At the beginning of World War II in Europe, the British were faced with the threat to Egypt and the Suez Canal by the Italians in North Africa. With the fall of France in 1940, the Vichy Government control of the western end of the North African coastline put the British position in further jeopardy. The Italians sent their forces into Egypt, where they were soundly beaten by the British, losing thousands of prisoners of war in the process. Hitler felt forced to aid his Italian allies, and sent General Rommel’s forces to North Africa. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Allied leaders set up a strategy to evict the Axis Powers from North Africa, and starting in early 1942, American forces began preparing for “Operation Torch”, the invasion of Vichy French controlled Morocco and Algeria, and in November, 1942, Allied forces, mainly American, began landing in North Africa.

The Aircraft

The P-39Q was an improved version of the earlier P-39s. Most of them were sent to the Soviet Union through Lend-Lease, but a few were used by American forces. The major difference between the earlier P-39s and the Q model was that the .30 caliber wing machine guns (2 in each wing) were replaced by a pod with a .50 caliber MG, with 300 rounds per gun, giving greater stopping power. The 37 mm cannon in the nose was retained.

About a year ago I built the Brengun kit of the P-39D/F/K. Nice kit. So, I volunteered to do this review.

Brengun has an extensive line of 1/144^th accessories (engine starter carts, boarding ladders, etc.) as well as resin construction kits (US/German staff cars, aircraft, V-1, etc.) in their catalog. Most if not all of these 1/144^th scale construction kits come with photo etch details and appropriate decals. One of Brengun's newer offerings is a 1/144 scale resin BTR-60 Soviet Armored Personnel Carrier.

The kit is cast in light gray resin and is accompanied by a fret of photoetch (grab handles, rear view mirror brackets, etc.) and a decal sheet with markings for either a Czechoslovakian, Polish, East German, or Soviet vehicle. The decal sheet also has six complete numeral sets in two sizes.