Bell p-39 Airacobra "Cobra II" racer - Arma Hobby 1/72nd kit conversion

 

 

 

 

 

Here is finally completed the conversion of the Arma Hobby P-39 into "Tex" Johnston's Cobra II racer, winner of the 1946 Thompson Trophy race.

For the changes needed and the step-by-step construction article please go here:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2023/06/bell-p-39q-airacobra-cobra-ii-racer.html

A companion "Cobra I" conversion was made from an Academy kit:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2023/07/bell-p-39-airacobra-cobra-i-racer.html

The Arma P-39 "Kit of the Year" release is indeed worth of great praise, and there is no doubt that it will make many modelers very happy. A caveat: the weight provided (in a smart way) is barely enough to keep the model on its nose gear. At the slightest provocation it seats on its tail. It would be wise to add, if possible and where possible, just a little bit more of weight (it's all it needs, no exaggerations).

A Draw Decals set was used to complete the model.

The P-39 and it's bigger companion the P-63, as well as many other war birds, found a more peaceful destiny in the race circuit, and some are even flying today.

I recently converted another beautiful Arma Hobby kit, their Mustang, into the "Beguine" racer:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2023/03/mustang-beguine-racer-converted-arma.html

There is no doubt that racers are of great appeal for many modelers, and these home-made conversions (or racer kits when available in some instances) offer the possibility of presenting war planes in a different, very snazzy and colorful manner.

To convert the kit to a racer, all military equipment and detail has to be deleted, a new 4-blade prop installed, the prominent oil cooler fairing under the belly scratch-built, the carb. intake trunk extended, the long Pitot boom added to the spinner, an additional trim tab that goes above and outwards of the normal one supplemented, and some other details added, suppressed, or modified.

Conversions like this offer a bit of a fun challenge, as they are based on existing kits that are good to start with, and with some effort and research a nice racer model can be obtained, plus there are many decal sets available for them. Draw Decals has a whole library of them.