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Monogram P-40B

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  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Monogram P-40B
Posted by Texgunner on Sunday, December 18, 2011 11:26 AM

One more classic warbird to show today.  Also photographed at our local airport is this old Monogram P-40B War Hawk.  Another build from about 20 years ago, the P-40 has always been one of my favorite WWII planes.  I'd love to build another one; next time a newer, more detailed version.  But until then, this is my Flying Tiger.


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Mesa, AZ
Posted by jschlechty on Sunday, December 18, 2011 11:34 AM

Nice work!  I've built a few of those and never had one turn out so good!  This is also the kits that my boys built for their first model because it use to be about $7.00 at Wal-Mart back in the good old days when they stocked models and some supplies...

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Fox Lake, Il., USA
Posted by spiralcity on Sunday, December 18, 2011 3:09 PM

She looks great.

This kit is an oldy and quite sparse in detail. The cockpit is non existent, the panel lines up front need rescribed, the fit is questionable, ect. ect. ect.

 

You did a rather nice job with her.

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Sunday, December 18, 2011 3:30 PM

spiralcity

She looks great.

This kit is an oldy and quite sparse in detail. The cockpit is non existent, the panel lines up front need rescribed, the fit is questionable, ect. ect. ect.

There most certainly IS a cockpit, complete with seat, panel, stick, some side-panel details,and flap-handle... It needs extra detailing, but calling it "non-existant" is just flat untrue... It needs work in the wheel-wells, and in the flap-area too, but that's what they make styrene strip, rod, and sheet for, eh?

 'Course, it's no "Shake & Bake", because it takes a modeler to build it up into a contest winner...  Wink

 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Sunday, December 18, 2011 8:18 PM

Thanks for the nice comments!  I appreciate it. The cockpit does have a good amount of detail and it just begs for more.  It's a good candidate for scratch-building, nice and roomy too.  If you're not up for scratching it, it can be done with AM parts.  I've learned so much about model building since the P-40 and the Zero kits were built.  I am glad to have representative planes of each type in my collection though and I do believe that kits such as these present a "canvas" of sorts, upon which we can do our thing, so to speak. Thanks again!

Gary


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Western Front
Posted by Wolfram von Sturmwolke on Sunday, December 18, 2011 8:31 PM

I don't care what anybody says, these "old" kits, with a little TLC and some average skill, build up rather nicely. I love to see them built proud. Nice to see this and the Zero you did.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Fox Lake, Il., USA
Posted by spiralcity on Sunday, December 18, 2011 10:51 PM

Sorry Hammer, I disagree, I have 3 of the same kit in my stash.

The cockpit sucks and needs plenty of work not just a little detail. The seat alone is wrong and needs a scratch built or aftermarket upgrade. The supplied instrument panel is completley wrong and needs scratched or aftermaket for accuracy. The detail monogram does supply is basically junk and it all should be redone if your looking for accuracy, as you mentioned the wheel wells also need work as do most of the old monogram kits.

I have nothing against this kit, it can be built into a winner as most kits can. I simply stand by my comments from my first post.

The OP did a fine job with this kit and it shows that this kit can be turned into quite a nice looking bird.

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Monday, December 19, 2011 12:46 AM

Uh-uh.. You said the cockpit was non-existant... "Non-existant" cockpits are the type found in the Monogram Spitfire, Zero, Wildcat, Corsair, Hellcat, Hurricane, and TBF kits, as I see it.. With those kits, with simply a pilot figure that gets glued to a bulkhead with feet dangling and a decal for an IP and all  placed under a thick, one-piece canopy, I'd agree with you that the cockpit is "non-existant"...

However... The P-40B's cockpit, although rather simplified, is still there and consists of, IIRC, no less than eight parts, namely, a rear bulkhead, floor, panel w/ rudder pedals, control stick, flap handle, seat, and partials of the left and right side-panels... 

In order for Monogram to bring the kit up to the "standards" some folks seem to think is "required" for a kit to be a good one, it would no longer be a Monogram kit, and it certainly wouldn't MSRP for 12.00... It would be some kinda Tamigawa, and cost 50-60.00...

Remember too, this kit was first released in 1964 for ten-year olds to build, and it was Monogram's first foray into detailed kits that weren't essentially toys,  and included not one, not two, but three different decal sets, all for about 1.20...  Each kit that followed got better, too...  Look at the P-51B, P-47D, Typhoon, and Fw 190 kits... 

Basically what I'm saying is this: Fixing what's "wrong" with a kit is what a true modeler does, even if he has to beat it into submission, lol...  Wink

And I'll stand by that, too...

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Fox Lake, Il., USA
Posted by spiralcity on Monday, December 19, 2011 1:15 AM

Well Hammer, when you cant or dont want to use what comes with the kit then....non exsistent. Monogram may toss in a few token parts but they are basicall useless for accuracy.

and that rear bulk head also needs replaced...lol

Face it man, that cockpit is a mess. Wink

As I stated, I have nothing against the kit. it sure can look pretty when done up right. Smile

I know you love the Monogram kits but I have to call them like I see em.

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Monday, December 19, 2011 11:15 AM

Thanks Wolfram!  Average skill just about describes my ability alright.Wink  I appreciate the comments!

Gary


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: NYC, USA
Posted by waikong on Monday, December 19, 2011 12:04 PM

I just built one of these last year, in AVG markings of course!  Loved the way yours came out.

dmk
  • Member since
    September 2008
  • From: North Carolina, USA
Posted by dmk on Monday, December 19, 2011 12:12 PM

spiralcity

Well Hammer, when you cant or dont want to use what comes with the kit then....non exsistant. Monogram may toss in a few token parts but they are basicall useless for accuracy.

and that rear bulk head also needs replaced...lol

Face it man, that cockpit is a mess. Wink

As I stated, I have nothing against the kit. it sure can look pretty when done up right. Smile

I know you love the Monogram kits but I have to call them like I see em.

I'm with Hammer on this one. There is a cockpit there. It exists.  It's just not up to your standards.

 You make good points, but with the canopy closed and  pilot figure in there, how much detail can you really see?

 If you want the canopy open and no pilot in there, then yes you have some work to do.

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Fox Lake, Il., USA
Posted by spiralcity on Monday, December 19, 2011 3:26 PM

dmk

I'm with Hammer on this one. There is a cockpit there. It exists.  It's just not up to your standards.

 You make good points, but with the canopy closed and  pilot figure in there, how much detail can you really see?

 If you want the canopy open and no pilot in there, then yes you have some work to do.

 

Come on DMK, the cockpit that is their is incorrect and not up to the standards of a P40B, not my standards.

Sure their is a cockpit but it is useless as is and needs a complete overhaul, everything in it needs replaced or updated.

As a modeler I like to add the correct detail to my cockpits as well as everything else as Im sure many others on this site do as well.

I wasnt knocking the kit, I was just calling it like i see it. I like the old monograms as well as Hammer but I am not affraid to call out a kit for it's faults.

You can find Academy P40C's on ebay cheap. I just snagged one for 8.00 USD, and they are a bit better than the old Monograms. Thats all Im saying man, have fun.

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Monday, December 19, 2011 4:13 PM

A very nice build Yes. And i love these out door photos as well.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 6:30 AM

Thank you Bish!   I like taking these pics outside; the natural light just can't be beat, and where else except an airport would these 'birds really look at home?  I'm fortunate that the airport is only about 4 minutes from my home.  Thanks again for the kind words!

Gary


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Rothesay, NB Canada
Posted by VanceCrozier on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 7:01 AM

Very nice job Texgunner. I built the same one 20+ years ago now, certainly didn't turn out like that!

On the bench: Airfix 1/72 Wildcat; Airfix 1/72 Vampire T11; Airfix 1/72 Fouga Magister

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 7:44 AM

Thanks Vance!  I remember spending a ton of time on her.  That must have been around '91 or '92.  I recall having to repaint the starboard upper wing after some kind of decal accident.Surprise You know, I wish I had kept build notes on all my planes(guess it's not too late to start); I did keep all the instruction sheets and some of them have notes about colors and changes.  She's just a simple Monogram kit that received just a little attention.  Thanks again!

Gary


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: Chapin, South Carolina
Posted by Shipwreck on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 9:18 AM

Very good work texgunner; she's a pretty bird! Your interior looks good from what we see of it. The kit comes with a representative cockpit, nothing we could call detailed. And, if you want to get technical about it, they are not very accurate. But even so, you can still make a nice model out of it.

I am working on one now. It is my first model since 1995; and that was my first since about 1962. I have put a tremendous amount of time into it; mainly fixing mistakes. It has finally made it to the paint, or onto another learning curve.

I am building it as George Welch's P-40B that he was able to get off of the ground during the Pearl Harbor attack. I kept and modified the seat, floor panel, flap lever, and control stick. The rest, about 70 parts, I scratch built. None of it is very good; but it certainly been a learning experience.

On the Bench:

Revell 1/96 USS Constitution - rigging

Revell 1/48 B-1B Lancer Prep and research

Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hornet CV-8 Prep and research

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 1:35 PM

Thanks Shipwreck (gotta be a great story behind that nameSmile)!  I appreciate the kind comments!

Good luck with your build brother!

Gary


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    June 2013
Posted by bvallot on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 5:57 PM

This is a pretty clean looking build for OOB!! =]  Nicely done.  And from 20 years ago...?? Pretty damn sweet.

On the bench:  

Tamiya F4U-1  Kenneth Walsh

 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 6:27 PM

bvallot

This is a pretty clean looking build for OOB!! =]  Nicely done.  And from 20 years ago...?? Pretty damn sweet.

Hey, thanks so much Britt!  I'm glad you like her; your compliments mean a lot!!

Gary


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Sunday, November 23, 2014 7:55 PM

spiralcity

dmk

I'm with Hammer on this one. There is a cockpit there. It exists.  It's just not up to your standards.

 You make good points, but with the canopy closed and  pilot figure in there, how much detail can you really see?

 If you want the canopy open and no pilot in there, then yes you have some work to do.

 

You can find Academy P40C's on ebay cheap. I just snagged one for 8.00 USD, and they are a bit better than the old Monograms. Thats all Im saying man, have fun.

Awesome build Gary.  Sorry I missed it.  Having just finished an Academy P-40, I can objectively say your better off with an "early mold" Monogram version (60's-70's release, not this tired thing their offering now).  There's a reason The Academy (Hobbycraft mold) can be found for 8 bucks on Ebay.  If the pit is a concern on the Monogram kit, True Details makes a nice one.

......and I had a mullet in 1992... 

Joe  

 "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 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Sunday, November 23, 2014 10:10 PM

Sincere thanks Joe, I appreciate your kind comment a lot!   I do love that predatory look of the P-40, and its got that "built in head wind".Big Smile

Gary

btw- We had a TV repair guy here in my hometown, and on the wall of his shop was a large, poster-sized photo of him in a P-40 during WWII.  He told me about it one day and said he never saw any combat, having gone into service too late.  He had trained in the Warhawk and once during a training flight had over-flown Cameron (our hometown) in one.Smile


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

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