Dual P-39 Build

Herr, Baron... What's the top color you used on your 'Cobra?  It looks like a nice, sun-faded OD that'll work well for what I have in mind for the Eduard kit..

Then again, it might be "Desert Pink" and my screen ain't showing it right... Having trouble telling.

The Monogram 'pit & gunbay so far... I've decided not to super-detail the Monogram gunbay (Although it begs for it) since I'm now building it as Bud Anderson's first "Old Crow" (S/N 42-20746  in the "4 Kills or Less" GB.. It won't be opened since the diorama will be taking place in Nevada (Las Vegas Field perhaps?), the 363rd FS's home prior to their deployment to England in SEP 43,  and the dio is Bud, his crew chief ,and his armorer standing next to the Crow, getting their picture taken... Pretty dull, I know, but I've never done a straight-up "Hero-Shot diorama"...

I also decided against using the Eduard per-painted PE panel in this one since the fit is way off, and elected to do the ol' "Paint it white and black Sharpie it" method is usually do.  Like the name implies, after I "Sharpie" the whte panel black, I then give it a few swipes with ultra-fine sanding film.  This exposes the white paint underneath and then I just give it a touch-up with a white drybrush.

I have to call it quits at this point until after the 1st though, which is the datrt-date of the Group Build.  But in the meantime, I'm cracking open the Eduard kit today... 

The Accurate Miniatures P-400 is the Eduard kit also.  The sprues still say Eduard.  I'll second the fuselage fit problem.  Mine was bowed out so if you joined the nose the tail would separate.   Lots of filling and sanding ahead for you. 

As for the PE instrument panel it looks awsome.  You won't be able to see behind it if you did add wires as its is just a milimeter from the front dash and the gunsight is there too.  Some of those parts are too tiny to really manipulate with my meaty fingers.

Hammer, were we separated at birth?   I built the Eduard P-39Q this year for a group build in our club, and I've got the Monogram kit ('70s boxing) in the stash, queued up for early 2010.

I just saw a review over at Modeling Madness of the re-issued Monogram kit, and it was noted that the re-issue boxing includes the fret of figures that was included when this kit went through the Pro-Modeler phase.  So I think I'll have to get me a new boxing, too, it's worth it for the kit, but also for those extra bits, in my opinion.

Regarding the back of the IP, I have the same experience as Fermis does with the Eduard kit, you really can't see it, once you close up the fuselage halves.

If I may steal some space in your thread, here are a couple of shots of my P-39Q, finished as "Devastating Devil" (maybe not too super-accurately ):

We did this as a seminar build, we worked on the same step each month, and checked our results at our meetings.  Then we entered as a group in the Region II show in October (Jerseycon).  I don't care about competing so much, but I learned a lot, and it was a lot of fun.

A tip, if I may offer one-the Eduard kit's fuselage halves may not match in length, from nose to tail.  We trued the halves up at the cockpit, since this supported getting a good, clean seam between the canopy part and the fuselage, and that left just some minor adjustments to make fore and aft.  On mine, I just had a little filing on the flat face of the nose, and a little puttying on the trailing edge of the rudder, using that method.  But it was a fun kit to build, and I'd build another one.

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress pics, your builds are always enjoyable to follow.

Regards,

Brad

fermis wrote:

Just checked mine(eduard)....can't see em at all. There is just a tiny gap and unless you shine a light in there and have a magnifine glass, it'll never be seen.

As long as sfcmac doesnt get wind of this project you will be ok. He is the only one who will be checking.

Hans - I have been wanting to aquire one of those eduard kits myself - something about that noseart... Although I would prefer the monogram kit as I am a classic kit builder myself..

I will be looking forward to seeing you work your magic on these