I think this one is getting close.  I was doing some paint bleed touch ups on the Wildcat stars when I had an idea.  Since I had white loaded up in the brush, I decided to try to fade out the upper wing roundels a bit.  I thinned it heavily then dusted them from a distance. I kept going until it was noticeable but not overdone.  Not bad. I will do this from now on.  The Wildcat then got it too.  A couple of coats of X-22 and Mr. Leveling Thinner provided the rock hard gloss shine. 

As I stressed over Duke's GA-F AK 402 markings, particularly the serial and a higher quality sharkmouth (Airfix decals are worthless), I began scouring my P-40 decal stash for a better sharkrmouth, perhaps an AVG one. Low and behold I had a Kits World sheet in there with the correct Duke P-40 on it.  I lucked out!  Everything went on perfectly with Micro Sol.   

I had no issues with the sharkmouth.  Kits world decals are quite good.

I hope to wrapping this turkey up soon.

Mopar Madness

LD, I really love those matte finishes! 

 

Thanks bud....

LD, I really love those matte finishes! 

tempestjohnny

It still amazes me what you do with an airbrush and a bottle or two of Tamiya paint

 

Thanks Johnny 

bvallot

Always fun to watch you paint Joe. Cool stuff! =]

 

Thanks Britt

TankerEasy

thats sweet! 

 

Thanks

fox

Coming along fantastically. 

Jim  

 

Thanks Jim

tempestjohnny

It still amazes me what you do with an airbrush and a bottle or two of Tamiya paint

 

John

Looks fantastic btw!

Always fun to watch you paint Joe. Cool stuff! =]

thats sweet! 

Coming along fantastically. 

Jim  

I continue to make progress on with this bad boy.  I moved on to the Midstone.  I mixed about half XF-59 Desert Yellow and half XF-60 Dark Yellow, which was the Tamiya recommendation.  I used the light/dark RBB technique and must say I'm starting to get comfortable with it.

I used Blue Tac worms and marked of the pattern for the Dark Earth.  I used a profile picture as a rough reference.  

I fired down the AKI Real Colors Dark Earth.  This stuff is a dream.  I added some XF-57 Buff and XF-78 Deck Tan for the marbling/fading.  I had no issues mixing Tamiya with AKI paints.  All Montex masks were then removed and I did some post shade weathering with alcohol diluted XF-69 NATO Black and XF-64 Red Brown.  

I added some exhaust staining too.  This is straight XF-78 Deck Tan with some XF-69 NATO Black added at the edges.  I'm pleased with the heat effect. 

I post shaded the underside a it too....

Time to get working on the little bits. 

Hoss WA

Cool subject and impressive execution as always. I have yet to tackle a Mediterranean theater aircraft and this is good inspiration. 

 

Thanks Hoss.  This is my second MTO subject.  It won't be my last.

Cool subject and impressive execution as always. I have yet to tackle a Mediterranean theater aircraft and this is good inspiration. 

BrandonK

P-40s are one of my all time faves for sure. Looking good as per your norm. I have one of these that I am going to start on shortly. Mine will be a crashed scene in the desert, so I will have room to not have it perfect. 

BK

 

Thanks Brandon. I look forward to your diorama. Someday I want to do something similar with a Spitfire Circa Battle of Britain. 

P-40s are one of my all time faves for sure. Looking good as per your norm. I have one of these that I am going to start on shortly. Mine will be a crashed scene in the desert, so I will have room to not have it perfect. 

BK

Mopar Madness

I am curious to as to why they didn't just mold those directly into the fuselage. 

 

You and me both. 

damouav

Excellent work mate.

 

Thanks Damian

M. Brindos

The weird cowl inserts and the gear knuckles to need a little attention, but I found it trivial compared to the old Monogram kit.

I found the 1/72 kit almost as interesting to build if not a bit simper, but it does come with the correct markings for Duke's A/C.

Anyways, minor gripes aside, they are both wonderful kits and I've enjoyed them both. Though I admit I still haven't finished my 1/48 AVG build.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing how you finish this one, Joe. 

 

I once spliced a Hobbycraft and Monogram kit together, so I whole agree they are minor gripes. It's still the best B out there.  Nice to have you  Mike. 

I am curious to as to why they didn't just mold those directly into the fuselage. 

Excellent work mate.

The weird cowl inserts and the gear knuckles to need a little attention, but I found it trivial compared to the old Monogram kit.

I found the 1/72 kit almost as interesting to build if not a bit simper, but it does come with the correct markings for Duke's A/C.

Anyways, minor gripes aside, they are both wonderful kits and I've enjoyed them both. Though I admit I still haven't finished my 1/48 AVG build.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing how you finish this one, Joe. 

I've been going back and forth between this and the Wildcat. The Airfix kit has two top cowl inserts that go in on either side of the cowl guns.  These don't fit very well, so I had a few issues here.  I ended up sanding, rescribing and punching back in the rivet detail with a sewing needle chucked in a pin vice. I'm not sure the purpose of this strange design and it seemed unneccessary.  Fortunately the cowl gun fairings fit well.  I drilled the barrels out.

The landing gear "knuckles" at the wing leading edge didn't fit all that well.  I needed some putty here.  It wasn't anything serious, but something to watch out for.  The rest fit quite nice.  I deflected the stabs because the kit allowed it.  

112 Squardron had Midstone, Dark Earth, over Azure Blue.  After the time consuming preshading and Montex masking for the main markings (fortunately my Montex set came with an F, the GA will be a decal), I mixed the Azure.  I found a recipe that recommended XF-18 Medium Blue, XF-2 White, and a few drops of XF-19 Purple.  I tweeked it until it looked ok to my eye.  I then used my reverse black-basing technique. It's essensially starting full strength (leaving a hint of the preshading showing through), marbling in a much lighter version, then marbling back in full strength focusing in on panel lines. It's a great way to break up a solid color.  I like to go heavy as the further process tends to tone it down considerably.

Soon I will start on the uppers.....

bvallot

Fantastic as always Joe. I do enjoy watching your front offices come together.

 

Thanks Brit, but that weathering on the Undertaker...........wow!

JohnnyK

Great looking cockpit. I like the tan color.

 

Thanks Johnny

Greatmaker

Joe the master painter strikes again.  I swear he uses a microscope an the worlds smallest airbrush. Everything is always so clean looking 

 

Not exactly.  It's mostly smoke and mirrors, but thanks for the kind words Robert.

BrandonK

Joe has a gift for this. I think he could take a kit and drop it in a bucket of black paint and pour the contents out on a bench and this is what it would look like, he's just that good.

BK

 

Hardly.........but thanks Brandon.

B777Commander

Most impressive! I don't envy the task those P-40 pilots had. Hans-Joachim Marseille would have been one heck of an opponent, especially considering he shot down several dozen P-40s. Anyway, great work! The interior is second to none! Now I want a P-40 for the collection haha.

 

Thanks Andy.  No doubt, the Star of Afrika was formidable and the P-40 was no match for the 109 F, especially in his hands.  Hard to believe an upgrade to a faulty Gustav was his undoing. His F is on my short list as I have it in 1/32 scale. 

Jay Jay

OOOOO my favorite aircraft built by my favorite modeling Guru. Taking notes Mate.

 

Thanks for the kind words Jay.