Kit Cutters Completion Guide

Jim Pepino Giant-Scale Short Kit

80.5" P-39 Airacobra

The mid-engine fighter that broke every convention — with a complete, honest list of everything else you'll need to finish it.

Buy the Kit — $408.00 See Everything You Need

Wingspan

80.5 in

Length

71 in

Scale

1/5

Weight (AUW)

~20–24 lb

Power

35–55cc gas

Gear

Tricycle

Skill

Advanced

A Legend, Faithfully Cut

The Bell P-39 Airacobra was unlike any fighter of its era — the engine sat behind the pilot, driving the propeller through a long extension shaft, and it was the first production fighter to fly with tricycle landing gear. Jim Pepino's giant-scale design captures that innovative layout faithfully, right down to the mid-fuselage powerplant.

Kit Cutters supplies the precision laser-cut wood. This guide covers the rest: the honest, model-specific list of what you'll buy to complete it, with real sources for every part.

80.5-inch Pepino P-39 Airacobra mid-engine RC warbird in flight

What's in the Box?

Included in the Short Kit

Precision laser-cut wood parts only — ribs, formers, shaped parts
Fuselage formers including mid-fuselage engine bay
Wing rib set for the straight tapered wing

⬇ Download Pack List (PDF)

Required Separately

Plans / building instructions (buy from Laser Design Services — copyright)
Spars, sheeting, and stick balsa
Engine, cowl, canopy, landing gear, covering, finishing, electronics
Prop extension shaft, spinner, fuel tank, servos, hardware

Everything Else You Need to Complete This Kit

Model-specific, with real sources. Where Pepino sells a part directly, that's noted; where there's a choice (like gas vs. electric power), both paths are laid out.

Power System

The P-39 mounts its engine behind the pilot, driving the prop via an extension shaft through the fuselage. Plan the entire drivetrain before purchasing any components.

GAS — designer spec

Engine	35–55cc gas, mounted mid-fuselage behind the pilot. DLE-35, DA-35, or similar.	Desert Aircraft / Valley View RC
Prop extension shaft	Required to reach the nose from the mid-fuselage engine position — length per plan	Specialty RC retailer
Fuel tank	Sized to engine; position per plan for CG	Dubro / specialty
Spinner	Scale nose spinner; verify diameter with prop extension shaft	Specialty RC retailer

ELECTRIC — researched alternative

Motor	Mid-power outrunner, ~40–50cc class equivalent, mounted in mid-fuselage position	Specialty RC retailer
Battery	6S–8S LiPo; CG is critical — position battery carefully per plan	Specialty RC retailer
ESC	80–100A with appropriate heat management in the enclosed fuselage	Specialty RC retailer
Prop extension shaft	Required for electric motor in mid-fuselage position; ensure motor shaft compatibility	Specialty RC retailer

Heads up — The P-39's mid-fuselage engine position makes CG management critical. The extension shaft must be perfectly aligned or vibration will be destructive. Plan the entire drivetrain before purchasing components.

Cowl & Fuselage Nose

Builder sourced / per plan

Nose cowl	No ready-made fiberglass cowl in production for this Pepino plan. Built per plan or sourced from the secondary R/C market.	Secondary R/C Market / per plan
Car-door hatches	The P-39's signature car-style entry doors — built per plan	Per plan

Canopy

Builder sourced / per plan

Canopy

No ready-made canopy in production for this Pepino plan at 1/5 scale. Vacuum-form per plan templates or source from secondary R/C market.

Secondary R/C Market / per plan

Landing Gear

Tricycle

Main retracts	Two main gear legs — Robart or equivalent; sized to model weight	Robart / specialty
Nose retract	Separate nose-gear retract for the forward fuselage	Robart / specialty
Wheels	Scale wheels to suit gear; check plan for sizing	Robart / specialty

Servos

6+ channels

Ailerons	2x 65+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Elevators	2x 65+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Rudder	1x 90+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Throttle	1x 50 oz-in	Builder preference
Gear	1x 50 oz-in for retract servo	Builder preference

Covering & Finishing

Covering	Iron-on film or lightweight fiberglass cloth; USAAF Olive Drab or natural metal schemes popular	Chief Aircraft / specialty
Paint	USAAF Olive Drab / Neutral Gray or natural metal scheme	Builder preference

Hardware

Control horns & linkages	Sized per plan; routing through mid-fuselage requires careful planning	Specialty RC retailer
Hinges	Flat hinges or Robart hinge points	Robart / specialty

Detailed Specifications

Wingspan	80.5 in
Fuselage length	71 in
Scale	1/5
Weight (AUW)	~20–24 lb
Power	35–55cc gas (mid-fuselage, behind pilot)
Gear	Tricycle — nose wheel + main gear
Min. radio channels	6+

The P-39's engine mounts behind the pilot and drives the prop via an extension shaft — CG management is critical. Plan battery / fuel tank position carefully before building. Accessories are third-party or per plan; Jim Pepino does not sell model-specific parts directly.

Jim Pepino

Jim Pepino's P-39 Airacobra plan is one of the finest representations of this unconventional fighter available in giant scale. Plans are available through Laser Design Services. Pepino does not sell model-specific accessories directly — sourcing is third-party or per plan.

Plans must be purchased separately from Laser Design Services (copyright).

Get Pepino Plans

The Build Journey

The P-39 is a technically demanding build due to its unconventional mid-engine layout. Allow extra time for the drivetrain planning and CG work.

Where a short kit saves you time

Pepino's plans include full-size templates for every part. The P-39's complex fuselage formers and wing ribs represent a substantial cutting job. A Kit Cutters short kit removes that entire stage.

Plans only (hand-cut)

You trace and cut every rib, former, and engine bay part from raw stock, then build.

more time, lower part cost

Short kit (laser-cut)

All fuselage formers and wing parts arrive laser-cut. Skip straight to assembly.

less time, cleaner fit

The four stages of assembly

Stage 1: Fuselage Assembly

Building the fuselage including the mid-engine bay.

Align and pin main formers
Build the mid-fuselage engine bay
Plan the prop shaft tunnel
Install nose gear retract bay

Stage 2: Wing Assembly

Straight tapered wing with retract mounts.

Build the main spar
Install wing ribs
Fit main gear retract mounts
Sheet and cap the wing

Stage 3: Drivetrain Installation

The P-39's defining challenge.

Install engine in mid-fuselage position
Fit and align prop extension shaft
Verify shaft alignment under power (bench test)
Confirm CG with all equipment fitted

Stage 4: Systems & Final Assembly

Putting it together and prepping for flight.

Install tricycle gear (3 legs)
Final radio gear installation
Test all control surfaces
Recheck CG before first flight

Frequently Asked Questions

The short kit is laser-cut wood parts only. You'll also need the Pepino plans (from Laser Design Services), spars and sheeting, a mid-fuselage engine or motor, prop extension shaft, tricycle landing gear, covering, and radio gear.

Bell designed the P-39 with a mid-fuselage Allison engine to allow a nose-mounted 37mm cannon firing through the prop shaft. The layout also enabled tricycle landing gear — the first production fighter to use it.

Yes — it's the most technically demanding aspect of this kit. The prop extension shaft must be perfectly aligned or vibration will be destructive. Plan the entire drivetrain before purchasing components, and bench-test before installing in the airframe.

Plans are purchased separately from Laser Design Services (not from Ziroli or Kit Cutters). Kit Cutters supplies the laser-cut wood; Laser Design Services supplies the Pepino plans.

Not currently. No fiberglass cowl or canopy is in production for this specific Pepino plan at 1/5 scale. Builders vacuum-form these from plan templates or source from the secondary R/C market.

Tricycle — the P-39 was the first production fighter to use this layout. Two main gear legs plus a nose wheel, giving three retract circuits.

Yes, but the mid-fuselage motor position with a prop extension shaft is a more complex installation than a nose-motor setup. CG management is critical — position the battery carefully per plan.

80.5" wingspan, 71" length, at 1/5 scale. Typical all-up weight is approximately 20–24 lb. These are builder-reported figures; refer to your Pepino plan set for definitive specifications.

Ready to Build Your P-39 Airacobra?

Buy the 80.5" P-39 Airacobra Kit — $408.00

Prices and availability are subject to change — verify on each vendor's site before ordering. Kit Cutters supplies laser-cut wood parts only; plans and accessories are sold by their respective vendors.

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