045 Bell P-45 (P-39C) Airacobra

Dave Burgess
Bell P-45 (P-39C) Airacobra. A fairly simple conversion:
"After completing service trials, and originally designated P-45, a first order for 80 aircraft was placed 10 August 1939; the designation reverted to P-39C before deliveries began. After assessing aerial combat conditions in Europe, it was evident that without armor or self-sealing tanks, the 20 production P-39Cs were not suitable for operational use. The remaining 60 machines in the order were built as P-39Ds with armor, self-sealing tanks and enhanced armament. -Wiki
Since the added pilot armour and self sealing tanks are not visible externally, a couple of snips to remove a wing gun on each side, converted this P-39D model into a P-45 (P-39C). I stuck with the decals provided (Soviet A.F.)

Dave Burgess
According to Wiki - the trapeze and belly tank were a P-39D modification, but the interior of the tank was critical for me to get enough weight forward of the main LG to keep this model from being a tail-dragger! The interior construction of the forward fuselage and placement of forward LG made it VERY difficult to get enough counter-weight in there; a problem I did NOT experience with the RS Models kit.