P40E 1/48 Hasegawa

[modelbld]

Need help identifying the indented area just forward of the hydraulic vent and located below the wing root on fuselage underside. I can see it on some P40E kits but not on others. Any information would be appreciated.

[P-40 Admin]

Welcome to the forums! Good question, I don't remember seeing this before? Behind that is I believe is the fuel vent, be interesting to find out what this is.

[Mark Joyce]

There is a photograph in the P-40 Warhawk Walk Around book that has it stenciled "Fuselage Fuel Drain."  I believe it is on a P-40E, albeit one that has been restored.

Interestingly, as modelbld mentions in the original post, I noticed this area isn't present on all P-40s.  The few photos I have found of this area are on museum displays and not period aircraft.

[modelbld]

I have been checking most information on line. I did see a fuel system diagram which shows that this may well be the fuselage fuel tank drain valve (cap). That's my guess now. So, if someone finds  something different, please let me know. Thanks to everyone out there who looked.