Bronco 48BK004 Curtiss P-40B Warhawk AVG Flying Tigers White 47 R Smith BRONCO

The Flying Tigers, known officially as the American Volunteer Group, were a unit of the Republic of China Air Force, recruited from U.S. aviators.

From late 1941, the P-40B was used by the Flying Tigers. Compared to opposing Japanese fighters, the P-40B’s strengths were that it was very sturdy, well armed, generally faster in a dive and possessed a good rate of roll. While the P-40s could not match the maneuverability of Japanese Nakajima Ki-27s and Ki-43s they were facing, AVG leader Claire Chennault trained his pilots to use the P-40’s particular performance advantages.

The P-40 had a higher dive speed than the Japanese fighters, for example, and could be used to exploit so-called “boom-and-zoom” tactics. The AVG was highly successful, and its feats were widely-published, for propaganda purposes. According to their own count, the Flying Tigers shot down 286 aircraft for the loss of up to 19 pilots. The lowest count of AVG victories from other sources is 115 kills.

Features

• Diecast metal construction with some plastic components
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details
• Pad printed markings and placards that won’t fade or peel like decals.
• Accurately detailed underside
• Detailed cockpit interiors
• No pilot figures
• Spinning metal propellers
• Permanently extended landing gear with rotating wheels and rubber tires
• Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft “in flight”

Specifications

• Scale: 1:48
• Length: 8.25″
• Width: 9.25″