Great start so far. That top gap is really something, though. Wow!

I'm tagging this to follow along, since I've wanted to build a P-40E for some time now and just don't know which kit to buy. That fit issue is scaring me off a bit at the moment, but that cockpit is a pretty good argument in this kit's favor.

Keep up the good work - I know it'll be fun to see it come along.

-BD-

Wow!  Chunk of styrene?!...you better start building a bridge! lol  That is OFF.  Good lord...I'm sure you'll tackle it. =]  I'd say try something you haven't done before.  Variety = more fun.

Looking great!

I love how you view this issue with the gap in a very positive way.  I can't wait to see how the rest of your build will look like.  

Toshi

These hasegawa p-40s are the best detailed kits out there and worth all the gap filling. Good luck and nice looking cockpit!

Brandon, Britt, Toshi and Nathan....thanks for the kind words and taking the time to comment.  I appreciate it.

Brandon, they are still the best P-40s out there, without question.  I have a Mauve E and AmTech F/L in the stash which are both pitiful compared to the Hasegawa versions.  It seemed someone just dropped the ball in the engineering department with his kit.  If I recall, I had issues with the wing gun plugs too.   As Nathan said, they just take a some effort.  

I just wish if they were going to go through all this effort with inserts and such, they could have chopped up the nose too so we could build the Merlin powered F or L warhawk, which we desparately need in this scale.  Im sure we'll get another 109 first though (sarcasm).  

Joe

Looks great! I'm actually working on the same kit. I didn't have a fit issue on the rear canopy like you did. the panel lines line up and there is no gap on top. When you get to the tail section can you show us how you fixed the gap from attaching the tail since there technically isn't a panel line there?

Thanks psycho. So what's your trick?  Glue the two canopy pieces together then add them?  I actually worked on the tail and wing guns the other night.  The tail was surprisingly painless.  I just fused it with Tenax and sanded out the seam.  Any lost panel lines were scribed back in.  I did need a small strip of styrene to fill a gap on the bottom though.  Now the gun inserts, on the other hand, is seriously trying my patience. Beautiful kit but lousy design.  I didn't realize these P-40's had anything other than 6 fifties which makes me wonder why the need for inserts here...  

Joe

Always a treat to see another WIP from you Joe, and I love the P-40!

Thanks Gamera...

I've built this exact same kit, too, lawdog. Didn't have any fit issues at all with mine. Not sure why your's has the extra large gap. Mine almost fell together, the fit was so good. But, then again, I just built a Monogram F-100D that I've built twice before in the past with no issues, but this recent one was the worst kit I've ever built. I guess every model kit maker sends out a lemon occasionally.....

Great-looking job so far. LOVE the cockpit work!

Sorry for the late response lawdog. I did glue the two parts together first before adding them.

Joe the pit looks fantastic.  Good God what happened with the fuse halves?  Honestly I had not seen a gap like that since the ICM P-51B I did a long time ago.  With your abilities the issue should work out with little problem.

Joe

Thanks guys.  I'm now convinced the fuselage plug gap issues were operator error as nobody else has had these issues.   Sometimes I need a build like this to remind me how mediocre of a modeler I truly am........oye!

Anyways, I recent got some bench time in and muddled through the issues.  After a little styrene filler, alot of sanding and rescribing, then some superglue along with Alclad Micro Primer, I was ready for paint. 

I also had issues with ghost seams on the MG inserts.  The upper turned out okay but for the life of me I could not get the underside seams to go away.  I've read that the inserts are slightly smaller which leaves a step.  Again, which variant didn't have three guns?  I hate Hasegawa plugs.  I decided to just live with it.  Its not like this thing will be an award winner...    

I decided on Col. Scott's "Old Exterminator" mount from 1942, which carried a standard Olive Drab over Neutral Grey scheme.  I ordered the Barracuda Decals which should arrive anyday.  In the meantime, I started on the Neutral Grey.  After a panel line pre-shade, I started with straight XF-53 Neutral Grey on the bottom. 

Now Its time for weathering.  I added XF-2 Flat White to the grey and streaked it along the lower surface to simulate condensation streaks.  I then lightened it more and sprayed the fabric covered control surfaces.  Its been argued that fabric controlled surfaces aren't lighter on real aircraft.  I disagree .  I've seen many vintage pics that say otherwise.  I've also seen examples at the Air Force Museum that say otherwise as well (although those are restored).  Besides, I like how it breaks up the monotonous grey.  Your mileage my vary. 

Now its time for a post shade.  I keep a pre-mixed bottle for this purpose which consists of XF-64 Red Brown and XF-69 NATO Black heavily diluted with 91% Isoprophyl.  I then get in all the crevices paying special attention to where these got dirty (Gears, engine, guns etc...).  This looks about right to me..

I rolled up some blue tac and outlined the demarcation line for the OD uppers. 

....and thats where I had to leave off until the decals arrive as I want to make sure I have the demarcation in the right place.  Stay with me...

Joe

 . 

Nice work closing that all up, Joe. As for the question about the machine guns - I believe all P-40Es had six in the wings, but maybe they planned to use the same wing sprue to make a P-40B, which would have two in each wing and two in the nose. Who knows? Maybe we can still hope for a B model that improves on the Revellogram one.

-BD-

Thanks Brandon.  The P-40 B/C were different than the E on up in key areas.  The lower keel area behind the radiator is different and the E through M and even the Merlin F/L were visibly slimmer and had narrower wing roots.  It was "stubbier" in overall appearance.  Hobbycraft messed up their B by using later variant features in these areas (among other issues). Indeed it would be wonderful if someone gave us a new tooled B/C, but they're too busy coming out with more Bf 109's.

The Trumpeter P-40 B isn't bad.  I built one a couple years ago and liked it.  Its a tad rivet heavy and  does need a cockpit.  

Perhaps there was a cannon armed P-40 to explain the gun plugs.  I also recall that some N versions had the third gun deleted to save weight.  Maybe that is the reason.  As you said, who knows.  

Joe

Very nicely done, especially that gap by the cockpit.  I can't wait to see the P-40 with paint and decals.  Fantastic job.

Toshi

I'm with ya! =]  It's looking strong.  I can't really make out what you're speaking of with the MG inserts.  Sometimes that just how the lighting will do you.  Personally, I think it makes me look better than I am when certain spots just don't wanna show up.  But, then the other side is trying to reveal detail that's hidden away or some such...guess that door swings both ways.

Still, you've got your painting down.  I can't wait to see what you do with that OD Green.  =D

Hey Joe,

Great looking P-40!  What is your ratio of red brown and NATO black?  That looks like an interesting mix that I'd like to try.  Thanks!

Steve

Thanks guys....Steve, I have no formula for anything.  If I were to guess, I'd say 70% NATO black (XF-69) and 30% Red Brown (XF-64)....but of course there's only a 10% chance of that...

Joe

I was looking back at the last page admiring the great work on the pit and stumbled upon that gap issue you had. Man! You really made that look like it was never an issue. Keep it coming Joe. PM sent....

Gawd, what an @$$ I am. I can't believe I haven't commented on this one so far. UGH!! 

I have this kit in my stash, so this thread is hugely important to me to watch. I want to build it SOOOO bad I can't hardly stand it. You are making this look so easy and your work is just stellar. Honestly, I am striving to build more like you as we have very similar taste in planes and the finished look you come up with is very much in line with what I like. Keep it up. I spend a lot of time experimenting with different methods, but I find myself coming back to the ones that you outline in your threads. Don't stop posting this stuff, I for one, really appreciate it. 

I will definitely be following this to completion and I will make sure you know I've noticed.  

BK

Hi Joe -  Man, you can really salvage a difficult challenge, but as always you pulled this one off. I love the P-40's, consider the E as best looker, I remember them being so prominent in the old B&W movies from my youth, that airplane was the ideal for having the shark mouth design.

Question please, when you use styrene for large gap filling like on this one, do you use thin strip or carve thicker, like from sprue bits? I'm looking around for a small belt sander, so I can make flat sided bits. to dimension needed.

Great job, thanks so much for sharing this as you proceed. Looking forward to seeing the finish.

Patrick

Thanks guys.  I am truly glad these WIPs are useful.  Brandon, aside from the inserts, its a great kit.  Patrick, I have sheets of styrene of different thicknesses. I just slice off the size needed to fill the gap...melted in there with Tenax (which is out of business now I'm told).  

I just decaled this turkey last night so I'll get some pics up soon.  

Joe

Ty so much for sharing your techniques.

I always follow your posts closely. They are a great learning tool for me and I am always in awe of your prowess.  

I tried my best on my P-40 to emulate your tutorials but alas, mine ain't near as good as yours, but better than I could've done without your excellent posts.

Hey There Joe, Time for me to be dropping in on your P-40 and enjoy yet another fantastic demonstration. And fantastic it is so far. Gorgeous cockpit as usual and very good save on the plug gap. Speaking of the plug, I have the Hasegawa P-40N in my stash and I'm assuming it also has the plug to fit the N model. Can't quite recall the differences between the E & N off the top of my head right now. Anyway, It is a good heads up as to what I might encounter when I get into it.

The paint work is sharp. I tend to agree with you concerning fabric control surfaces. Most photos I see reveal some degree of tonal difference and it definitely adds to the overall appearance. Beautiful work so far. Keep it coming.

Joe, you nailed that gap behind the cockpit. I can only picture myself sitting there for hours staring at it, trying to figure out what to do. I can't wait to see more

I've just made a new challenge for myself...on my next build I'm going to try to do a cockpit that's half as good as the one's you turn out Joe! They always seem so alive. Can't wait to see her all dressed up! Keep up the great work!

-Andy

I can't wait to see what you do with the OD paint on the top.  If it's anything like your SDB it'll be a work of art.  I also agree with you that fabric fades faster than paint on metal and your weathering methods look just right to me.  Thanks for sharing!

Groot

Thanks guys....way too kind...but certainly appreciated.  Joe, off the top of my head, the N model was basically an attempt at lightening the P-40.  The most notable difference is the rear deck behind the pilot which was opened up with glass to help improve pilot visibility.  Some early N models did not have this feature though and it looked like the E still.   The N had a vent on both sides of the nose too.

I'm in for an update.  I managed to squeeze in some work to get this guy out of the way for the upcoming Battle of Britain GB (my favorite topic).  I got my mits on the new tooled Airfix Hurricane MK. I and Spitfire MK. I and I'm dying to dive in.  Anyways, here I sprayed Gunze Aqueous Olive Drab as a base, lightened it with XF-57 Buff (to stay in the brown family) and then added fading and condensation streaks.  I experimented until I thought it looked right.  Olive Drab id easy to overdo so I restrained myself. 

I added even more Buff to the paint then lightened the fabric control surfaces.  Once done, a post shade was added, it got a few coats of Alclad Gloss.  I decided on Col. Robert Scott's "Old Exterminator" and used the Barracuda Decals P-40 E sheet for the markings.  These were fantastic and I had no issues.  Even the Shark mouth conformed nicely.

I still have to add some stenciling and such but I'm getting there with this one.  I hope to wrap this one up soon. 

Joe