Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Specifications for Bell P-39F

First Flight – April 6, 1938
Entered Service – 1941

Improvements From Previous Variants
(1) - Bullet-proof windshield and self-sealing fuel tanks were added.
(2) - A 3-bladed Aeroproducts constant speed 10 ft 4 in. propeller replaced the Curtiss-
Electric version because of lack of supply.
(3) - Engine had 12 exhaust stubs instead of the previous 6.

Performance
Engine – (1) 1150 hp Allison V-1710-35 twelve-cylinder liquid cooled engine.
Maximum speed
@ sea level - 309 mph
@ 5,000 ft - 335 mph
@ 10,000 ft - 355 mph
@ 12,000 ft - 368 mph
@ 15,000 ft - 360 mph

Rate of Climb
1.9 minutes to 5,000 ft
5.7 minutes to 15,000 ft
9.1 minutes to 20,000 ft

Service ceiling - 32,100 ft
Maximum range (clean) - 600 miles @ 10,000 ft @ 231 mph.

Optional fuel - (1) 74.5 Imp gal drop tank on belly center-line

Weights
Empty – 5,462 lbs
Gross – 7,500 lbs
Maximum Take Off – 8,200 lbs

Dimensions
Wingspan - 34 ft
Length - 30 ft 2 in
Height - 11 ft 10 in
Wing Area - 213 sq ft

Armament
(1) 37 mm cannon in nose with 30 rounds
(4) wing-mounted 0.30 in. machine guns with 1000 rpg,
(2) fuselage-mounted 0.50 in. machine guns with 200 rounds per gun.
(1) 250 lb, 325 lb, or 500 lb bomb could be carried underneath the fuselage.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA1711
Bell (Model 15B) P-39F-1BE Airacobra
RAAF 24 Squadron, late 1942

Die-cast metal.

Superb detailing in 1/72 scale.

Pre-painted with pad applied markings.

Fully assembled.

Accessories are not permanently attached.

Comes with a pilot figure.

Display stand included.

Option to display model with wheels up or down.

Free spinning propeller.

Minimum use of plastic.

Very collectable.

The Bell P-39 was the first American fighter to use tricycle undercarriage. Also unique
was the use of a mid-mounted engine with a propeller shaft that ran from the engine
through the cockpit under the pilot to the propeller. A 37mm cannon was mounted behind
the gearbox and set up to fire through the propeller and the proper role the Airacobra
performed marvelously and created a number of Aces.

In 1942 the RAAF found themselves with a lack of British-designed interceptors and P-
40s. Without a way to fight the Japanese bombing raids on Northern Australia towns so
as a stop-gap measure the RAAF had to resort to using older P-39Ds that the USAAF 5th
AF had damaged and repaired. Eventually the RAAF 24th Squadron located in
Townsville received seven new P-39F-1BEs on July 27, 1942. As it turned out adequate
supplies of the P-39F-1BE weren’t available either so the seven that were supplied never
did see combat. By November 1943 RAAF squadrons were being supplied with adequate
numbers of Vultee Vengeance aircraft so the remaining P-39s were returned to the 5th
AF except for three P-39F-1BEs and one P-39D that had been written off due to
accidents.

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION
PICTURES NOT THE FINAL VERSION

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