1/48 Monogram/Revell (Monovell) P-40B - Completed pg. 6

Modulation completed.  :)

Not horrible.  :)

And unmasked. I kinda like it. 

Thoughts? Opinions? Advice? All welcome.  :)

Regarding the P-40B and a natural metal finish, I think there's confusion today, because Planes of Fame has a restored P-40C, finished in natural metal, with pre-war Army Air Corps markings.  There are a lot of images of it, and one can get the impression that it's an authentic reconstruction.  It's like the FM-1 or FM-2 Wildcats that are finished in yellow wings colors.  It looks cool, and the owners can do what they want.  But if you're looking for references, you need to be careful and aware.

That is a good point Byron. I never go to a museum piece for color references. For example, I am working on a B-26 Marauder. If you look at the interior of most of the B-26s setting in the museums you will find some sort of interior green everyplace. However all indications are that G. L. Martin did not use it on their bombers!

Research is what has determined my choice in painting my P-40. It didn't take much to dig up pictures of the 8th PG. The 33rd squadron was the only one with yellow noses. The markings are a little different than the kit supplied, but they will work for my build.

I found this photo of Pearl  with a row of P-40s. All are painted  EXCEPT the first one, which looks to me to be NMF. Kinda cool looking.

BK

Top row are all -E's and the bottom is a -B... from a flight training school? Neat! That's a cool subject!

Thanks, BK!  :)

Wing walks painted with Daler Rowny and exhaust and gun stains applied with Tamiya Smoke.

That is looking SO good.

BK

Thanks a bunch, BK! I need to clear it and start working on the details next. Where I'm at now (in-laws) I didn't bring all of my stuff with me so I'm kinda stuck for now lol.

I' m quite pleased with my progress so far. :)

Shipwreck

That is a good point Byron. I never go to a museum piece for color references. For example, I am working on a B-26 Marauder. If you look at the interior of most of the B-26s setting in the museums you will find some sort of interior green everyplace. However all indications are that G. L. Martin did not use it on their bombers!

 

Exactly that, Shipwreck.  You have to look at museum pieces with a very critical eye.  Have they been "restored", or just cleaned up and preserved, ala Flakbait.  Here is an example of a B-26 having NMF interior.  It is the picture of the flak hit in the nose.  You can read the Alcoa ink stamping on the aluminum plate:

https://www.nps.gov/aleu/learn/photosmultimedia/73rd-bomber-squadron.htm

At the same time, you can't always trust colored b&w photos either. Earlier I found a colored b&w of an a/c from the 8th PG 33rd PS with a red nose when all other references to east coast PG's and the 33rd PS show yellow noses.

So you really have to dig for good material to work from. You can't trust just one source, which admittedly, I do have a problem with doing.

Talking about b&w, I am researching color call outs for a P-47D Razorback. The IPMS document calls for Zinc Chromate Yellow for the inside of the wheel well doors, all museum planes that I have seen are Zinc Chromate Yellow; but what color is it in b&w? Well, looking at period photos it looks like light grey to a dark color similar to the olive drab upper surface. You just cannot tell! So, I will go with a dirty dull Zinc Chromate Yellow!

I am now about ready to lay down the first coat of camouflage on my B-26. the period photos show me little about the olive drab color; but they do show me something about weathering and paint chipping!

If anyone does not have the IPMS Camouflage articles, there are three of them and they are located at:

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2004/01/stuff_eng_interior_colours_us.htm

Have fun!

As of last night, and after more digging, I found that some of the 33rd PS did indeed have red noses.

You can never have enough research!

Shipwreck, you may have been seeing green zinc. All of the early P-40's, for instance, used green zinc , but from the -E onward they definitely used yellow zinc. So keep digging if you want to be possitive. It could also be aluminum on a P-47D.

Wow, this is looking awesome sir.  I'm looking forward to more!

Toshi

Nothing beats good photos of the exact plane your working on. Too bad that is just not always possible.

BK

Toshi

Wow, this is looking awesome sir.  I'm looking forward to more!

Toshi

 

Thank you, my friend! Its true that these old Monogram kits can still shine with a lot of TLC. Makes me appreciate the new Tamiya and Airfix kits all that much more!

BrandonK

Nothing beats good photos of the exact plane your working on. Too bad that is just not always possible.

BK

 

No doubt! Unfortunately I can't find any pictures of #4, but squadron pictures are out there so I'm just going to stick with the kit plans for the decals. 

Okay, so here is Where I thought I would have a problem; the rear glass in this kit is notorious for having gaps around the edges. But since I had to sand down the spine so much for the canopy to slide over it, all I had to do was sand the edges of the glass to around a 30 degree angle until they fit flush. Drilling out the ports for the fuel and glycol caps was harder lol. I still managed to end up with a crack, but that's an easy thing to fix in this location with some LC or some thinned clear gloss.

That's the best fit I've ever had with those.  :)

Not much to really report. I painted the fuel and glycol caps and after a few days of contemplation I decided to try using an adapter nozzle from my AB I wasn't using to press the formation lights into the fuselage sides. Its an easy trick, leaving a perect circle impression in the paint, allowing me to paint the "lens" while providing a border for a wash to settle into. 

The "Magic Blue" isn't as bright in person as it appears in the picture. 

Thanks for taking a peek.  :)

I'm no expert, but I think all the detailing you've done is looking great!

Thanks!!  :D

I hope it turns out half as good as I want it to. Lol

I still haven't finished the landing gear, and the bay doors are still on the sprue. :/

I finally got the landing gear struts assembled with  some scratch built details. I used some parts from the P-36 as I seem to be making more of a P-40 instead of a P-40B. Which I think is okay because the -B didn't come into play until late  '41 and the markings for this one are from 1940.

So here are the landing struts in position and the tail wheel all fixed and painted up.

And more random pictures for viewing;

I suppose i should gloss this thing and get the decals on. I've only got the landing gear to finish painting.

 Edit: And the wheel wells, MG's, headrest, etc. Details, details. [Sigh]

Mike, the P-40 is looking real nice.  The rudder stripes are really sharp.  I do see one small thing, though it may not be important to you.  The links on the landing gear did not join in a V as you have them, they were separate and when retracted the gear rested between them.

http://www.yolo.net/%7Ejeaton/Propplanes/p40/p40e/022p40e.htm

Here's a Curtiss drawing, see how the links will draw up inside the wing as the gear is retracted by the horizontal cylinder above in the wing.

Thanks John. Yeah, I know. I took the parts from my P-36. #lazybuilder lol

Hello Mike!

That P-40 is looking really good! I like you r shading a lot, and I especially like the landing gear modifications you have made - once in the pre-internet times I was wondering how this is supposed to look like and I have found that the strut didn't penetrate the wing spar way later after my build was done :-( Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Excellent work on those colors!  I wish I were a tenth as good at such subtle shading.  Practice, practice, practice.....

M.Brindos,

This is the best work you've done yet. The paint job is amazing.  I'll be waiting on your decals application.  Great job sir!

Toshi

Pawel

Hello Mike!

That P-40 is looking really good! I like you r shading a lot, and I especially like the landing gear modifications you have made - once in the pre-internet times I was wondering how this is supposed to look like and I have found that the strut didn't penetrate the wing spar way later after my build was done :-( Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

 

Thanks Pawel! I don't think it would functon. John's post shows how it should work on a P-40 and the P-36 parts are incompatible with that system. I'll keep it as it is only because its different and I'm just going to keep progressing. Its at that point where I just want to be done with it.  :)

the Baron

Excellent work on those colors!  I wish I were a tenth as good at such subtle shading.  Practice, practice, practice.....

 

Its quite simple really. Spray your base color solid, lighten it, fill in panel centers, then over spray it all to blend until you're happy with the results. You don't even have to change out the paint in the color cup. 

For deeper shadows around the control surfaces leave some black showing through with the base coat.

Voila. Pretty easy to do with little practice. (I like simple ;) )

Thank you so much for the compliment. :D