Description
70099 Pearl Harbor Defenders – Deluxe Set 1/72
Two legendary Curtiss fighters, six marking options, and a bonus Wildcat!
On 7 December 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor caught American forces in Hawaii by surprise. Most aircraft were destroyed or damaged on the ground, but a handful of pilots managed to take off and fight back. Among them were Philip Rasmussen flying a P-36A Hawk, and George Welch and Kenneth Taylor flying P-40 Warhawks. That day, Welch shot down four Japanese aircraft, Taylor two, and Rasmussen one.
The Pearl Harbor Defenders set allows you to build two types of Curtiss fighters stationed in Hawaii in 1941. Alongside aircraft that took part in the defense of Oahu, the markings also represent machines used during the intensive training that preceded the outbreak of the Pacific War.
A particular attraction is the variety of unit markings: colorful P-36A engine cowls, P-40 propeller spinners, and distinctive fuselage numbers painted in styles characteristic of individual squadrons.
Kit Contents
- One complete Curtiss P-36A Hawk kit in 1/72 scale.
- One complete Curtiss P-40B/C Warhawk kit in 1/72 scale.
- Decal sheet with six Curtiss fighter marking options and bonus markings for a Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat.
- Two sets of canopy painting masks.
- Assembly instructions with aircraft histories and color schemes.
Six Marking Options
Curtiss P-36A Hawk – 2 Marking Options
- Curtiss P-36A Hawk, No. 86 – Philip Rasmussen (1 aerial victory) – 46th Pursuit Squadron, 15th Pursuit Group, Wheeler Field, Oahu, Hawaii, 7 December 1941.
- Curtiss P-36A Hawk, No. 30 – Francis Gabreski and Franklin Harrison – 45th Pursuit Squadron, 15th Pursuit Group, Wheeler Field, Oahu, Hawaii, 16 September 1941.
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk – 4 Marking Options
- Curtiss P-40, No. 155 – Kenneth Taylor (2 aerial victories) – 47th Pursuit Squadron, 15th Pursuit Group, Haleiwa Field, Oahu, Hawaii, 7 December 1941.
- Curtiss P-40, No. 160 – George Welch (4 aerial victories) – 47th Pursuit Squadron, 15th Pursuit Group, Haleiwa Field, Oahu, Hawaii, 7 December 1941.
- Curtiss P-40C, No. 337 – 44th Pursuit Squadron, 18th Pursuit Group, Bellows Field, Oahu, Hawaii, 8 December 1941.
- Curtiss P-40B, No. 266 – 19th Pursuit Squadron, 18th Pursuit Group, Bellows Field, Oahu, Hawaii, September 1941.
Bonus: Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat from USS Enterprise
The decal sheet also includes markings for a Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat, BuNo 3982, carrying the unusual code 3-F-15, flown by Ensign Gayle L. Hermann.
The aircraft belonged to VF-3, associated with the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, but on the evening of 7 December 1941 it took part in a VF-6 flight from USS Enterprise to Oahu. During its approach, it came under fire from American anti-aircraft defenses. Despite the damage, the pilot managed to land.
The bonus decals can be used with the Arma Hobby F4F-3 Wildcat kit in 1/72 scale. Wildcat plastic parts are not included in this kit.
Make the Most of the Decals – Bonus Sprues in Pre-Order!
The decal sheet provides markings for two different P-36As, four P-40B/C fighters, and a bonus Wildcat. The standard box contains two complete aircraft kits: one P-36A and one P-40B/C.
To make better use of the available markings, you can choose additional plastic sprues during the pre-order period at the official Arma Hobby online store:
- P-36 Bonus – additional P-36A Hawk sprues allow you to build both P-36A aircraft represented on the decal sheet.
- P-40 Bonus – additional P-40B/C Warhawk sprues allow you to build two of the four available P-40 marking options.
- Wildcat Bonus – additional F4F-3 Wildcat sprues allow you to use the bonus markings for Hermann's aircraft.
The additional sprue options are available exclusively during the pre-order period at the official Arma Hobby online store.
Choose the aircraft you want to build and create your own collection of Pearl Harbor defenders!
Pearl Harbor – Defenders of Hawaii
In 1941, Hawaii was one of the most strategically important locations in America's Pacific defense system. Its importance increased further after the US Pacific Fleet was moved to Pearl Harbor in 1940. The defense of the islands against a possible air attack was entrusted in part to units of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), equipped with Curtiss P-36A Hawk fighters and the newer P-40B and P-40C Warhawks.
The main fighter base on Oahu was Wheeler Field, home to the 15th and 18th Pursuit Groups. Aircraft also operated from smaller airfields such as Haleiwa and Bellows Field, used for training, gunnery practice, and temporary fighter deployments. The dispersal of some aircraft away from the main base would prove important during the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941.
Two Generations of Curtiss Fighters
The P-36A Hawk was one of the first modern monoplane fighters in American service. Powered by a radial engine, it entered service in the late 1930s. Its development led to the P-40 Warhawk, powered by an Allison inline engine, with a more streamlined silhouette and improved performance at higher speeds. Both types served alongside each other in Hawaii, while the newer P-40B and P-40C gradually replaced the older Hawks.
Earlier P-36As carried the colorful markings typical of pre-war American military aviation: natural metal finishes, brightly colored engine cowls, and other elements identifying their units. In 1941, the aircraft received Olive Drab camouflage on their upper surfaces and Neutral Gray underneath. The newer P-40s were painted in a similar scheme. Some squadron color traditions were retained, however, particularly on P-36A engine cowls and P-40 propeller spinners.
Distinctive Markings and Aircraft Numbers
One of the most interesting features of the fighters stationed in Hawaii was the large identification numbers painted on their fuselage sides. Introduced in 1941, these markings made individual aircraft easier to recognize and identify during flight operations.
The numbers were applied locally by the units, often using homemade stencils. Individual squadrons developed their own numeral styles, differing in width, proportions, corner shapes, spacing, and painting technique. Some numbers clearly showed stencil bridges, while others were painted without them. As a result, the distinctive appearance of these markings can often help identify the squadron to which an aircraft belonged.
Accurate reconstruction of these details has become possible through the study of surviving photographs, unit records, and accident reports. Particularly valuable is the research of historian Stephen R. Gilbert, who spent years reconstructing the markings of the fighters that defended Oahu.
Daily Service Before 7 December
Throughout 1941, American pilots in Hawaii trained intensively, flying patrols, practicing aerial combat, and conducting gunnery exercises. Accidents also occurred, sometimes with serious consequences. Ironically, accident reports and photographs of damaged aircraft now provide some of the most valuable evidence of what these fighters looked like at the time.
Among the pilots serving in Hawaii was Francis S. Gabreski, who would later become a famous American fighter ace. In September 1941, he crashed a P-36A during a training flight. Although he did not take part in aerial combat during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, his earlier service represents an interesting episode in the history of American fighter aviation in the Pacific.
7 December 1941 – The First Battle
On the morning of 7 December 1941, Japanese aircraft attacked American military installations on Oahu. Their principal target was the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, but airfields were also struck to prevent American fighters from interfering with the raid.
Wheeler Field came under heavy attack, and many fighters parked on the ground were destroyed or damaged before their pilots had any chance to take off. Despite the surprise and confusion, a handful of airmen managed to mount a defense.
Philip Rasmussen was among the pilots who succeeded in taking off from Wheeler Field in a P-36A and engaging Japanese aircraft. He shot down one enemy fighter, while his own aircraft suffered severe damage.
George Welch and Kenneth Taylor drove to Haleiwa Field, where P-40 fighters were stationed, and took off to engage the attackers. Both pilots flew two combat sorties. Welch achieved four confirmed aerial victories, while Taylor was credited with two. For their courage in defending Hawaii, both men were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
In total, these three pilots were credited with seven confirmed aerial victories on 7 December 1941.
Although these engagements could not change the outcome of the Japanese attack, they became symbols of the resistance offered by American fighter pilots. They also demonstrated that both the older P-36A and the more modern P-40 could fight effectively when given the chance to take off.
Arma Hobby 70099 – Pearl Harbor
Arma Hobby kit 70099 allows you to recreate two types of American fighters involved in the defense of Hawaii: the Curtiss P-36A Hawk and Curtiss P-40B/C Warhawk in 1/72 scale.
The marking options represent aircraft associated both with everyday service on Oahu in 1941 and with the dramatic events of 7 December. Among the stories featured are aircraft connected with Francis Gabreski, Philip Rasmussen, George Welch, and Kenneth Taylor.
Special attention has been paid to accurately reproducing the different styles of fuselage numbers, squadron marking colors, and other details characteristic of American fighter aircraft stationed in Hawaii.
Bonus – Wildcat from USS Enterprise
Another attraction of the set is the bonus decal option for a Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat, BuNo 3982, carrying the unusual code 3-F-15. The aircraft was associated with VF-3 of USS Saratoga, but on 7 December 1941 it participated in an evening flight by VF-6 from USS Enterprise to Oahu.
At the controls was Ens. Gayle L. Hermann. His aircraft came under fire from American anti-aircraft defenses, which, in the tense atmosphere following the Japanese attack, mistook the approaching fighters for enemy aircraft. Despite the damage, Hermann managed to land.
The bonus decals can be used with the Arma Hobby F4F-3 Wildcat kit in 1/72 scale. Wildcat plastic sprues are not included in kit 70099.
