Curtiss Hawk 75 in Argentina
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 Author: Rodolfo Hertrig

In search of a replace to the existing Dewoitine D.21 C-1, the Direccion General de Aeronautica opens a contest for its successor. After view various candidates (Dewoitine D.371/D.500, Curtiss Hawk III/IV, Vought V-143, Seversky 2PA), the Direccion finally, in January 1938, inclines for the Curtiss 75-0, 30 examples of which are requested and acquired the license of construction by other 20 in the factory of Cordoba. These machines possessed more powerful engine than the Hawk 75 H, they utilized a Wright Cyclone GR-1820 G5 engine of 1000 hp at 2200 rpm, and take a radio-transmitter Telefunken. The armament was composed of danish Madsen machine guns, two of 7,65 mm. in the wings, and one of  7,65 mm. and another of 11,35 mm. in the engine hood; the interior bomb load capacity was 136 kg. The 30 machines acquired to Curtiss arrived at the country among November 29 and December 30 1938, while the first machine manufactured locally was delivered in 16 August 1940. These machines went into service next to the Hawk III, available in three Regimientos de Caza (Hunting Groups) of the Regimiento Aéreo (Air Regiment) Nº 2 of the Comando de Aviación del Ejército (Army Aviation Command) among January 1939 and September 4 1944, date in which the CAE (Army Aviation Command) became the Fuerza Aérea Argentina (Argentine Air Force). The last machines were regroup in 1949 in the Group I and II from the IV Brigada Aérea (Air Brigade). Their last assignment was the unfold in the Newbery Airport in June 1955, because the rebellion against the national Government. 

Painting and Markings  

Initially the machines were registered since the 601 to the 650, and they maintained the natural metal without painting, except the control surfaces, that upon being fabric covered, they went painted aluminum colour. The antiglare panel, as well as the markings, went painted in black; the same went in the fuselage and in the four positions of the wings: the right of the lower side of wing read itself since the cockpit, while the left was it since ahead, being invested for the upper side of wing. The machines of the group and squadron commanders were identified by a red band behind the cockpit. After June 1943 the airplanes were painted in Olive Drab (Humbrol 30) and Light Blue (Humbrol 65). Now the markings is in white, went preceded by a "C", and was located in the wing attack edge, nose and tail, with a small argentine flag, all this was repeated on the other side of the airplane. The national insignia were always maintained in the six habitual positions. Among 1941 and 1942 some of the Hawk was painted with a black, blue or red band behind the cockpit for identification of airplanes of the same squadron. In 1944 experienced with olive green or dark green colors for the upper surfaces, without any tactical markings, alone conserved the national insignia in the rudder. Since 1945 the propeller blades were painted all in black, with the extremes in yellow.

The only plastic kit available is that the Hobbycraft in 1/48 scale. The only one failure is that the nose is incorrect, that the section of the engine hood is not perfectly rounded, characteristic of the argentine model, by which with the cut B-B (fig.1) you will have to redo; the pieces A8 and A9 have to place in the new nose in the same position indicated in the instructions. In the pieces that they are given for optional, they should be used the C10, D2 and C12; likewise the piece C31 is used depending on the machine that can be desired to do. In the scheme plans, the olive green/light blue version is correct, not being the same thing that the natural aluminum version, in which the identification band is not black but orange, and the drawing placed in the nose of the "627" has not been constated in photos by the author of this note.

Left side of the cockpit: is observed the place to locate 10 fireworks, fire extinguisher, accelerator, manual bombs launcher, wheels control and electric panel.		Right side of the cockpit, where is observed the opening crank for the cockpit, maps box, oxygen regulator, gun, pilot helmet and flaps position controls.
		Position of the machine guns in the fuselage.
		875 hp Wright Cyclone GR-1820-G3 engine.
Radio transmitter equipment.	Instrument panel panoramic view.	Landing gear.