Part 1: First Look

MSRP: $35.90 Web Site: www.dragonmodelsusa.com The Bell P-39 Airacobra was one of the primary aircraft in USAAF service at the beginning of WWII. The innovative design idea of a mid-engine was intended to improve maneuverability by placing the engine near the aircraft's center of gravity, which leads to another feature unusual in American designs, the long propeller shaft was used to house the barrel of either a 20mm or 37mm cannon that fired through the propeller hub. The Airacobra Mk. 1 depicted in this model kit is one of eighty originally intended for France before their surrender to the Germans in June of 1941. The French Airacobra's were redirected to Great Britain and used to form the 601st RAF Squadron. The kit comes with twelve sprues, ten in a medium gray, one in black vinyl and one clear, for a total parts count of 122. One decal sheet of sharp bright aircraft markings is also included. The parts are full of small and cleanly reproduced detail, even the wheel wells are finely detailed with rivets and lines. The canopy and cockpit doors are crystal clear. The only thing I saw that concerned me right away is that the cockpit doors are molded in clear plastic and may be a little tricky to mask.

The eight page instruction sheet breaks down the assembly into nine steps, with two pages of paint and decal instructions for three versions of this aircraft, two with 601st Squadron markings and one with basic RAF markings with no unit designation. There are also instructions for assembling a drop tank and bomb, but it is stated three times in the instructions that the RAF Mk 1 did not carry bombs or drop tanks; another build option is cockpit doors open or closed.

I look forward to building this kit, and would like to thank Dragon Models USA and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this kit. Part two to follow soon.

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