P-40 GB 2014

josiah you are very kind.  thank you.

joe

Everyones builds are looking fantastic.
Joe- It's great to see this thing almost finished, it looks absolutely phenomenal. Whatever shortcomings YOU found in this one (Im certainly unaware of any) I know you'll fix them for the next cutaway which I have no doubt will be another jaw dropping build.
Doug- that bird is badass to say the least. Great job on the skull and the painting/weathering, i love it.

Its been so nice outside I've had trouble getting myself in the basement to do any modeling, however, I finally did some paint mixing and got my P-40's underbelly painted. I did a bunch more sanding since I last posted...hopefully it'll be enough to look good underneath the camo.


 

Fantastic Doug! front page updeted.

Theuns

Not bad at all Rigidrider!   It's great to have you too.  I'm actually looking forward to another one I don't have to cut to shreds. lol

Joe:  You're a sick man Joe.  A complete cutaway right after all that?!?  A true sadist.

;)

OK friends... I think I'm going to call it finished... I worked on the base for the last two days and like how it came out, as basic as it is... Hope I did the GB proud and as was stated earlier, any comments or constructive comments will be appreciated and duley noted! Thanks for the opportunity to join in on this GB! I do love this beautiful old aircraft and hope to see another P40 GB in the near future!

Doug

While this is not an "actual" member of the squadron, I did take some artistic freedoms with her. The aircraft no# is within the range of the actual members, and also while not an "N" series, there were a number of this series turned over by the AVG when they were disbanded early in the war.

Well thats all for now, I will be anxiously be looking in to follow the progress of the other builds going on here... Again, thanks for the opportunity to join in this build!

Doug 

Yeah you and me both Joe... I dont think I'm ever really satisfied with my work! LOL... I keep going back and looking wondering what else I could have done! LOL... IMHO, Shes going to look great.

Doug

doug i am my own worst critic for sure.  there are a number of things that i had looked at to decide if they looked right.  then again this morning i was playing online and found a great thread on a 1/24 p-40b that just chilled me to the bone and made me want to tear mine apart and start all over.  i really cant believe i will say this but i am really looking forward to the next cutaway.

bvallot this bird would benefit in a couple of ways but like i said i am just not really sure how i want to display it.  my next attempt at a cutaway will be the "full monty".  like i said i am really looking forward to that one.

joe

Joe, I hear ya.  I don't suppose you need to worry about setting it on something, but a warhawk that nice would definitely benefit from being lifted up on some kind of base.  And don't kid yourself...sometimes less is more.  If you chopped this thing half way to china, maybe it wouldn't do as well.  ;)

BV... No, actually the sharpie left very little to no shine to start with and the dull cote knocked down any that tried to show. My opinion is that you have to do your detail as close to one take as possible,

(dont go over and over) that way it doesn't build up and have a chance to go glossy. Being I did mine over a dull coat of sealer to protect the white it never went to gloss. And by the way, I agree with you and ...Thanks!

Joe... Dont belittle your work... Its very well done and looks great! If there are any piddly little faults ... only you know! (lol) Again... Amazing work! Shoot... I've been trying to perfect my efforts to do a balsa kit (stick and tissue) and I give up! Just dont have the "Knack" like some do... Thats why I stick to plastic.The next cut away for you will be better and the one after that even better. No Doubt! Take care...

Doug

bvallot i can truthfully say i havent given any thought to either of those.  probably not for the tires.  the purpose of the build was the challenge of the cutaway.  to be honest i came up short in that.  i didnt go all out for the "cutaway" style.  as for a base.  i havent a clue as to what or how i will display this.

joe

Doug...Semper Fi! Those flying skulls are bad ass. =D  Did you find the sharpie marker leave a shine after your flat coat?  Curious to find out....

Joe: Persevering through all the aggravation is paying off.  =]  This is shaping up to be a beautiful P-40.  The struts you redid are killer!  Have you thought any about fixing those tires to look more weighted?  How are you going to have this set?....diorama...wooden base?

many thanks doug.

joe

Amazing detail! Great work. Looking forward to the completed pics!!!

Doug

well folks the end is drawing near for this build.

for the last couple of days i have been working with clear coats, decals, subtle weathering,.......then back to the landing gear, tail wheel, landing gear doors, and other fiddly bits.

there was more but that is not for this update.

so let me show you a bit of what i have.

first up let me show you the decals and the weathering. as this is not the focus of the build i went with the kit decals. wouldnt you know it, they shattered. horrible decals. took me three boxes to find kits that would work. 

after the decalling i went with just a subtle wash. this is an adapted sludge wash applied with a brush. then i actually sprayed it, highly thinned, through the ab.


after that i went with a flat, the testors spray decanted and sprayed through the ab.

so pics................







while that occured i went with working more on the landing gear. i attached the brake line after attaching the gear and wheel to the fuse. not a good idea. i should have attached it before that.






like i said moving towards the end with this. not much left. not many updates are left.


comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



joe

Tremendous work, y'all!

Thank you Joe... very much appreciated!

many thanks for the kindness.

doug she really is shaping up well.  very very nice work.

joe

Happy Memorial Day to all my friends and fellow builders! Many times we build "memorials" to the brave young men and women who sacrificed all to give us this freedom we enjoy, and I know that I as well as others put alot more into their builds then time and money. Many times I try to research a certain aircraft to make it as realistic and authentic as I possibly can, I see that many of you do too, and be they enemy or friend, it took a lot of courage to climb into their aircraft every mission not knowing if they would ever again return. My own experiances as a young Marine serving during Viet-Nam taught me alot about what these amazing Americans we celebrate went through. Thank you one and all for your sacrifice! You will always be in my heart, thoughts, and prayers.

That being said, I got some more done last night... Hope you enjoy,

Getting close now, Just some fiddly parts and some touch up left, Then I want to make a display for it. Thanks again...

Semper Fi!

Doug 

Awww, Shucks... Thank you all very much, Thats what I like about FSM Forums, we all try to learn and teach at the same time... No egos, and lots of help when asked for! Thanks again guys...

Steve... Works for me! LOL... Just a hint, after the white has set up well, get a xtra fine "sharpie" pen in black from LHS, or nearest Office supply and outline your detailswith it. I had noticed on pictures that all skulls appeared to not only be outlined in black, but also had the mouth area between upper and lower teeth filled in with black. A regular fine tip sharpie works very well to do this fill in and the xtra fine works well for cracks and between teeth shading. I know I dont need to say this... but if the paint isnt well set and maybe even a sealer coat of dull cote on it , the sharpie might soften and make a mess of the white.

Looking forward to seeing your end results.

Doug

Exelent work all round guys! Damn you guys don't "mess about!"  LOL

Theuns

Joe - your P-40 is looking amazing!  Your scratchbuilding and paint are great!

Doug - I'm also doing an 89th Fighter Group aircraft - #49 Joanne.  I've read that the skull decals on the Eduard kit are a bit over-size, so I've been thinking about painting them.  I've been trying to decide on how to paint the skull so I will be using your method of spraying the white and hand painting the details.  

Steve

wow.  that looks pretty dang good.

joe

Got some more done today... Being I'm doing the 89th FS, They all had skulls painted on them and no two were alike, I sat down and frehanded one till I got it the right size and as I wanted it , then cut it out like a stencil, and basicly free handsed the detail after the white had set up properly,,,

Started on the dry transfers, national insignias and decals...

Well, thats about all I have pictures of at the moment... More later!

Thanks

Doug 

many thanks.

joe

Joe... Excellent! That is going to be one awesome build.

well my friends we have an update. 


we have paint. the od is lifecolor od 41 and the neutral grey is vallejo neutral grey. they are both sprayed and this time they actually look decent to me. i love the od. it may lose the effect but there is kind of a dusty faded look to it.

pictures.








so there we are. gonna be a split strategy at this point. i need to get clear on for decalling and a bit of subtle weathering and washes. i also need to play a bit with the small details. started on the gear doors and finishing up the flaps. i plan to hand paint the flaps to give them a different texture. 

onward and upward.




comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



joe

Those are some nice looking kits.

I have the basic bird together and primed and sanded since its going to be  black and my first preshadowing job I'm really going to have to play with different shades of black to make it work.

Excellent paint job, Doug!

OK friends... Got some more done ...

Got the wings assy, and mounted.

For some reason the primered picture wont come up , but shes primered, and the base coat of silver is applied...

And the OD coat is on...

Starting to do the accent and weathering process... Thats all for now, But, WOO HOO... A long weekend coming up! Lots of bench time!!! Take care...

Doug 

thank you to all for the kind words.

got to get going on this. i want to be in position to begin my pearl build in july.

joe