The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single engined, single-seat all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft produced between 1939 and 1944. ‘Miss Memphis’ was flown by the 79th Fighter Group stationed in North Africa during World War Two and featured the warbird’s menacing ‘Flying Skull’ nose art to the front of the fuselage.

The aircraft also displays the risqué́ artwork created by Cpl Joseph E Pumphrey on the tail fin displaying a pin up girl of the time. However, her rather naughty presence was short-lived and was subsequently removed under commanders’ orders. But – ‘Miss Memphis’ lives on in 1:72 scale miniature on our model of the P40, a faithful reproduction of the original aircraft. The Warhawk is decorated in the desert camouflage of earth brown and sand to the upper body with azure underside. Its X43 Star lettering is painted white along the sides with the US star contained within a blue circle. Further detail sees a red propeller spinner, silver pitot tube and propeller blades, tyres and gun turrets in black.

Image copyright Oxford Diecast Ltd. Used with permission.