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1/48 Airfix Tomahawk Mk. II (P-40B) 112 Squadron "Neville Duke" (Finished)

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  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
1/48 Airfix Tomahawk Mk. II (P-40B) 112 Squadron "Neville Duke" (Finished)
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 4:02 AM

After my British Whippet tank (in the armor section), I'm back to things with wings.  Here's the first of two projects I have currently going on.  I'm taking a crack at Airfix's recent Tomahawk Mk. II (P-40B). I built this kit in AVG markings when it first can out and it was quite good if I recall, at least compared to the other B kits available (I once spliced a Monogram and Hobbtcraft kit together.......Oh the humanity!).  

I wanted to do a 112 Squadron machine with the sharkmouth.  Decals in this livery are surprisingly hard to find in 1/48 (probably because of the release of this turkey). I found an Xtradecal sheet with one of Neville Duke's planes on it.  Unfortunately, my research showed it as inaccurate, as his B should be GA-F, number AK402, not GA-V, number AK578, as shown on the sheet.  The later markings were on his later E.  I should be able to fabricate an F and the correct 402 as seen below.   

I'm familiar with Duke as I built his Spit Mk. V a few years ago.  Duke was the leading Ace in the Mediterranean Theater.  My research showed that in November 1941, JG 27 pilot Otto Schultz shot him down in AK402. He survived and finished the war with 27 kills.  

 

This appears to be AK402 after being shot down.

I started with the pit. The Airfix cockpit is very detailed. It's my understanding that Tomahawk cockpits for the RAF were painted more Spitfire-like grey green by Dupont in America.  I made my own concoction to simultate their attempt at it, which I suspect had more green.  I used XF-58 Olive Green mixed with a touch of XF-19 Sky Grey. I could be wrong on all of this, but I like how it turned out. Also, I used the square back seat option and a spare PE seatbelt set I had to spruce it up.

 

I found some Mike Grant instrument dial decals cheap on ebay so I bought them.  I gave them a whirl here and must say I think I like Airscale better. They just seemed a bit more detailed.           

A test fit.

Another test fit....very nice....

I hope to be closing it up soon. 

 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 6:03 AM

Your builds never disappoint mate. As I always say, well done that man, well done.

In Progress
1/48 Tamiya P47-D Bubbletop
1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1C Avenger (on hold)
Pending
1/48 Roden S.E.5a
1/48 Airfix Walrus
  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 6:16 AM

damouav

Your builds never disappoint mate. As I always say, well done that man, well done.

 

Thanks Damian

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Mopar Madness on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 8:16 AM

Always a pleasure to see your work in process threads. I'm glad to see this one as I really love the Tomahawk

Chad

God, Family, Models...

At the plate: 1/48 Airfix Bf109 & 1/35 Tamiya Famo

On deck: Who knows!

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 4:10 PM

Mopar Madness

Always a pleasure to see your work in process threads. I'm glad to see this one as I really love the Tomahawk

 

Thanks bud...

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Thursday, January 9, 2020 8:26 AM
Great start Joe. I'll be watching intently

 

fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Thursday, January 9, 2020 4:36 PM

Awsome work!  Have a P-40 next in line for the bench and will be looking for tips.

Jim  Captain

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 10, 2020 9:27 PM

tempestjohnny
Great start Joe. I'll be watching intently
 

Good to have you Johnny 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 10, 2020 9:28 PM

fox

Awsome work!  Have a P-40 next in line for the bench and will be looking for tips.

Jim  Captain

 

Thanks fox. 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2013
Posted by Jay Jay on Saturday, January 11, 2020 8:56 AM
OOOOO my favorite aircraft built by my favorite modeling Guru. Taking notes Mate.

 

 

 

 

 

 I'm finally retired. Now time I got, money I don't.

  • Member since
    January 2020
Posted by B777Commander on Saturday, January 11, 2020 12:57 PM
Most impressive! I don't envy the task those P-40 pilots had. Hans-Joachim Marseille would have been one heck of an opponent, especially considering he shot down several dozen P-40s. Anyway, great work! The interior is second to none! Now I want a P-40 for the collection haha.
  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Sunday, January 12, 2020 10:33 AM

Joe has a gift for this. I think he could take a kit and drop it in a bucket of black paint and pour the contents out on a bench and this is what it would look like, he's just that good.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • From: Eleva, Wisconsin
Posted by Greatmaker on Sunday, January 12, 2020 5:36 PM

Joe the master painter strikes again.  I swear he uses a microscope an the worlds smallest airbrush. Everything is always so clean looking 

 

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Close to Chicago
Posted by JohnnyK on Monday, January 13, 2020 11:25 AM

Great looking cockpit. I like the tan color.

Your comments and questions are always welcome.

  • Member since
    June 2013
Posted by bvallot on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 12:28 PM

Fantastic as always Joe. I do enjoy watching your front offices come together.

On the bench:  

Tamiya F4U-1  Kenneth Walsh

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 17, 2020 2:52 AM

Jay Jay
OOOOO my favorite aircraft built by my favorite modeling Guru. Taking notes Mate.
 

Thanks for the kind words Jay.

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 17, 2020 2:57 AM

B777Commander
Most impressive! I don't envy the task those P-40 pilots had. Hans-Joachim Marseille would have been one heck of an opponent, especially considering he shot down several dozen P-40s. Anyway, great work! The interior is second to none! Now I want a P-40 for the collection haha.
 

Thanks Andy.  No doubt, the Star of Afrika was formidable and the P-40 was no match for the 109 F, especially in his hands.  Hard to believe an upgrade to a faulty Gustav was his undoing. His F is on my short list as I have it in 1/32 scale. 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 17, 2020 2:57 AM

BrandonK

Joe has a gift for this. I think he could take a kit and drop it in a bucket of black paint and pour the contents out on a bench and this is what it would look like, he's just that good.

BK

 

Hardly.........but thanks Brandon.

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 17, 2020 2:59 AM

Greatmaker

Joe the master painter strikes again.  I swear he uses a microscope an the worlds smallest airbrush. Everything is always so clean looking 

 

Not exactly.  It's mostly smoke and mirrors, but thanks for the kind words Robert.

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 17, 2020 2:59 AM

JohnnyK

Great looking cockpit. I like the tan color.

 

Thanks Johnny

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 17, 2020 3:00 AM

bvallot

Fantastic as always Joe. I do enjoy watching your front offices come together.

 

Thanks Brit, but that weathering on the Undertaker...........wow!

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 17, 2020 3:24 AM

I've been going back and forth between this and the Wildcat. The Airfix kit has two top cowl inserts that go in on either side of the cowl guns.  These don't fit very well, so I had a few issues here.  I ended up sanding, rescribing and punching back in the rivet detail with a sewing needle chucked in a pin vice. I'm not sure the purpose of this strange design and it seemed unneccessary.  Fortunately the cowl gun fairings fit well.  I drilled the barrels out.

 

The landing gear "knuckles" at the wing leading edge didn't fit all that well.  I needed some putty here.  It wasn't anything serious, but something to watch out for.  The rest fit quite nice.  I deflected the stabs because the kit allowed it.  

112 Squardron had Midstone, Dark Earth, over Azure Blue.  After the time consuming preshading and Montex masking for the main markings (fortunately my Montex set came with an F, the GA will be a decal), I mixed the Azure.  I found a recipe that recommended XF-18 Medium Blue, XF-2 White, and a few drops of XF-19 Purple.  I tweeked it until it looked ok to my eye.  I then used my reverse black-basing technique. It's essensially starting full strength (leaving a hint of the preshading showing through), marbling in a much lighter version, then marbling back in full strength focusing in on panel lines. It's a great way to break up a solid color.  I like to go heavy as the further process tends to tone it down considerably.

Soon I will start on the uppers.....

 

 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Tumwater, WA.
Posted by M. Brindos on Friday, January 17, 2020 4:42 AM

The weird cowl inserts and the gear knuckles to need a little attention, but I found it trivial compared to the old Monogram kit.

I found the 1/72 kit almost as interesting to build if not a bit simper, but it does come with the correct markings for Duke's A/C.

Anyways, minor gripes aside, they are both wonderful kits and I've enjoyed them both. Though I admit I still haven't finished my 1/48 AVG build.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing how you finish this one, Joe. 

- Mike Brindos "Lost Boy"

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Friday, January 17, 2020 6:19 AM

Excellent work mate.

In Progress
1/48 Tamiya P47-D Bubbletop
1/48 Hobby Boss TBF-1C Avenger (on hold)
Pending
1/48 Roden S.E.5a
1/48 Airfix Walrus
  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Mopar Madness on Friday, January 17, 2020 7:16 AM

I am curious to as to why they didn't just mold those directly into the fuselage. 

Chad

God, Family, Models...

At the plate: 1/48 Airfix Bf109 & 1/35 Tamiya Famo

On deck: Who knows!

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 17, 2020 7:54 AM

M. Brindos

The weird cowl inserts and the gear knuckles to need a little attention, but I found it trivial compared to the old Monogram kit.

I found the 1/72 kit almost as interesting to build if not a bit simper, but it does come with the correct markings for Duke's A/C.

Anyways, minor gripes aside, they are both wonderful kits and I've enjoyed them both. Though I admit I still haven't finished my 1/48 AVG build.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing how you finish this one, Joe. 

 

I once spliced a Hobbycraft and Monogram kit together, so I whole agree they are minor gripes. It's still the best B out there.  Nice to have you  Mike. 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 17, 2020 7:55 AM

damouav

Excellent work mate.

 

Thanks Damian

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 17, 2020 7:56 AM

Mopar Madness

I am curious to as to why they didn't just mold those directly into the fuselage. 

 

You and me both. 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Friday, January 17, 2020 8:33 AM

P-40s are one of my all time faves for sure. Looking good as per your norm. I have one of these that I am going to start on shortly. Mine will be a crashed scene in the desert, so I will have room to not have it perfect. 

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, January 17, 2020 6:37 PM

BrandonK

P-40s are one of my all time faves for sure. Looking good as per your norm. I have one of these that I am going to start on shortly. Mine will be a crashed scene in the desert, so I will have room to not have it perfect. 

BK

 

Thanks Brandon. I look forward to your diorama. Someday I want to do something similar with a Spitfire Circa Battle of Britain. 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

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