SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Bell P-400 Airacobra - This Ones Got Some Teeth

5147 views
36 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Bell P-400 Airacobra - This Ones Got Some Teeth
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 10:14 AM
Eduard is probably best known for their extensive line of photoetch accessories and their excellent WWI aircraft model kits, but they have also released some very nice WWII aircraft kits. The series of 1/48 P-39 kits are among their best, featuring recessed panel lines, crisp molding and very good detail and fit. Certainly a good alternative to the aging Monogram kit. This one was built pretty much OOTB with photoetch seat belts/harness added. Model was painted with Model Master enamels and kit decals were used, with a little help from an ancient SuperScale decal sheet.


RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    September 2011
Posted by fightnjoe on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 10:16 AM
fantastic build.

joe

Veterans,

Thank You For Your Sacrifices,

Never To Be Forgotten

Where you can find me:

Workbench on FaceBook  Google Plus  YouTube

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 11:02 AM
awesome!Bow [bow]Bow [bow]Bow [bow]Bow [bow]
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 11:07 AM
Nice job, Rick ! Good choice of camo, also. Did you freehand or mask?
I really like the Eduard kits also. Got the P-39Q profi-pack waiting "in the wings." Just looking for the right decal sheet so I can begin.

Well done !
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Winsted CT
Posted by jimz66 on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 11:46 AM
What is the difference between the P-39 and P-400, I never heard of the P-400 until a little while ago. I didn't even know it existed.

Nice job by the way. Well done.
Phantoms rule the skies!!!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 12:18 PM
Great looking build Rick. I've got an Airacobra in the to be built pile... here's hoping it'll turn out half as well as your bird!
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 12:21 PM
Jimz66, the P-400 was basically the P-39 with a lighter armament package.

Rick, what technique did you use for your panel lines? It looks very nice. I have one of them in my stash. I bought mine simply because of the nifty teeth on that nose art. Maybe someday I'll build it and it'll look as good as yours.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Lafayette, LA
Posted by Melgyver on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 12:41 PM
I didn't pick one up for some unknown reason. Are these kits still readily available?

Clear Left!

Mel

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 1:33 PM
Thanks all for the kind & generous comments.

Pix: I used heavy bond paper cut to the desired patterns as masks, tacked in place with some liquid mask. If you spray at an angle, away from the mask edge, you get a very subtle soft edge without the paint build up you get using tape. Me and my Paasche H aren't quite up to all that work freehand, and it sorta replicates the way the real ones were factory painted.

jimz66: It's a really long story, but externally the P-400 is very similar to the P-39F only with a 20mm nose cannon instead of the 37mm. They were built for export to France, but Germany defeated France before delivery. The British then picked up the order and the aircraft were built and painted in RAF colors, but the Brit's cancelled out when the US Army wouldn't allow the AC to be supercharged. The aircraft were then sent to Russia and to the USAAF fighter groups in Australia, New Guinea, and Guadalcanal. The P-400 designation signified an aircraft built to export spec's, but used by the USAAF. The AC were delivered in the British camo schemes and gradually repainted in US Olive Drab/Neutral gray scheme.

Swanny: I used a Sakura "Micron" archival ink pen with a .005 nib. Just run it into the scribed lines, just like using a scribing tool. The black ink is a little stark on the lighter colored surfaces, but I tone it down with a little spray of Floquil Dust as a weathering aid. I also use a sludge wash on some models, very similar to what you have described on your web-site, but not on this particular model.

Melgyver: I think they are still available, although they were limited run kits issued in 2000. Great Models has them listed as available, but you never know with them. There were 4 kits issued, 2 as Profipacks with additional photoetch goodies, and virtually all P-39 variants could be modeled from these releases.
RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 2:57 PM
Rick that is a wonderful build, especially the panel lines, they stand out enough, but not too much!!!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 3:00 PM
Great work, Rick! You gotta love a fighter with a DOOR!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 3:14 PM
Great job!
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Kent, England
Posted by nmayhew on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 3:15 PM
mean lookin' snake there!!!Cool [8D]
great build, thanks for sharing!!Smile [:)]
regards,
nick
Kind regards, Nicholas
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 4:26 PM
Love that paint job! Awesome job.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: East Bethel, MN
Posted by midnightprowler on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 5:01 PM
Awesome! I hope mine turns out half that good!
Lee

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Lafayette, LA
Posted by Melgyver on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 7:25 PM
Great job! Makes my old Mongram kit look really "dated" with the same markings. I thought this would be an appropriate one to make my #400 post on the P-400!

Clear Left!

Mel

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 4, 2004 9:06 AM
rjkplasticmod............I forgot... the canopy, Is it good..Because mine was warped. Banged Head [banghead] But, the Eduards was nice. I got new one. Of course it was slow to get it...A 11/2 months!!!!
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Manila, Philippines
Posted by shrikes on Thursday, March 4, 2004 9:26 AM
That's a great build, Rick! If it was sitting on an airstrip, it looks like it's ready to take off! Big Smile [:D]
Blackadder: This plan's as cunning as a fox that used to be Professor of cunning at Oxford University but has now moved on and is working with the U.N at the high commission of cunning planning
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 4, 2004 10:35 AM
Nice looking build you have there. I just got the Eduard Hawker Tempest (early) profi-pack. Now I have to add another kit to my ever growing wish list.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Thursday, March 4, 2004 2:32 PM
Thanks again everyone for your comments, makes an old dog happy.

Easyco : No problem with the canopy on this build. You can get the rare warped, missing or half-shot in just about any kit. Glad to hear Eduard was responsive, even if a little slow.

falcon039 : The Tempest was Eduard's first attempt at a 1/48 WWII subject and it has a few problems OOTB. All are fixable, but be sure to check reviews or post queries on the Forum when you get ready to build it.
RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: NE Georgia
Posted by Keyworth on Thursday, March 4, 2004 8:05 PM
Rick, nice looking Airacobra. I've built the Monogram kit before. I'll have to give the Eduard kit a try.
"There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Brisbane Australia
Posted by ChrisJH666 on Friday, March 5, 2004 5:36 PM
Very nice build there. Think I might have to get one myself and build as either a Brit or an Aussie example Bow [bow]

In the queue: 1/48 Beech Staggerwing (RAAF), P38 (RAAF), Vultee Vengeance (RAAF), Spitfire Vb (Malta), Spitfire VIII x2 (RAAF), P39 x2 (RAAF), Martin Baltimore (Malta?), Martin Maryland (Malta), Typhoon NF1b, Hellcat x2 (FAA)

 

Chris

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Saturday, March 6, 2004 9:31 AM
keyworth, Thanks. The Monogram kit was state of the art for it's day and is still a decent kit. But the Eduard surpasses it in most respects. I think you would enjoy the build.

Chris, Thanks. Why not build both!
RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 14, 2004 10:52 AM
I have always been a P-39 fan because of it's unusual features for its time and early brunt of the action in many fronts during WW2. I have built the Revell and Monogram issues which I still find pleasant to build. I will probably acquire the Eduard kit soon. You have done a fine job Rick and look forward to future examples.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Brooklyn
Posted by wibhi2 on Sunday, March 14, 2004 11:27 AM
Really nice lookin' bird there.

Yeah, the eduard kits are wonderful and the profile kits comes with all sorts of extras. I really liked doing the p-400 and 39Q.
3d modelling is an option a true mental excercise in frusrtation
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Sunday, March 14, 2004 1:53 PM
slyfox, Welcome to the Forum. I'm sure you would like the Eduard kit, but the Monogram is still pretty good considering the age of the tooling.

wibhi2, Thanks for your comment. This isn't a Profipack so it didn't have the extra goodies. A P-39Q is moving up my list of future builds.
RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Chantilly, Virginia
Posted by CNicoll on Monday, March 15, 2004 7:04 PM
Beautiful build of a great kit. As nice as this kit is, someone still has to put it together and yours looks great. Here is a pic of mine, with some weathering started but not quite finished yet. I used the cutting edge camo masks. I have it displayed next to the Monogram P-39 I did earlier, and you are right, the difference is like night and day. Chris N



On the bench:  Academy 1/72 B-17G 'Blue Hen Chick';  1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; Kitty Hawk 1/32 P-39. 

Completed:  1/48 Tamiya P-51D Mustang - 'Show Bird', 1/32 Dragon P-51D  Flying Tigers 'What if'; 1/32 Tamiya P-51D Big Beautiful Doll

Group build:1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Show Bird

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 15, 2004 7:57 PM
Doesn't this model cost a lot?
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Chantilly, Virginia
Posted by CNicoll on Monday, March 15, 2004 8:11 PM
Well, Greatmodels Webstore (www.greatmodels.com) has the kits from $24 to $32 (profipak version), so probably more than many kits, but a lot less than some of the newer Tamiya kits. But this is a really great kit.

On the bench:  Academy 1/72 B-17G 'Blue Hen Chick';  1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; Kitty Hawk 1/32 P-39. 

Completed:  1/48 Tamiya P-51D Mustang - 'Show Bird', 1/32 Dragon P-51D  Flying Tigers 'What if'; 1/32 Tamiya P-51D Big Beautiful Doll

Group build:1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Show Bird

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: United Kingdom / Belgium
Posted by djmodels1999 on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 1:34 AM
Very nice model. You did a great job on this great kit!
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.