A tale of two P-40B and P-40E -- COMPLETED !!!!!

My idea for the rear windows is to mask them first and set them with Vallejo clear gloss. Then putty the edges after the gloss dries nice and solid. 

I may have to make two sets of masks after I sand around the first set.

I'm hoping that will work. Same strategy I plan on using for the windscreen.

Maybe that can spark up an idea for you? :)

Bk

regarding the windows, thin clear acetate cut to fit the opening and glued on with either Aleenes or Clear Parts Cement. I had a similar issue with another model a while back and it worked out fine.

That's a good idea as well. It could be difficult to get the slight curvature to them, but that might be the answer for me as well. 

Thanks!

M. Brindos

That's a good idea as well. It could be difficult to get the slight curvature to them, but that might be the answer for me as well. 

Thanks!

 

You are welcome. Experiment first by making patterns out of paper or thin plastic sheet till you get a perfect fit then transfer the outline on to the acetate. Using thin plastic sheet lets you fine tune it by lightly sanding the outline for a good fit.  I like to use Aleenes on something like this because it dries invisible and will not leave any signs unlike CPC from Testors that you can actually see it if a little gets on where you don't want it to be.

Thats a pretty good idea. I may give that a shot if the kit parts don't pan out. What I've done is bevel the inside edges and that lets them sink into the fuselage and flush mount. I've glued them in with Gorilla epoxy which is crazy clear when dry and filled the edges with Tamiya putty and sanded smooth. I've masked over the mask to protect the mask and not scratch the parts. So far so good. I'll know if this is gonna work this weekend when I can shoot some primer over the area. Thanks for all the tips.

BK

Yeah that was my plan. If it works for you as planned then I'll be doing the same. The acetate idea has me thinking of building frames to get the curvature correct.

Did you remember to drill out the access holes for the fuel and glycol ports? I remember them already being there when I built this kit as a kid, but both modern releases I've dealt with didn't have them.

-Mike B

My kit has those two raised in detail. I haven't put the port side on yet. I was just gonna put a decal over them and call it done, but those appear recessed rather than raised. Which begs the question, now that the kit is closed up how might I recess those?

BK

No the caps are raised and the kit got that right. what you are seeing in that picture is the holes in the plexiglass so they can be accessed. 

What I'm asking is if you've drilled the holes in the kit glass. They used to be there but they're not there anymore.

Oh, I see. No I haven't drilled the glass yet. I can do that still. Thanks.

BK

No problem at all. Y'know, I haven't checked the Airfix kit yet to see if the ports are already there, but I suspect that they are.

The color of those caps are different, depending on which markings you've chosen. For the early types the gas cap is black and the glycol is aluminum, but for the exports they are red for the gas and black for the glycol.

Sometimes the glycol cap is yellow. Not sure if that was factory, mandated, or just field applicated. 

The Tigers were typically red/ black as far as I can tell.

Not sure if you already knew that or not. If anyone knows better, please, PLEASE correct me. I'd like to know for sure. :)

Well, mine is an early -C cuz it'll have a fuel tank and PH markings so I'll use the black with aluminum look. Thanks for the tip.

BK

Does anyone know on the -E version what color the lights on the fuselage beside the pilot are supposed to be? I've see both red or blue on the port side for color. I'm assuming those are Nav lights and would match the port or starboard color, but I can't confirm this.

BK

I think those are just ID lights. Blue is the only color I've seen them in so far.

Hopefully someone has a better answer. Sorry.

I am pretty sure that I read someplace that they are formation lights, either blue or red. This is an E.

I just confirmed that there were blue fdormation lights on either side of the -E! "P-40 Warhawk", Part 2, Bert Kinzey, p22

Good info, Shipwreck. My Airfix kit includes them, but they've always been missing from the Monovell kit and I never knew they existed.

Thanks for that info!

Just behind and below the pit. Almost directly under the gas cap. BK's last picture (above) shows it quite clearly.

So, COOL. Thanks guys. Now next question. What is the cap in the port cutout of the -E and what color should it be?

BK

Still a gas cap and I think it's still Black.  Not entirely sure at this moment lol.

Thanks Mike.

One last light, located starboard underneath to the rear of the wing/fuselage area. I'm thinking its a formation light? Red? Blue? Then those will be done.

BK

I don't know what that one is. ???

Edit: perhaps white ? maybe a landing light/friendly identifier?

Well I completed the -E kit a few days ago and it feels really good to have one done. The -B/C now has a new windscreen that fits super good and is ready for primer. I have to finish up the port side cutout glass install and then its off for, hopefully, the final coat of primer.

I used a Squadron canopy and Gorilla Clear Epoxy to set the windscreen in place and it fits awesome and the epoxy is nearly totally invisible, so winning. I had to hand mask the windscreen but I will have the frame shape much cleaner this way too. The canopy slider also includes the frame piece that is moulded to the kit part, which has been removed, so I don't have to fab that up now. Another win. Again, I had to hand mask this part, but again I am controlling the frame size more this way.

With some luck I can have this one ready for paint this weekend. Fingers crossed.

BK

Here are some shots of the -E now that it is done.

Excellent work! That thing looks gorgeous. I can't wait to see the -B.

-BD-

Oh, wow that's looking good. That -E is beautiful!

Looks like we may be fairly close to finishing our -B's around the same time lol.

I know how good it felt to get the bottom painted. You're almost there too.  :)

That is correct for the -E, the -B needs the rail on the canopy. Near as I can tell it's complete. Besides, it's done and I'm not going back now.

BK