1/72 Airfix P-40B Libya 1941 (Completed)

Well if you do build any of them, you can count on me to follow along.

Final pictures? Maybe more later with a better backdrop than my cluttered table lol.

With a MiG 3

All paints were Vallejo. Weathering was all Tamiya powders.

I like how your colors came out, Mike!  Yeah, I'm a fan of the P-40, too.  I should start building the ones I've accumulated!

As I've said many times before, I'm a true sucker for a shark mouthed P-40! Lol

This particular P-40 livery is probably my favorite!

Just a few details have been finished up.

Nav lights, formation lights, and the sharks mouth touched up.

I wouldn't mind doing a 1/32 either but don't have the room for it. The last large model I finished was put up on the half wall in the living room. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6Skz8AA6GMX7nrA5A

Don't think I want to put holes in the ceiling of our new home.

Jim  

I'd love to add a 1/32 to the mix. That would be great for my ceiling hanger collection lol.

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I don't know why, but this side gave me no problems at all. Everything went on without trouble and snuggled in really well.

Thanks Mike, will do. I appreciate the offer.

I have the Pro-Modeler P-40E, Hobby Craft "AVG" Tiger Shark and the Trumpeter P-40B. I have slowly been ordering all the AM I wanted for the builds. It's been coming by dribs and drabs.

Jim  

Some of these decals have been a royal PITA. The F*GA are all one solid decal and the A was a bstard! It folded and crinckled and had to be cut loose and untangled before being re-placed on the fuselage.

For a "starter" kit there is no way without a copious amount of Micro Sol that the sharks mouth will line up correctly. Probably best to cut off the lower black stripes and just simply paint that part on.

I expected better from Cartograph. Yes they are beautifully printed and register perfectly, but these are just a touch too thick for the sharks mouth contours without the Sol.

So, this is one side. Took me all freaking afternoon til now. 

Yeah. That's one side. Guess I'll do the other side tomorrow lol.

Thanks, Jim. I appreciate your interest. 

So, 3 P-40 builds you say? I still have the 1/48 Airfix to finish and a 1/48 Revell I haven't even started yet. Once completed I'll have a total of 5 of them in my display and 4 of those will be -B's.

That doesn't include the three or four P-36's I have as well lol.

I'm no expert, but I do know quite a lot about the P-36/40 series. If you have any questions, PM me anytime.

Looking great Mike!

I'm learning a lot from the couple of P-40 builds going on now. I have 3 set up to build after I finish some clean-up and repairs on some models for the museum then I'll get started on mine. Thanks for posting all the great pics and the info.

Jim  

Isn't it wonderful how gloss cotes can show you every little painting flaw sometimes?

There were some pretty distinct raised edges along some of my camo scheme that were accentuated by the gloss. I went over them with a wet/dry 4000 grit sanding pad to level them out.

I also got a bit jumpy with the roundels on the lower wings, applying them before the clear had fully cured. I knew I should've waited til tomorrow (facepalm) but I just couldn't wait. So there will be some paint touch-ups (like usual for me) after I get all of these decals on tomorrow.

For now, I need to add a new Cote of gloss and let it dry overnight. Ah, learning curves... Amazing teachers.

One thing I have learned with this build is that thin cotes of gloss layered on with a brush work better than on thick one out of a spray can. And now I know, and knowing is half the battle. Go Joe!

Phthalo Blue oil pin wash applied and clear Cote to seal it up.

Today I started on a Burnt Umber oil pin wash for the upper surfaces. I've chosen Phthalo Blue oil for the bottom but have not applied it yet.

Double post. Oops. 

Some details painted in for later and another couple panel tone changes, and then an enamel clear Cote to seal it up.

In the background you can see the included Humbrol colors that came with the kit. They are far darker than the colors printed on the packaging that I used for my reference.

The weird thing is that each of the colors took the gloss differently. Some smooth and some like a fine sandpaper - almost gritty.

Thanks, Trey!

There were a couple of missed spots and some minor corrections needed so I tried some tonal variations in some of the panels.

It's almost got a cell shading kind of effect which I think is kinda cool looking.

I'm quite happy with this look.

Looking good Mike!