Questions about I. Babak's P-39N

[Ciapka]

Hi, I'm new here, and I love the site, but I need a little help.

I'm making a Eduard P-39N, the plane of Ivan Babak of the 9.GIAP. I know that most, or maybe some, Russian Airacobras had there wing mounted guns removed. Is this correct?

I'm getting close to the point of putting the wings on, and I need a little semi-professional advise.

Thanks

[Ciapka]

OK, I think I answered me own question.

On this site I can't one single P-39 with wing guns.

http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/english/photogallery/30giap/index.htm

or on this P-39Q http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/english/photogallery/p-39_tikkakoski/index.htm.

Notice the overspray on "White 89" (on the first site). Maybe we're a little too careful.

[marluc]

Hello Ciapka:

Welcome to the forum.I must say that the P-39Q?s had the wing guns removed,but these were underwing .50 caliber carried in a gondola.The P-39N had four .30 cal MG and,as a matter of fact,I?ve never seen a photo with them removed.It?s said that the pilots didn?t like these rifle caliber guns and they often made them remove just to save weight.In my humble opinion,the best way to check this is to have a good photo of Babak?s model N Cobra (I?ve never seen one).What I think is you should fit the gun barrels in the wing.I hope someone else will be of better help,best regards:

Martin

[Dark Green Man]

the only photos I know of are on page 63 of Red Stars 4 Lend-Lease Aircraft in Russia by Carl-Frederik Geust.
they show it with wing guns.

as Marluc said the .50 gun pods under the wings were the only ones removed by the Soviets.
so there are probably many P-39Q's that have 'gun-less wings'
since this is a P-39N-1-BE (42-9033) we would expect the .30 caliber guns to still be inside the wings.