80 Years of Airfix GB

In my research on the P-40, the wheel wells of the B model were canvas lined, probably an olive green / tan color.  Later C models did not have the canvas lining anymore and were zinc chromate.

The blue on the bare aluminum is likely due to lighting in the factory. As far as colors of paint go, theoretically, aircraft purchased by a foreign country would be painted to that country's specifications. Theoretically, again, RAF colors could be used in the cockpit and other interior areas. All the aircraft in this photo sequence appear to end up in OD and Neutral Gray, so this is not the last word on the RAF colors. Once Lend Lease kicked in that went out the window to speed up the production process and any changes were made by the user.

Looks like I'll be going with Zinc Chromate then. I assume the british would have no reason to repaint that section. 

Side note- It's really interesting how blue the aluminium part of those wings are. Was that some kind of protective coating, or just some funky lighting/coloring thing?

-TWA

One more...

Another shot from the same series of photos

TheWaggishAmerican

 

On topic: Does anyone happen to know what the correct color for wheel wells is on the P-40B/Tomahawk? My basic interwebs scanning hasn't turned anything up and I haven't found any model pics showing or talking about the underside. In lieu of any other information, I was just going to assume they were kept the Curtiss factory interior green/zinc chromate thing. 

 

Thanks

-TWA

 

Here is an original color photo from Life magazine of P-40 B/C production in late 1941 or so. Inside the wheel well appears to be interior green, while adjacent areas are green zinc chromate and bare metal.

Hey, TWA! I've been wanting to add the Airfix P-40B to my stash and now I know why. It looks like a terrific kit. The work you are doing on it is top-notch. My cockpits never look that good, which is why I always close the canopy. BTW: When I did my AMT P-40N last year my research show equally the wheel wells painted green chromate or interior green. I did the wheel wells on mine with green chromate.

Y'all, I don't have any pictures today but I've closed up everything on my Boeing Clipper: the wings, the fuselage, the horizontals, and the sponsons. After Bondo-ing the seams that needed it, sanding and polishing the Bondo, I painted on some Tamiya surface primer. I'm taking the kit to our club's bi-monthly hobby shop build day tomorrow where I'll sand and polish the Tamiya primer. Which reminds me, I need to go by Sally Beauty and buy a bunch of emory boards. I've used mine all up. I'll have some more pictures next week when I have the wings and horizontals mated to the fuselage.

Bish

Sleep, who needs sleep.

 

Moving right along there TWA, looking good.

Sleep, who needs sleep.

castelnuovo

May I join with Airfix Ju-87B-1 in 1/48?

 

You want to enter a Stuka and you think you have to ask . Alkways a pleasure castel.

Started the office tonight since I'm waiting to do paint work on the Windicator for the SSGB.

I've only had a day or two since I got away from family and before I have to go back to school and travel for work, but I've been absolutely flying through my P-40 in that time. 

In three days, I've gone from a box with nothing more done than parts being cut off the sprue to already spraying the first base color. 

Control Panel. Decals on a flat surface. Guns are flat black with pencil lead gound up and rubbed on to simulate gunmetal. Rudder pedals have been painted, given a brown wash, and later chipping effects.

The sidewalls were dealt with in the same manner. This is them painted, detailed, and drybrushed with light grey,

and this is a sidewall after recieving a brown wash. 

This is the cockpit tub, again after painting/detailing but before a wash. I made the lap belt from a double layer of tamiya tape wish was then superglued into place at the ends and painted with various flesh tones. 

Post wash. The shoulder straps will be added after the fuselage is assempled and probably after it's painted, since the straps connect to the rear bulkhead. 

Last shot of the cockpit before I began working on the airframe. Scratching was just a silver paint with a small brush. I made a pigment with a few different shades of orange and yellow and brown. It's a bit too dark, but I couldn't find my Tamiya weathering sets so it'll have to do. You can't really see it anyway- the canopy cannot be posed open, so visibility is going to be fairly limited. 

Airframe before assembly. 

After assembly, SIGNIFICANT putty work around the nose and right wing root, rescribing, and primer, I hit it with some very shaky preshading. 

And those are all the pics I've got now. I've just finished painting the Sky underbelly and spinner among a whirlwind of painting which included a Tamiya f4f and spitfire, and two special hobbies projects. I've got to give my airbrush and my hand a break, sleep for a couple of hours this morning, and get back at it later. 

Hoping to have it gloss coated by the end of the day today. 

-TWA

Good to see all you guys under way. I'll be cheering y'all on from afar for a while.

May I join with Airfix Ju-87B-1 in 1/48?

I shall add to my evilness by adding another Spit. This will be the Mk.I/II kit done as a prewar bird with the flat canopy and two bladed prop. Don't worry, I'll even it out with something other than a Spit (I think it's my last one in an Airfix boxing). I have an unbuilt 110C in the stash and have been looking for Stuka B.1. I know I had a canopy mask for the 110, but I'm not sure I put it in the kit box. I know if I find the Stuka I'll be ordering one.

I know the feeling Das. My last couple of builds i have been doing 2 at the same time and i find that a challenge.

Here's my kit. 1/48 Hurricane Trop. I have 2 projects to finish and should start on it in a few days. Just don't have the skills to juggle more than 2 kits!!!

Good to see you up and running AA.

The Mustang, primed and interior coat of Zinc Chromate Green applied:

That makes sense it being in the BoB movie. I was thinking maybe the more recent Dunkirk movie, but i checked that and it wasn't.

Got you on the roster.

Evil man? I try Bish, I try. Not very hard mind you, but I do try.  I figured I'd sort of get back in your good graces with the 109. One of the benefits of working a slow overnight shift is that one can answer his own questions at times. I googled DW*K and found out that those codes were used on at least two different aircraft (both shot down) and appeared in the movie Battle of Britain. Kind of answers the question I guess. Since I already have a Tamiya Spit with those markings, I'll be pulling one off the Xtradecals BoB sheet. Scale will be 1/72 as usual.

lewbud

Bish,

I was only kinda sorta joking about the Spitfire Mk.1a over in the Eye in the Sky GB. Put me down for it and the Me-109E4 out of the Dogfight doubles kit. I'm still working up the guts to pull the trigger on Taichiro Yamashita's blueprints and the Draw Decals set for converting my 1/24 P-51D into RB-51, the Red Baron. Can anybody tell me why the DW*K markings have become so popular recently? I think I've seen them on three or four new Spitfire releases from Tamiya and Airfix in various scales.

 

I had not seen that post, you evil man you. But at least you have a 109 to balance it out.

Not sure why those markings are so popular. I know those early war codes do stand out, but there is plenty to choose from. I don't think DW K was flown by anyone really famous, there do seem to be quite a few photos of it though.

knox

Bish,  I would like to join this group build but I need to wait until I can post pictures again. I was using  postimage and suddenly I could not log in.  Nothing has worked so I’m back to finding a new host.  We’re not a big picture family so it’s just for forum use.  

 

Will be glad to have you on board knox. let me know what your building when your ready and will add you to the roster.

Bish,

I was only kinda sorta joking about the Spitfire Mk.1a over in the Eye in the Sky GB. Put me down for it and the Me-109E4 out of the Dogfight doubles kit. I'm still working up the guts to pull the trigger on Taichiro Yamashita's blueprints and the Draw Decals set for converting my 1/24 P-51D into RB-51, the Red Baron. Can anybody tell me why the DW*K markings have become so popular recently? I think I've seen them on three or four new Spitfire releases from Tamiya and Airfix in various scales.

There sure is some rather impressive work going on here already.

kensar: Stunning work on the cockpit of the P-40. I just recently picked that kit and I'm interested to watch you build it up.

Checkmate: Thanks. Yup, love having cats around. Sound tip on installing horizontal stabilizers. I'll put that one to use.

Steve: Boy! You are moving right along at a pace I can only dream of. The progress you've made on tha Blenheim is looking really nice. Seems the multi piece fuselage is going together well.

Mark: The Omnibus kit is choice. That will be a lot of fun to watch you build.

Svenne: What can I say? That Typhoon is going to be epic. 

Real G: Nice to see someone doing figures for their aircraft. They look good. Like the extra work to enhance the details on the intakes. They look much better and worth the effort.

Frank: Bravo on the patience to get all the windows in. I'm sure the same perseverence will be required for the masking. I faith in you. Overall the Clipper is coming along nicely. Great work.

Yeah, I keep old tube of Testors on the bench also. Hey, there are just some days when a little extra something is required to cope.

Impressive work, G and Frank.

I still keep tube Testors around; it has its uses even in the modern age.

The copyright on this Clipper kit is 1964. If I was building when it was new, I'd be sticking it together with this stuff:

I didn't discover liquid cement until about 1970.

Bish,  I would like to join this group build but I need to wait until I can post pictures again. I was using  postimage and suddenly I could not log in.  Nothing has worked so I’m back to finding a new host.  We’re not a big picture family so it’s just for forum use.  

I'm surprised at how quickly this little kit is coming together.

Don't blame you for not tapeing, either of those sound slike a god idea, at that scale i doubt anyone would notice the windows are painted.