P-40 Color Scheme Question

These "Life" magazine photos would tend to support that, but you never can tell what variations in painting may have taken place out in the field.  We'll see if anyone can come up with photgraphic evidence.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35963591@N00/sets/72157622864527612/

Gary

Go,with the straight line. P-40Bs & Cs we’re produced in OD/NG or RAF camo depending upon intended end user. There would not have been repainting in the field like on P-35s and P-36s from NMF to OD/NG in late 1941.

here is a shot of the factory line ramp area.

Thanks, Stik!  The colors aren't in question, just that minor discrepancy in the neutral gray.  I will note that I checked the Airfix instructions for the paint scheme and found they (unlike the box art) shows the OD under the horizontal stabilizers.  Guess the artist was taking some liberties, though I do wonder about why they showed it that way.  Oh, well!

Gary

I hear ya. I was not making my reply so much about the colors used, as to one of the replies that mentioned field applied paint jobs. The P-36s in Hawaii were in the process of being painted in OD/NG from NMF at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. The P-40s arrived factory painted, fresh off the assembly line, so they would have no need for locally applied paint jobs. They were comparatively new aircraft, having just entered service.

Well, never say "never"!  I found a couple of images that show the curved NG bottoms for the P-40s.

The blurb on the last page actually says that the early P-40s had the "curved" neutral gray scheme, but it doesn't say when they changed over.  So, what did the 47th Pursuit Squadron have?  Need to do a little research on Welch's P-40 and when it was produced.

Thanks!

Gary

Only the P-40-CU's and re-winged P-40G's had the NG upsweep as they were painted before the new paint specs were released.  The P-40B/C's had the lower NG.  This is per Dana Bell's book, #5 P-40 Warhawk.  Only B's and C's were in Hawaii with only 12 C's there.  The B/C's are identified by having the fuel and oil fills located behind the left rear glass.

Richs26,

Thanks!  That's good info.  Guess I'll repaint the fuselage under the horizontal stabs.

Gary

And don't forget to replace the cranked British pitot tube of the R/M P-40 with a Curtiss straight arrow one.  Also make sure the US Army markings under the wing are dark blue, not black.

Well, let's not go overboard! 

Gary

No one can match the exact colors.Its to long in time past.The art of modeling is to get as close as you can to the finish.Also in the detail department.Have fun building and painting.Museum WW2 aircraft are repainted with a beginners touch.Sharp lines an heavy glosses.