P-40 GB 2014

in every build there is a point where i really mess up. it is when i am pushing for the end and without intending to do so, i will skip small details or rush them and cause myself issues. last night i decided that i wasnt going to do that with this build. i was going to sit down and focus on what needed to be finished prior to the final push that goes with the build.

with that in mind i went back over the last couple of days and found a couple of really good build ups for both this kit and for the 1/24 vintage series of p-40b's. they got me thinking of what i needed to do yet and to be honest there were some things that caused me a great urge to tear this thing apart and redo some of the sections to make them look better. that urge is still there but i havent acted upon it..................yet.

so back to last night. first thing i did was to make myself a list based upon the other builds and what i had with this one. once the list was created i started to work my way through it.

first up was the ammo box and the nose guns area. this area was much too barren for me. one of the builds had a wonderful series of pictures of how one builder took care of this area. i couldnt do all he did just because he worked on his while the parts were separate, but i could add just a few things. so ..............


nose guns and ammo box.



next up was to finish off the landing gear........some small details were added. they are now done.



next were the antenna mounts for the wings. 



next up, the access door hinge work so i could show it open.



i couldnt forget the clear parts. these needed some things done to them and in the process i found that some of the attaching holes were needing some modification. but after some careful work with a drill and files.




and i didnt forget that i had goofed, the tail feathers were positioned wrong. so i fixed that.....



then came the nose piece and the prop. 




thus ended the session last night. now mind you, i am still looking at the small stuff and a few things revealed themselves to me durring the process. 


so close yet so far away from the finish line.



please, all comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



joe

first let me say thank you for following along. all the encouragement has pushed me as much as just the sheer challenge. 

so without further ado. 

my first attempt at a cutaway.

trumpeter 1/32 p-40b, roughly 20 or 25 kit pieces. guessing somewhere north of 800 pieces total. started in november. 















again thank you for following along and for all the support.




joe

Well there she is in all her glory! Wonderful detail! Absolutely beautiful!!!

Doug

many thanks doug.

joe

Phenomenal, Joe.

Good news and bad news on mine....all the sanding on the wing root paid off....I cannot see a seem line or gap or putty! First time i've correct a major fit issue like that and it not be visible once the paint is on.

Bad news....my masking sucked....again...had to do touch up painting by brush once again, and once again the paint dried ever so slightly a different shade...oh well, I'm going to try my hand at a little heavier than normal so maybe that'll cover it up? If not I can live with it. Also got the sharks mouth on...like most things in this kit, that didnt fit so it took quite a bit of maneuvering so it looks decent. Here she is as it stands now.

josiah you are very kind.  

the paint job looks ok from here.  maybe just a tad of weathering to make it all come together.

joe

Joe, I also wanted to pointed out what a superb job you did on picking your colors out for this build.  Too often people over-do preshading for panel line or the washes to depict them when simply they weren't always so visible from a normal viewing distance (20-30 ft or further).  You equate that to scale aircraft such as this and it's about 3-4 ft. So kudos!!

I keep scrolling up cause I can't stop looking at her. =D Beautiful paint!

Ygmodeler: Tough break about the masking.  What else have you done to fix it?

Josiah... Good stuff! I have to give you kudos for he scale alone! (Lol) I agree, a little weathering really works.

Doug

This is so amazing.

Terrific work, y'all! I need to get a move on...

many thanks for all the kind words.  you are all very kind.

joe

Thanks guys.

BV: At first, I took the masking off and the green was sort of...peeling? So I tried to get all the peeling off, it looked decent, but just too jagged. I have plenty of OD but didn't have enough brown to do a repaint so thats all I tried. Next time I'm just going to use silly putty for the masking, I don't get how people can use that liquid masking so effectively?

Exelent Joe, front page updated  :-)

Theuns

Joe - spectacular build!!

Josiah - nice looking paint work - your touch up doesn't stand out to me at all.

Steve

theuns and steve thank you.

joe

Howdy, folks! I got the wheelwells done, and the wings on....onto the putty, and then some paint...

outstanding.  looks great from here.

joe

agreed, great progress

Hello guys/gals I'm still here my stash survived my house burning  down I just moved my hobby table stash and all my tools to my garage and its the only room without fire damage . my first build is at the paint stage I did pre shade the first time looks like it's working I'm looking at a few coats trying to make a all black p-40 look weathered

Wow Blackdog! I am really sorry to hear of your house mate  :-(  

Happy that you (and the stash ;-0) are safe though.

Theuns

blackdog that is horrible news.  based on your post i assume your family is ok?  

joe

Black dog.... just... well damn!  As long as you and yours are ok, ... so sorry brother...

Damn, sorry to hear about your loss.  Hope everyone is Ok.

Steve

Thats a shame, I share everybody's sentiments in hoping everybody was ok

Here's mine all finished up. I was quite pleased with everything until the flat coat...I tried a new kind they recommended me at the hobby shop, didn't work out so well. I went pretty heavy on the bare metal dry brushing to cover it up, then put a bunch of pastels on it to give it a dusty look. In the end it turned out OK. I'd have rather it turned out better but I wasn't willing to put down more money than the kit was worth to get more paint and decals to redo it, so I won't lose any sleep over it.

I did notice the pitot tube broke off and have to paint the light on the underside, I'll fix those things tomorrow.

Comments critiques are welcome

josiah sorry to hear about the difficulties with the flat.  have heard a couple of people say that flats here lately have given them big issues.

joe

Nice recovery, Josiah!

Nice one Josiah! I will update the the front page asap

Theuns

Well, alright, I guess I'm back in the game. Got the color coats on tonight, and will decal tomorrow after some glosscote. Will also try to shoot the seat, prop, and gear with some Metalizer then, too. Hopefully I can have her near done for a local club meeting this Saturday.

Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that I plan to mark it as Lt Joe Moore's P-40 that was at Clark Field on December 8, 1941