1940s U.S. Twin-Engine Fighter — Handmade Metal Model Airplane

An American twin-engine fighter of the Second World War, in hand-formed iron — twin booms, central nacelle and two propellers.

Handcrafted with metal propellers, rolling landing wheels and hand-painted finish with decal insignia.

Details

• 100% iron frame
• Twin metal propellers
• Landing wheels that roll
• Hand-painted with decal insignia
• Boom, nacelle, canopy and tail detail
• Ready to display

The type

Twin-engine fighters were a 1930s idea: two engines meant more power, longer range and heavier armament than a single could carry. The trade was agility, and most nations' attempts were badly beaten by single-engine opponents.

The American exception was the P-38 Lightning, which worked because its guns were grouped in the nose rather than the wings — no convergence point to judge, so pilots could shoot accurately at any range. It had the range for the Pacific, and it was a P-38 formation that intercepted and killed Admiral Yamamoto in April 1943, 400 miles out over open water.