Curtiss P-40N Warhawk "Yellow 57" ("Squirlbate")

This is Yellow 57/"Squirlbate", a P-40N flown by Captain Richard J. Vodra of the8th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group during the New Guinea campaign.

Captain Vodra was credited with two victories during the campaign and later went on to become successful writer and inventor. The name of his mount and the spelling thereof apparently represent his fondness for wordplay, whilst the chequered tail represents a riposte to an enemy pilot, also flying a chequered 'plane who had previously badly shot him up.

The kit is the venerable old 1/72 Hasegawa offering, and the decals are by Aeromaster courtesy of Paul J from Britmodeller. Paint scheme is Olive Drab with Medium Green splotches & Neutral Grey - not Dark Green/Middle Stone & Azure Blue per the Aeromaster callouts.