A tale of two P-40B and P-40E -- COMPLETED !!!!!

So I did some reading and searching and found a small thread on a forum where a modeler said he spoke to a P-40 vet and the vet said that you could have a row of identical P-40s and each one would have a different antenna set up. They basically didn't have any hard and fast rule as to what each plane had. He went on to state that he recalled that if the plane had a mast, then it had tail to mast antenna only. If it had no mast then it could have tail to fuselage only and tail to wing tips with tail to fuselage.

I also went to several sites where photos could be found and I found examples of mast and non mast antennas on planes up through the -F variant.

SO, I guess what this tells us is, try to set up your plane to what any photos of IT may show. Otherwise we just don't know for sure how it was set up. Since my plane has no mast, I opted for the wing tip configuation. I could have done the fuselage only and that may have been correct also. In the end, I set it up as that was the look I wanted for this AC. It may not be correct, I'll be the first to admit that, but in the end I can live with that as well.

BK

Edit, quess I found my answer, I guessed correctly. Whew!!

lawdog114

Beautiful! Indeed very good question about the antenna. I was unaware that set up extended to the E. It certainly makes it tough to handle.

 

And yes, it is all that much more delicate to handle and clean.

Thanks for all the kind words, much appreciated.

BK

Great finish on number 1 BK. 

jeaton01

 

 

BrandonK

That is correct for the -E, the -B needs the rail on the canopy. Near as I can tell it's complete. Besides, it's done and I'm not going back now.

BK

 

 

 

Looks correct to me, Brandon, here's a close-up:

 

Brandon, you sure got that right. I never would have guessed; the canopy must run on that top ridge with a G shaped atachment to hold it in place - clean! And thanks for the photo, John; it went to my P-40 file.

Ben

BrandonK

That is correct for the -E, the -B needs the rail on the canopy. Near as I can tell it's complete. Besides, it's done and I'm not going back now.

BK

Looks correct to me, Brandon, here's a close-up:

1943Mike

Anyone know why these aircraft needed so much antenna wire?

 

Good question. I too, have often pondered this.

That's a really spiffy looking P-40! Great job!

Anyone know why these aircraft needed so much antenna wire?

That looks awesome sir!  Just a superb build!

Toshi

That is correct for the -E, the -B needs the rail on the canopy. Near as I can tell it's complete. Besides, it's done and I'm not going back now.

BK

Oh, wow that's looking good. That -E is beautiful!

Looks like we may be fairly close to finishing our -B's around the same time lol.

I know how good it felt to get the bottom painted. You're almost there too.  :)

Excellent work! That thing looks gorgeous. I can't wait to see the -B.

-BD-

Here are some shots of the -E now that it is done.

Well I completed the -E kit a few days ago and it feels really good to have one done. The -B/C now has a new windscreen that fits super good and is ready for primer. I have to finish up the port side cutout glass install and then its off for, hopefully, the final coat of primer.

I used a Squadron canopy and Gorilla Clear Epoxy to set the windscreen in place and it fits awesome and the epoxy is nearly totally invisible, so winning. I had to hand mask the windscreen but I will have the frame shape much cleaner this way too. The canopy slider also includes the frame piece that is moulded to the kit part, which has been removed, so I don't have to fab that up now. Another win. Again, I had to hand mask this part, but again I am controlling the frame size more this way.

With some luck I can have this one ready for paint this weekend. Fingers crossed.

BK

I don't know what that one is. ???

Edit: perhaps white ? maybe a landing light/friendly identifier?

Thanks Mike.

One last light, located starboard underneath to the rear of the wing/fuselage area. I'm thinking its a formation light? Red? Blue? Then those will be done.

BK

Still a gas cap and I think it's still Black.  Not entirely sure at this moment lol.

So, COOL. Thanks guys. Now next question. What is the cap in the port cutout of the -E and what color should it be?

BK

Just behind and below the pit. Almost directly under the gas cap. BK's last picture (above) shows it quite clearly.

Good info, Shipwreck. My Airfix kit includes them, but they've always been missing from the Monovell kit and I never knew they existed.

Thanks for that info!

I just confirmed that there were blue fdormation lights on either side of the -E! "P-40 Warhawk", Part 2, Bert Kinzey, p22

I am pretty sure that I read someplace that they are formation lights, either blue or red. This is an E.

I think those are just ID lights. Blue is the only color I've seen them in so far.

Hopefully someone has a better answer. Sorry.

Does anyone know on the -E version what color the lights on the fuselage beside the pilot are supposed to be? I've see both red or blue on the port side for color. I'm assuming those are Nav lights and would match the port or starboard color, but I can't confirm this.

BK

Well, mine is an early -C cuz it'll have a fuel tank and PH markings so I'll use the black with aluminum look. Thanks for the tip.

BK

No problem at all. Y'know, I haven't checked the Airfix kit yet to see if the ports are already there, but I suspect that they are.

The color of those caps are different, depending on which markings you've chosen. For the early types the gas cap is black and the glycol is aluminum, but for the exports they are red for the gas and black for the glycol.

Sometimes the glycol cap is yellow. Not sure if that was factory, mandated, or just field applicated. 

The Tigers were typically red/ black as far as I can tell.

Not sure if you already knew that or not. If anyone knows better, please, PLEASE correct me. I'd like to know for sure. :)