing through the old plastic pieces.

Either way, the big Revell P-40E still has some good points today. It is generally accurate, the surface detail is raised but captures both the stressed metal and fabric detail very well, it is inexpensive and right now it seems to be fairly widely available.

In common with other Revell 1/32 scale kits of the 1960s and 1970s, it also has some shortcomings. These include a see-through wheel well and a somewhat oversimplified cockpit.

Jerry Rutman's P-40E Detail Set addresses these shortcomings. The set comprises 39 parts in pale cream coloured resin and 3 parts in white metal. These parts entirely replace the cockpit and undercarriage. 

The highlights of the resin parts include nicely detailed cockpit sidewalls with electrical cables moulded in place, a delicately cast seat, entirely new undercarriage bays including "stitched" covers for the main wheel wells, replacement main wheels with cross-hatch tread pattern, tail wheel, various minor undercarriage struts plus a "canvas" boot for the tail wheel. An optional visor is also supplied for the two-part instrument panel. The remaining resin parts finish detailing the busy cockpit assembly.

It will be necessary to scratchbuild a clear reflector for the gunsight, but otherwise all parts are supplied.

The main undercarriage struts and tailwheel leg are replaced with clean white-metal castings.

The quality of the castings is generally very good, with only a few tiny pinholes present on one of the sidewalls and bubbles in one of the shrouded wheel wells. The fabric texture on items such as the stitched wheel well covers and headrest is very well done. 

Instructions reflect the relatively simple nature of this Detail Set. They are supplied on a single sheet of letter-sized paper with handwritten text supported by line drawings. Painting suggestions are not included.

Very little surgery is required to the Revell kit. The tabs must be removed from inside the kit fuselage and wings and, voila, the plastic parts are ready to accept Rutman's resin.

J. Rutman's 1/32 scale P-40E Detail Set in 1/32 scale will be a valuable addition to anyone building the old Revell kit. This set will lift Revell's Warhawk from a competent veteran model to a well-detailed eye-catcher.

Although care will be required when preparing and assembling the detail parts, there is very little surgery required to the donor kit itself. This makes Rutman's P-40E Detail Set appropriate for modellers with moderate experience dealing with resin parts.

Highly Recommended to anyone planning to build the Revell 1/32 scale P-40E kit.   

Thanks to Jerry Rutman for the review samples.

(By the way, there is now a Falcon/Squadron vacform canopy for the Revell P-40E in 1/32 scale too. This will complement the conversion nicely!)

The full range of J. Rutman's kits and accessories may be viewed and ordered from his new website at http://jrutman.playnet.com/

Review and Images Copyright © 2001 by Brett Green
Page Created 29 October, 2001
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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