Monogram P-40B

Nice work!  I've built a few of those and never had one turn out so good!  This is also the kits that my boys built for their first model because it use to be about $7.00 at Wal-Mart back in the good old days when they stocked models and some supplies...

She looks great.

This kit is an oldy and quite sparse in detail. The cockpit is non existent, the panel lines up front need rescribed, the fit is questionable, ect. ect. ect.

You did a rather nice job with her.

spiralcity

She looks great.

This kit is an oldy and quite sparse in detail. The cockpit is non existent, the panel lines up front need rescribed, the fit is questionable, ect. ect. ect.

There most certainly IS a cockpit, complete with seat, panel, stick, some side-panel details,and flap-handle... It needs extra detailing, but calling it "non-existant" is just flat untrue... It needs work in the wheel-wells, and in the flap-area too, but that's what they make styrene strip, rod, and sheet for, eh?

 'Course, it's no "Shake & Bake", because it takes a modeler to build it up into a contest winner... 

Thanks for the nice comments!  I appreciate it. The cockpit does have a good amount of detail and it just begs for more.  It's a good candidate for scratch-building, nice and roomy too.  If you're not up for scratching it, it can be done with AM parts.  I've learned so much about model building since the P-40 and the Zero kits were built.  I am glad to have representative planes of each type in my collection though and I do believe that kits such as these present a "canvas" of sorts, upon which we can do our thing, so to speak. Thanks again!

Gary

I don't care what anybody says, these "old" kits, with a little TLC and some average skill, build up rather nicely. I love to see them built proud. Nice to see this and the Zero you did.

Sorry Hammer, I disagree, I have 3 of the same kit in my stash.

The cockpit sucks and needs plenty of work not just a little detail. The seat alone is wrong and needs a scratch built or aftermarket upgrade. The supplied instrument panel is completley wrong and needs scratched or aftermaket for accuracy. The detail monogram does supply is basically junk and it all should be redone if your looking for accuracy, as you mentioned the wheel wells also need work as do most of the old monogram kits.

I have nothing against this kit, it can be built into a winner as most kits can. I simply stand by my comments from my first post.

The OP did a fine job with this kit and it shows that this kit can be turned into quite a nice looking bird.

Uh-uh.. You said the cockpit was non-existant... "Non-existant" cockpits are the type found in the Monogram Spitfire, Zero, Wildcat, Corsair, Hellcat, Hurricane, and TBF kits, as I see it.. With those kits, with simply a pilot figure that gets glued to a bulkhead with feet dangling and a decal for an IP and all  placed under a thick, one-piece canopy, I'd agree with you that the cockpit is "non-existant"...

However... The P-40B's cockpit, although rather simplified, is still there and consists of, IIRC, no less than eight parts, namely, a rear bulkhead, floor, panel w/ rudder pedals, control stick, flap handle, seat, and partials of the left and right side-panels... 

In order for Monogram to bring the kit up to the "standards" some folks seem to think is "required" for a kit to be a good one, it would no longer be a Monogram kit, and it certainly wouldn't MSRP for 12.00... It would be some kinda Tamigawa, and cost 50-60.00...

Remember too, this kit was first released in 1964 for ten-year olds to build, and it was Monogram's first foray into detailed kits that weren't essentially toys,  and included not one, not two, but three different decal sets, all for about 1.20...  Each kit that followed got better, too...  Look at the P-51B, P-47D, Typhoon, and Fw 190 kits... 

Basically what I'm saying is this: Fixing what's "wrong" with a kit is what a true modeler does, even if he has to beat it into submission, lol... 

And I'll stand by that, too...

Well Hammer, when you cant or dont want to use what comes with the kit then....non exsistent. Monogram may toss in a few token parts but they are basicall useless for accuracy.

and that rear bulk head also needs replaced...lol

Face it man, that cockpit is a mess.

As I stated, I have nothing against the kit. it sure can look pretty when done up right.

I know you love the Monogram kits but I have to call them like I see em.

Thanks Wolfram!  Average skill just about describes my ability alright.  I appreciate the comments!

Gary

I just built one of these last year, in AVG markings of course!  Loved the way yours came out.

spiralcity

Well Hammer, when you cant or dont want to use what comes with the kit then....non exsistant. Monogram may toss in a few token parts but they are basicall useless for accuracy.

and that rear bulk head also needs replaced...lol

Face it man, that cockpit is a mess.

As I stated, I have nothing against the kit. it sure can look pretty when done up right.

I know you love the Monogram kits but I have to call them like I see em.

 You make good points, but with the canopy closed and  pilot figure in there, how much detail can you really see?

 If you want the canopy open and no pilot in there, then yes you have some work to do.

dmk

I'm with Hammer on this one. There is a cockpit there. It exists.  It's just not up to your standards.

 You make good points, but with the canopy closed and  pilot figure in there, how much detail can you really see?

 If you want the canopy open and no pilot in there, then yes you have some work to do.

 

Come on DMK, the cockpit that is their is incorrect and not up to the standards of a P40B, not my standards.

Sure their is a cockpit but it is useless as is and needs a complete overhaul, everything in it needs replaced or updated.

As a modeler I like to add the correct detail to my cockpits as well as everything else as Im sure many others on this site do as well.

I wasnt knocking the kit, I was just calling it like i see it. I like the old monograms as well as Hammer but I am not affraid to call out a kit for it's faults.

You can find Academy P40C's on ebay cheap. I just snagged one for 8.00 USD, and they are a bit better than the old Monograms. Thats all Im saying man, have fun.

A very nice build . And i love these out door photos as well.

Thank you Bish!   I like taking these pics outside; the natural light just can't be beat, and where else except an airport would these 'birds really look at home?  I'm fortunate that the airport is only about 4 minutes from my home.  Thanks again for the kind words!

Gary

Very nice job Texgunner. I built the same one 20+ years ago now, certainly didn't turn out like that!

Thanks Vance!  I remember spending a ton of time on her.  That must have been around '91 or '92.  I recall having to repaint the starboard upper wing after some kind of decal accident. You know, I wish I had kept build notes on all my planes(guess it's not too late to start); I did keep all the instruction sheets and some of them have notes about colors and changes.  She's just a simple Monogram kit that received just a little attention.  Thanks again!

Gary

Very good work texgunner; she's a pretty bird! Your interior looks good from what we see of it. The kit comes with a representative cockpit, nothing we could call detailed. And, if you want to get technical about it, they are not very accurate. But even so, you can still make a nice model out of it.

I am working on one now. It is my first model since 1995; and that was my first since about 1962. I have put a tremendous amount of time into it; mainly fixing mistakes. It has finally made it to the paint, or onto another learning curve.

I am building it as George Welch's P-40B that he was able to get off of the ground during the Pearl Harbor attack. I kept and modified the seat, floor panel, flap lever, and control stick. The rest, about 70 parts, I scratch built. None of it is very good; but it certainly been a learning experience.

Thanks Shipwreck (gotta be a great story behind that name)!  I appreciate the kind comments!

Good luck with your build brother!

Gary

This is a pretty clean looking build for OOB!! =]  Nicely done.  And from 20 years ago...?? Pretty damn sweet.

bvallot

This is a pretty clean looking build for OOB!! =]  Nicely done.  And from 20 years ago...?? Pretty damn sweet.

Hey, thanks so much Britt!  I'm glad you like her; your compliments mean a lot!!

Gary

spiralcity

dmk

I'm with Hammer on this one. There is a cockpit there. It exists.  It's just not up to your standards.

 You make good points, but with the canopy closed and  pilot figure in there, how much detail can you really see?

 If you want the canopy open and no pilot in there, then yes you have some work to do.

 

You can find Academy P40C's on ebay cheap. I just snagged one for 8.00 USD, and they are a bit better than the old Monograms. Thats all Im saying man, have fun.

Awesome build Gary.  Sorry I missed it.  Having just finished an Academy P-40, I can objectively say your better off with an "early mold" Monogram version (60's-70's release, not this tired thing their offering now).  There's a reason The Academy (Hobbycraft mold) can be found for 8 bucks on Ebay.  If the pit is a concern on the Monogram kit, True Details makes a nice one.

......and I had a mullet in 1992... 

Joe  

Sincere thanks Joe, I appreciate your kind comment a lot!   I do love that predatory look of the P-40, and its got that "built in head wind".

Gary

btw- We had a TV repair guy here in my hometown, and on the wall of his shop was a large, poster-sized photo of him in a P-40 during WWII.  He told me about it one day and said he never saw any combat, having gone into service too late.  He had trained in the Warhawk and once during a training flight had over-flown Cameron (our hometown) in one.