Monogram Mafia IV Group Build

For the Don's consideration, I have a Beech Staggerwing kit from AMT that was slipped to me for deep discount at the LHS. Round2 reissue.

I've been working on 30s aircraft, might be fun.

Thank you 68.

The P-40 is looking real nice Stik

Flat coat airbrushed on today... 

Now I just need to add the final parts and weathering....

Thank you sir. I intend to have this all wrapped up by the end of the week... so close now!

It's really looking good Stick

I’ve been working on the final touches on this project. On Sunday I added the propeller, main landing gear struts, belly tank, and a strip of tissue paper in the tail wheel well to represent the canvas boot many P-40s had in there... and cover up the seam... I took these photos yesterday

This morning before work I painted the tires and tail wheel well boot... but no photos yet. All ready for the final bits now...

Sounds good Tony! We can both post some updates this weekend.

Thanks Stik. I'll take that liberty. I've progressed on the cleanup of parts, but still no paint. Maybe this weekend.

Cheers

Tony

No worries about the deadline Tony. Mine is now 19 days past due. Life happens. Not that I show off GB badges anymore anyways.

Just build your project and share your work with us here, whether you’re on deadline or not. 

Apologies for not commenting on the models in your posts, I can't open the links when I'm at work. I'll have another look from home later.

I've realised that I'm only a couple of weeks out from the deadline for my 2nd build, so I've started the other Monogram Ultimates 1/43 kit, the 1967 Corvette. The body is ready to prime.

Cheers

Tony

Lots of little progress bits this weeeknd pushing me close to the finish line

All sub assemblies and parts painted except for the tires...

Then I began panel line washes on the upper and lower surfaces

And lastly I glued the exhausts to the engine access panels, and glued those into place...

Getting closer now...

Thanks SB. I knew of the 57th FG when I started this project, but the research led me to know about them. Very enlightening and inspiring to learn about this group and their role in 1942 when all hung in the balance. 

Thank you Bob. I think that the solid sand desert scheme is the most attractive one that the P-40 wore.

Looks good Stik-especially on the desert scheme paint

MC, I agree. I think that the artist took some liberties off that photo. 

Anyways, back to my 57th FG P-40F... I found a better scan job of the reference photo of “offset” 53, and let’s just say, there just might be traces of a yellow serial number obscured under dust... after all look at the blue of the star on the fuselage. So I opted to add the serial number in some very old decals that I had in my stash. Thank goodness for Microscale Decal Film to revive them... they are at least 40 years old. So I did them as if the tri color flash covered one half on each side... serial number 41 13921. On most USAAF aircraft the first digit of the number was omitted when they were painted on the tail.

And in B&W to show the low contrast between the base color and the yellow serial

I also decided to add the name on the cowling... as well as the aircraft info stencil taken from a sheet in my spares...

and the propellor blade stencil info  from that same sheet...

more to come in a day or two...

Quite the research Stick. I don't see any demarcation line for the light gray underside in either photo like is shown on the decal instructions. Admittedly the upper photo is hard to tell.

And now for another semi long explanatory post on the markings...

The kit decals appear to be based off of this profile

which appears to be based off of this photo, 

which both came from a book that is nearly as old as I am. Now in the photo, the spinner is not visible, but I would say highly improbable. Mainly for the reasons that I stated in my previous post, and also because white was the Axis theater ID color used on their fighters at that time in North Africa. Also, the black serial number on the rudder is not visible in the photo. Although it is possible for a yellow one to be there, but obscured by dust. Now as far as a name on the engine access panel, maybe yes, maybe no, based off of the photo. I checked on Joe Baughers website, and for the serial number given, that airframe was not written off until 1944. So I surmise that it would have recieved the red spinner, and later the RAF trio color fin flash. Now I did find a couple other photos of a 57th FG P-40 coded 53 that did have those ID markings. BUT... I believe it is a different airframe due to the difference in placement of the 3 and the condition of the fuselage stars between the two. My assessment is that the second photo is a replacement aircraft later in the campaign, or has had a major repair in the tail area (less likely).

Anyways, I opted to mark mine as the top photo aircraft, with the offset 3, but with markings as it should have looked later in the campaign.

I am still pondering whether or not if I should add the name and some yellow serial numbers...

MC and CB, thank you. But it has a ways to go yet...

Well last nite after work I began to apply decals. Now before we get to showing any of that, let me explain what’s ahead with the markings and how I got there. I am making a P-40F from the 57th Fighter Group in the Western Desert in late summer/autumn of 1942. The 57th received new P-40Fs that had the topside OD covered in Desert Sand/Desert Pink at the factory. The spinner was also Sand at this time. Markings were minimal when they were loaded aboard USS Ranger for shipment to Africa. Stars in the four position, US ARMY on the undersurface of the wings, red plane in group numbers on the sides of the chin scoop, and yellow serial numbers on the tail. A few aircraft had names on the nose and/or artwork on the rudder.

After launching from Ranger off West Africa, then flying in hops until they arrived in Palestine to begin training with the RAF before entering combat, they still had this appearance. Prior to beginning combat orientation flights with the RAF, theater ID markings such as the Red spinner, as were larger white plane in group numbers added straddling the fuselage stars. The original nose plane in group numbers appear to have been painted over

Later, an RAF style red, white, and blue fin flash was added

so now you have an idea of where I’m heading and why...

But for now, the lower surface star and US ARMY

I applied most of the rest of the markings today before work, but I did not have time to take photos, so you’ll have to wait for those till morning...

Looks fabulous Stik! 

Looks great Stick

Well, my days off were filled with things that kept me from my work bench as much as I preferred. I did get my final touch ups of the Desert Pink/Neutral Gray right finally. And I mixed up the red for the spinner, plus painting the propeller blades first the yellow, then masking the tips for the black... lastly I airbrushed on a coat of Future. But I think that upper surfaces need another dose before I apply decals...

But the OD is only a base coat for the Desert Pink. Which I airbrushed on this morning. Warm air temps and low humidity made the surface a bit on the gritty side, but overall I think that it looks just right. 

I need to go back now and touch up the demarcation lines with Neutral Gray. The Tamiya pigments are more fine, so I can get a tighter line and spray pattern. Especially if I dial down the air pressure. 

Now that it has dropped down into the mid 80’s, after topping out at around 105* or so, I was able to get in another airbrush session. 5 parts Tamiya OD to 2 parts Tamiya Khaki, thinned with lacquer thinner.

I’ll let this dry and cure overnite, and hopefully tomorrow do a topcoat of the Polly S Desert Pink over the OD. It’s supposed to be about 10* cooler tomorrow and should not break 100*

MC, you can see where I dinged up the edges of the #2 stack on each side. But not too badly... it always happens. For this reason for me, AM seats and Exhausts are a good investment...  

Nice job on the stacks Stick. I can't get that thin without drilling through the sides.

Well, today was detail work in preparation for painting. I masked off the canopy parts and then glued them into place

Then I drilled out the exhaust stacks...

and then some more drill work on the gun muzzles

and that was it for now... the air temperature in my work area was approaching 100*, so it was time to go into the house where it is cooler... perhaps this evening I can get some paint on when it cools down and the sun sets...

Bob, thank you.

MC, I would do some serious harm to get some more of the Floquil blacks,,, faded, scale, etc... 

Here's what's left of my little solders.