Just rented this movie and my kids really liked it.
Knowing I like to build models they asked it I could build the plane depicted.
Can anyone who has seen the flick suggest a model and maker (preferably 1/48, 43 yr old eyes!) that would be a good start. I think it’s a p-38. It would seem there would be some modification as the one in the movie is apparently a two seater. I’m not very skilled, just want to come close!
Gotta say, I’m not sure I’d want to go up against aliens from Mars or wherever in a p-40. The -40 was a solid ship but I think I’d want something more versatile ie a 'stang or jug.
phil - yer right, but remember this is hollywood, so “dex” (a character in the movie) has souped up this particular P-40 so that it can go underwater, shoot grappling hooks, and its got miracle fuel tanks that give it long enough legs to fly from new york to nepal in one sitting.
Well, in the original movie, to actually make that flying machine they go out of there in, there were parts of three different airplanes cobbled together, which killed famed movie pilot/cameraman Paul Mantz. We had a thread about this a few weeks ago and I found a C-119 web page that tells what it is. I’ll see if I can find it again. They supposedly used an original C-83 Packet for both movies, according to the web site.
As for the P-40’s movie career, does anyone remember who released the P-40 kit in conjuction with the Steven Spielberg bomb “1941,” flown by John Belushi in the film? I wish I’d snapped it up. My LHS had a copy or two of that kit for about ten years after the movie died at the box office. And, after that thread today or yesterday about Fast Frames, and I found that old one for the AMT P-40N, I began to wonder if AMTech has a kit of that subtype, using the old AMT molds, as the did with the E model?
TOM
The 1941 P-40 from the movie was made by Revell. It was a reissue of their old (1968, I believe) 1/32 Aleutian Tiger. I remember this as my brother got this kit for his birthday.
Yo! It is a P-40N. Gotta remember that this movie is a take-off on the serials from the 30’s and 40’s. I grew up in the 40’s and the P-40 was much-loved and was by far the most common plane available as a toy. I think I had a whole squadron. While my FAVORITE was the P-61 (and still is, fancy that), you could not get one as a toy. Actually, Hubley made a metal fighter based on the P-35 that was made into the 50’s and is a real find today.
I believe I saw somewhere that more P-40s served in WWII than any other fighter. Lotsa exports.