Another superb model, John. I hope to see this one in person in October.
I believe Air-A-Cutie was a P-39D-1-BE (Serial 41-28267) of the 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, which flew P-39s out of New Guinea from September 1942 to February 1943, when they returned to Australia to re-equip with P-38s. (
8th Fighter Group - USAAF)
When I was in high school, there was a story going around that Russian pilots flying the P-39 could, because of the engine-behind-the-pilot configuration, do a quick nose-down maneuver that would cause the airplane to tumble end-over-end. I presume that story has since been debunked.
Don