Monogram 1/48 Tiger Shark P-40B

So I believe that the instrument panel is wrong for a B model. It should have two guns with their receiver rears and buffer tubes protruding into the cockpit on either side of the instrument panel. I'll have to scratch that as well. 

Im also not sure if I want to use the decals it came with (they are starting to yellow in the clear areas), replace them with new copies of the original, or use decals from another plane? I haven't even begun to look and see what may be available. 

One question I have is if this push pull tube coming off of the manual hydraulic pump is there or not? I have just begun to research but I have not seen it in the photos or prints that I've examine. 

This has been of my favorite kits of all time and I've still got one more in the stash for later.

First, I love that you are scratch building the details. I went the same route as well. I did end up rebuilding and detailing the throttle controls and if you do too, you'll be much happier with it.

The hydro pump should be facing aft towards the tail because the pump is behind the cockpit and not in front of the instrument panel. 

Those cut outs on the sides of the instrument panel are indeed for the .50 cal. Receivers and they have charging handles the protrude from them. Look up a good picture of the pit for reference, you'll see what we mean.

Try spru brothers for some decals and scheme ideas. I've got a spare set from the Airfix kit I'm going to use on mine.

I seem to have lost the pictures in my build thread and no longer have them in my phone anywhere. But I do have a YouTube link to the 30 second video I made and there are some cockpit pictures so you can see what I did.

https://youtu.be/CWIwHf48le0

Yeah this doesn't have any cutouts or M2 receivers. It even shows to put the hydraulic pump handle on like I did. I'm glad you said something before I got too far into the build. 

I've been trying to find reference photos for the cocking handles for the M2's. I didn't know anything about it but I figured it probably had to be cocked something like the M240C in a Bradley. 

This is the instrument panel it came with. I plan on scratch building the correct one. 

And the original instructions showing the wrong assembly of the hydraulic pump handle  

Thank you for helping me with correctlong this. 

So I re-profiled the seat, changed the hydraulic pump handle, added a few more pieces here and there, and now I'm ready for seatbelts. 

I also removed the left side panel and built up the side panels how I saw fit. I know some parts may be off some but it's starting to come around. 

I also started the new instrument panel  I'm using the original as a backer for it  

Nice work. I first built this kit when I was 3 (with some help from my dad). I have probably built about a dozen of these through the years. My most recent effort came about 7 years ago, when I added an aftermarket cockpit and scratched the wheel wells, and opened up the cowling flaps with some of the intake details located behind the chin.

Aggieman

Nice work. I first built this kit when I was 3 (with some help from my dad). I have probably built about a dozen of these through the years. My most recent effort came about 7 years ago, when I added an aftermarket cockpit and scratched the wheel wells, and opened up the cowling flaps with some of the intake details located behind the chin.

 

Thanks! Yeah I couldn't count how many of them I built. I like the idea of opening up the cowling flaps. I've been tossing that idea around some. 

Working on the instrument panel and adding pedals and stuff. 

Nice job on the cockpit corrections.

stikpusher

Nice job on the cockpit corrections.

 

Thanks. Here are the seatbelts abe the rest of the seat pan. Everything was cut from sheet styrene. 

I sure do love it when these old kits get a new life!

Can anyone tell me what this is? 

That kit was the test bed for many of my "first attempt at" items.  Despite the well known downsides I really do like it and enjoy building it.  Yours is looking good.  

Joe

Here is some toggle switches I added and how I did it. Not sure how it's supposed to be done but I just cut a strip of styrene the width I need, cut bristles like a comb would have, and then cut slots to stick the row of switches (bristles) into. 

That is part of the gunsight on the P-40B.  The cover is open in this view.  There was a reflector plate behind the windscreen.

jeaton01

That is part of the gunsight on the P-40B.  The cover is open in this view.  There was a reflector plate behind the windscreen.

 

Thank you so much!!!

I love what you're doing with this kit!

Only one thing I noticed that you did, and I wouldn't change it now, is the seatbelts. The "B" only had lap belts and no shoulder belts. But don't try to fix that. What you did looks great and fixing it would make a mess of things.

I like your approach to the instrument panel. I simply cut the corners off and used a bit of styrene to hold my MG receivers in place, but kept the dial details.

I can't wait to see this all painted up!

M. Brindos

I love what you're doing with this kit!

Only one thing I noticed that you did, and I wouldn't change it now, is the seatbelts. The "B" only had lap belts and no shoulder belts. But don't try to fix that. What you did looks great and fixing it would make a mess of things.

I like your approach to the instrument panel. I simply cut the corners off and used a bit of styrene to hold my MG receivers in place, but kept the dial details.

I can't wait to see this all painted up!

 

Yes, correct a wide lap belt. And the export version had a square back seat pan instead of the arched back. I found that all out after I did the arch back to the seat. After that I figured I'd give it a full harness since I had already modded the seat. 

I also learned that the AVG exports didn't have gunsights on them so they fit N-2a gunsights on them in the field. Howeve, I'm still doing the factory gunsight. 

A passage in the book "Baa Baa Black Sheep" halfway confirms this and the lapbelt only when Boyington stated he attempted a 3 point landing on his first flight of an AVG P-40 where it caused the plane to bounce and threw him forward splitting his head open on the electric gunsight. 

I guess the main reason I did the seat and original gunsight is that I just picked an early model P-40b that I could access detailed photos of and decided on it as my guide. My next build I will draw from a greater resource of information than just the interwebz lol. 

I appreciate all of the help and info you all have given. I'm still getting back at it after decades away from building scale models so my skills and techniques are still pretty rusty.

Oho!

 Thirty Years, are you sure? That's the old White Box Export edition. Oh, By the way.It's good you've gotten some advice on the pit. When I built my first one I had a neighbor that helped the "Little Neighbor Kid" build it right . Mr Ryan may you rest in Peace. 

 He served with the Eighth Air Force in Europe. He got transfered to a to a new unit just as the War in the Pacific ended. Oh, the stories he'd tell!  

Tanker-Builder

Oho!

 Thirty Years, are you sure? That's the old White Box Export edition. Oh, By the way.It's good you've gotten some advice on the pit. When I built my first one I had a neighbor that helped the "Little Neighbor Kid" build it right . Mr Ryan may you rest in Peace. 

 He served with the Eighth Air Force in Europe. He got transfered to a to a new unit just as the War in the Pacific ended. Oh, the stories he'd tell!  

 

At least 30 years, if not more. I boxed up all of my models I had left in the early 90's and have drug that box all over the place with me while I was in the service. After I retired in 2008 it got stuck in my kids closet and stayed there until I drug it out a few weeks ago. 

About finished with the cockpit details. 

You have to try the new Airfix P-40B eventually. It's a much better kit and has few vices to overcome.

Here's a shot of mine to give you a better pattern to follow than the directions. Using a circle template to cut out where the british markings should go on the wings only and then masking the camo pattern. It's easy and more accurate.

Here is a photo of an original H-81A2 cockpit:

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235000114-148-curtiss-wright-p-40c-hawk-81-a2-tomahawk-mkiib-by-bronco-models-released-new-boxing-avg-aces/

and here is the original CW factory floor.  Note the color of the headrests between the RAF and USAAC:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35963591@N00/sets/72157622864527612/ 

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

No problem, DM. This is my all time favorite airframe so I know a little bit about it. I loved how my last build turned out and I've been slowly working on my Airfix kit at my leisure over a year now lol.

I've got a P-36A from Hobby Craft that I've been pimping out the cockpit with a lot of scratch work I'm quite happy with, including building the visible part of the fuel tank that will barely be noticed behind the seat lol.

I've really enjoyed that part lol. And, I'm not the only guy who knows a lot about these planes, as I believe you've noticed, so ask questions and expect a lot of enthusiastic responses!

You'll always have lots of help on this aircraft lol.

Very impressive work so far. It's fun and interesting to see this come together. 

Hey! Yer looking Good!