Joe. This Tiger is looking pretty tight!! =]

Very nice!  Thanks for the in process photos!

Joe,

Very very nice!  I've bookmarked a number of your builds so I have ready access to your advice and tips.  

I have a question re: Isopropyl.  You mention that you use 91%.  Is that a result of testing various strengths?  I have 99% here and am wondering if that is too high an alcohol content?  I've only ever used Tamiya's thinner in the past so this is all new to me.

Many thanks,

Allen

Sweet paint work Joe! I had read while reviewing this kit for purchase about the strange pitch with the prop. Wonder if there is a replacement?

Chanter, I can tell you that for Tamiya's acrylics it's not too high. I've been told for the best paint thinning...you're looking for something that resembles milk.  So it has to run and move around in whatever you're mixing it in.   Obviously just add what you need as appropriate for your surface.  But as far as the percentage contained in the alcohol, it's a high enough value already that I don't believe it makes a difference for the purposes of painting. =]

A lot to learn here. Thank you, Joe, looking great!

Like your Tamiya tape gauge to locate the prop end mask points idea. Been looking for a way to do this for years, simple and effective! Thanks!

Nice work Joe. I think you got the colors looking fine! I like it all glossed up.

Thanks for all the kind words guys.  As I said, bench time is rare lately as other activities have taken precedence, to include having my mother in town from North Georgia as a house guest.  Anyways, Allen, my drugstore has the choice of 71% and 91% Isoprophyl or "rubbing" alcohol.  I prefer the 91 because it dries almost on contact, which is beneficial when your worried about bleed under.  For the paint scheme however, I use Tamiya's lacquer thinner.  Its like painting with silk.  

I got it decaled and washed over the last few days.  I had concern that the Sky Decals sharkmouth would not fit as it seemed to be missing the teeth under the nose below the spinner.  I didn't feel like painting this in (as I recalled how I did it on Col. Scott's P-40E).  I saw Kit's World decals on Ebay with Older's Tomahawk so I snagged them.  These fit very nice but I still think they are a rip off for what they give you.  At least it has Tex Hill's P-40 for a later build.  I wasn't sure if Older's P-40 had the Hell's Angel emblem on both sides or not.  So in the name of artistic licensing, I used both.  Reasonable accuracy is generally good enough for me.  I did use Sky's upper wing symbols because they were properly faded out to a light blue. 

I sealed the decals and gave it a Flory Wash.  I've really grown to like this stuff.  The initally surface tension is rather annoying but once it settles in, it spreads out and fills the panel lines nicely, even over decals which has been problematic for me in the past.  I generally mix the brown and black to get the worn look I'm going for.    

Trumpeter dropped the ball on the landing gear.  They forgot the retraction braces on either side of the gear.  I added these with .15 Evergreen styrene strip.  Its not perfect but it serves the purpose.  I lapped off the wheel mount rod and supplemented new ones to accept the Ultracast wheels.  They were then shot with Alclad Aluminum.

For years I have tried to place a pilot next to my aircraft to give them a sense of scale.  The problem is that I've been out for quite some time.  I found the notorious cigarette wielding Monogram Bomber figure in the bottom of my spare parts box.  I always thought the detail was quite good on this guy so I'm going to use him for this project.  Here he is primed for paint.  I will probably do a brief tutorial on how I paint figures (which is average at best...not my area of expertise). 

I hope to get this wrapped up soon...stay tuned...

Joe  

Nice work Joe. Got this thread bookmarked for a future P-40 build. That Monogram figure is sharp too, can't believe the detail on it.

Sweet work as usual Joe.

Hey Joe, it's lookin' really good so far. Now I need some input. I am going for a simple build, the old Monogram P-40 B done in the Flying Tigers scheme. Here is what I came up with for the Dupont cross over colors: Curtis Green 71-013 ( Green 34092 & 34079 in a 2:1 ratio ), Brown, 30219 ( Testors MM 1742 or 1735 - I'll probably mix the two ), Grey 36622 Testors MM 1733 or 1730 or 1729 - I'll probably do some more mixing. The wheel wells MM 1732 Green Zinc with one or two drops of Yellow. Now, I never heard what should be used for the cockpit interior of the RAF painted Tiger Planes ( RAF? ) Did Curtiss use their own Dupont mix and try to get close to the RAF Interior Grey-Green or did they use their own Curtiss color for cockpit interiors? Or maybe did they use the USAAF Interior Green? I did a lot of reading on this and none of the discussions ever mentioned the cockpit interior. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Once again, GREAT JOB on this one !!!!                    Bob

WOW! Looks very nice. The paint job is fantastic!

Joe,

Another superb build!  Like Jester75 I've bookmarked several of your recent builds. Your paint work is is really nice.  I really like your condensation streaking technique.  Can't wait to see your pilot painted up!

Steve

Bob H.

Hey Joe, it's lookin' really good so far. Now I need some input. I am going for a simple build, the old Monogram P-40 B done in the Flying Tigers scheme. Here is what I came up with for the Dupont cross over colors: Curtis Green 71-013 ( Green 34092 & 34079 in a 2:1 ratio ), Brown, 30219 ( Testors MM 1742 or 1735 - I'll probably mix the two ), Grey 36622 Testors MM 1733 or 1730 or 1729 - I'll probably do some more mixing. The wheel wells MM 1732 Green Zinc with one or two drops of Yellow. Now, I never heard what should be used for the cockpit interior of the RAF painted Tiger Planes ( RAF? ) Did Curtiss use their own Dupont mix and try to get close to the RAF Interior Grey-Green or did they use their own Curtiss color for cockpit interiors? Or maybe did they use the USAAF Interior Green? I did a lot of reading on this and none of the discussions ever mentioned the cockpit interior. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Once again, GREAT JOB on this one !!!!                    Bob

Thanks Bob. I've never really paid too much attention to the FS chart since I pretty much concoct my own mixture of everything.  I'm the king of "it looks right to me".  Also, I use Tamiya Acrylics exclusively (pretty much) so I generally rely on their recommended mixtures to get a color then doctor it to my needs.  I'm not too familiar with what Testor's offers.  Earlier in the thread I outlined my concoctions for the Dupont upper surfaces, should you decide to go this route.  The lower surface was painted in Tamiya XF-19 Sky Grey (doctored with some white of course). 

Early on in this thread the cockpit color was discussed.  In a nutshell, I thought the 'pit was Bronze Green (a dark bluish-green) on all early Tomahawks, but I have since learned that AVG 'hawks were likely painted British Grey Green, or the Dupont equivalent to this.   That said, I have never seen one in the british color so who knows.  It was too late for me in that regard.  The wheel wells I painted in Tamiya's example of Zinc Chromate doctored with a little Olive Green. 

Thanks again for the compliments and I'm sorry I wasn't much help,

Joe

I just stumbled into this thread. Great work, love the paint.

The cowl is notorious for lousy fit. Your fix was the same as mine. The door on the left fuselage is supposed to me flush, not proud. When I built the kit I did just as you mentioned, scribed around it and sanded it flush.

Besides the shallow cockpit (which you remedied) another hit the kit takes is short gear legs. I didn't fix mine but if you haven't attached them yet it should be an easy fix.

Great work, looking forward to seeing the final finish.

I think I'm finally done.  Here is the Trumpeter 1/48 P-40 B in the markings of Charles Older's famous #68 of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Hell's Angels " 3rd Pursuit Squadron.  To recap, the Trumpeter kit is nice but has some issues.  The cockpit is ridiculously shallow and undersized.  The gear legs are reportedly too short and have no braces.  Finally the rivet detail is way overdone.  On the plus side, it looks more accurate than the Hobbycraft version and I liked the dropped flaps.  I think its much better than the Hobbycraft example (I once spliced a Monogram and Hobbycraft together), but its miles away from the Hasegawa E through N versions in regards to detail.  In a nutshell, it almost felt toy-like.  I wonder when someone will give us a definitive example of the early Tomahawk. 

My example is probably more resin than plastic.which addressed some of the above issues.   It received a Cutting Edge cockpit,  Ultracast wheels and exhausts, PE gunsights and Quickboost wing guns.  I know the wing 50 cals should be 30's....but I figured I would be the only one who knew...lol.   Someone asked me in a recent build why I don't run aerial wires on my subjects.  Truthfully,  because I'm lousy at it.  With this inquiry, I figured why not give it a try here, especially since they are so prominent on the P-40.  I drilled tiny holes in the attachment points and used smoke colored invisible thread secured with instant super glue.  It was easier than I thought and I will try to do them from now on (I may have a marathon session and go back and do the others).    Perhaps I finally found the right super glue for this task. 

The pilot is the standard Monogram bomber pilot.  I hand painted him with Tamiya paints and then I used Model Master Shadow Tint for the flesh areas.  After a clear coat of Testor's Gloss, I gave it a Detailer wash and a Testor's dul coat.  I left the flesh areas slightly glossy.   I took strips of masking tape and replicated the parachute straps by super-gluing them over the molded ones.  Its easier than trying to paint the straps and it looks more realistic to me. 

After a wash...

Thats it.  Thanks for following the thread and comments and questions are welcome.

Joe 

Hey Joe, simply OUTSTANDING !! Thanks for taking the time to post it.                       Bob

Really nice work.  It's simple, concise, and absolutely beautiful.  I've been debating how I would actually set up a little diorama like this one here.  I haven't had any practice with it yet.  I suppose I'm just afraid to try.  I'm still trying to get through my series of Pacific planes I'm placing in flight. =]  

Any tips on how to proceed?  Troubleshooting?

That's a great looking build. I like the effect you have got with the wash, I think I will try the paper towel rather than cotton bud next time. Greta looking base as well, really like the ground work.

Fantastic finish as always Joe!! Aerials look great!

Gorgeous work.  Thanks for all the build photos

Wow, just great job all around!

bvallot

I've been debating how I would actually set up a little diorama like this one here.  I haven't had any practice with it yet.  I suppose I'm just afraid to try.  I'm still trying to get through my series of Pacific planes I'm placing in flight. =]  

Any tips on how to proceed?  Troubleshooting?

In flight?...ouch...got me.  Not my area of expertise.  Reference the diorama, they sell all sorts of vehicles and accessories to achieve this.  If you have any Monogram bombers or even the P-61 Black Widow, they come with all sorts of figures.  Their nicely detailed too.  Just dive in bro. 

....and thanks for all the kind words everyone...

Joe

Yeah.  You're right!  I just haven't actually fooled with the fundamentals of gluing, securing, etc of all the dirt and sand and whatnot.  I just need to play with it and see. =]

Wow Joe, you parked it again.  I'm so glad you took another stab at the antenna wires, this one came out great and will give your already top notch builds a finishing touch.  I must say the rivet detail on that kit is...... significant!  Again, fantastic build.

Great.... Nice wash..