AIRCRAFT - On The Warpath: The Curtiss P-40

You guys are making some nice progress! And Joe, you are a building machine! How about another P-40 since we're still early in the build?

I posted some pics of a P-40 I just completed (for the most part) in the plane forum. Couldn't really consider it part of the Group Build because I started it in January! Anyways, I noticed the colors seemed a bit off on some pics (A salmon/pink fuel cap!?[:0]), so I took some more in the sunny outdoors. I'll just post them here.

I tried a few new techniques, and am hoping for any suggestions, either things to do more, better, or different, from you guys! Well, here goes:




Mark

Man, two done already... I can't go that fast... Joe what do you mean by the tail is wrong? You talking about the control surfaces?


I'm off to the Falls now to hang with Mike (Butz) at the shop and then for some eats and maybe some modeling. Probably mostly be a bull session, but I may try to paint something while I'm there...

Haven't added anything to the GB page on the site in the last day or so, but I've been adding a few things to other parts of the site, mostly the 'Survivors' section. There's a few pictures of a really cool almost totally original RCAF P-40 with a link to even more shots as well as a few other things.

Check it out at the The Hawk's Nest

I promise to get those 49th FG photos up before the weekend is out...


Fade to Black...

Looks good Joe. Would look great if you had of taken a bit more time with it, but it looks fine none-the-less. Thanks for sharing.

I might start working on my P-40N this week. Depends on how my FW-190 that I want to get finished by the end of the week is going. If I don't start this week, it'll definitely be the next week.

Joe she looks good!! I can see what you mean by rushed, but if you learn something new, I call it a great build!! Honestly I don't know how you did it....I swear I just started mine last week...lol

hey steve i still did the tail wrong. doggone it. but i can fix it easy enough.



joe

V. A. Looking forward to the pics.

Joe, does look a tad rushed, but overall a pretty good build.

Regards, Rick

hey gang. i finished this one. i am not overly happy with my results. much of it looks rushed. but i do call it finished. i learned alot.





steve thanks my friend.


joe

Well After alot of tooth grinding, four letter words, and crying, It is finally done, and hope to post pics this weekend but if I don't hopefully ill be able to pst next week end. This kit was a beast for me because of all the paint problems I have been having. When I show the pics I dont want any of you to laugh at it. But all in all it was a fun kit. The second time i have built the Monogram P-40B

I have purchased another P-40B and will be getting a resin cockpit for it but will scratch everything else. Still not shure of what the subject will be but it is going to be part of my pacific heros line of models depicting the early days of 1942.

The skies the limit,

V.A.

future definitely deepen colors, and thus subtle faded weathering effects are often lost. Learned that hte hard way.

I used model master dull. I think the effect depended on the satiny finish of the paint "in the raw." I used future, and that's where the effect probably was first lost. Everything kind of darkens and looks different under a coat of Future, so I guess I just assumed that it would straighen out when I hit it with flat. I was wrong. But it still looked decent.

I wonder why the dullcoat would reduce the effect. What dull were you using? Did you have a coat of future on the bird before your dull coat? I will definately try some pre-shading on this bird and see if I can't learn a thing or two...lol

Kik, I can't wait to see some pics!

Straight black is the way to go. I have even used a railroad color called Steam Power black (Polly S I think) that has almost a patina finish to it. The effect was awesome. It looked just like painted aluminum after I got the greens down. But then I sealed the deal with clear flat and completely lost the effect. Further research is required.

Good luck!

Great looking job so far joe. Steve I will try to get some pics up tonite when I get home to see what everyone thinks.

Thanks for all of your kind comments guys!!

Joe you are almost done....where the hell do you get all the time?!

Steve-O that is an awesome build for a 13 year old. I built (hahahah "built") a P-38 Monogram (or Revell I get em confused) when I was about that age and I painted it with those little bottle of Testor's paints....with a brush.....Silver Chrome....yeah, if we go dig that one up out of the land fill, I gurantee that paint will still be wet...lol

LOL no worries Hannaman, I was just curious if it was scotch tape, no need to be embarassed!! LOL I have heard of people having problems with scotch tape bleeding, just so you know, but if it works for you.......There it is!!!! LOL I appreciate your explanation of the paints. I always try to learn at least one new technique on every build, so for this one I will try a pre-shade. Do you just paint black for a pre-shade? I can't wait to see everyone's finished products, and wish my future would dry faster!!!

Looks pretty good Joe. Thanks for the post.

Regards, Rick

more pics from me. the underside decal has been hit wil decal solvent and is now snugged down. the star that is aligned with the ground has also been fixed.









joe

Steve, Nice update on the GB page. I like the chalk board rosters. I've started on my Amtech P-40E with True Details Cockpit. Pictures soon.

Heath, cockpit is looking good so far. Keep us posted.

Regards, Rick

QUOTE: Originally posted by kik36 Hannaman they are looking great!! I do have a few questions for ya. Does pre-shading eliminate the need for doing a wash in the panel lines? When you pre-shade, do you paint your top coats lighter than you would if you were to wash the panel lines? And what did you use to mask your cockpit, is that a piece of scotch tape? I just like to know different techniques, and have been interested in trying some pre-shading.

Thanks! I still use a panel wash after I decal. It's usually a mild one, however. I usually use three to five progressively lighter shades of the base color on different places on the plane, keeping the lightest shades for the panels that would see the most sun on the real deal. I find that the trick to pre-shading is to use it with other techniques. Get 'em all working together and you can turn plain old OD green into something fairly interesting realistic. Its all about that touch of subtlety.
And, yes that is scotch tape. It does the job. I use that stuff for almost everything. (How embarrassing.)

BTW, that cockpit of yours looks good. Can't wait to see more!

Justen and Kik, looking good guys!

QUOTE: Originally posted by falcon039 Blackwolf - Thanks for the pic. I can't wait to get to the painting portion of the build. Right now I am trying to fix the problem with the wing to fuselage fit right now.

What exactly is the problem?

Also, I've just picked up a book with a better profile of your subject and I'll scan it as soon as I can...

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QUOTE: Originally posted by Mark Joyce Here's a link that might be of interest to someone building a P-40E: http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/meteor/cresswell.shtml

Not to steal your thunder but... the same article can be found on Hyperscale...

P-40E-1-CU A29-113

It's the exact same article, but the photos are larger and they are bee-yoots!

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Here's a new walkaround of what is probably the world's only 'stock' P-40. By 'stock' I mean that it is pretty much all original with little to no restoration work at all... it's simply been kept in excellent condition over the years by a dedicated family.

This walkaround is a godsend for me, as I've been looking for good quality photos of this particular Hawk since I first heard about it.

George Maude's P-40E

I've also added a link to the website and am negotiating with the fella to include a few of these photos in the 'Survivors' section of the site...

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Speaking of the site... I've updated the GB gallery...

I've also added to the general model gallery a few old pictures of a P-40 I built back when I was about 13 or 14. I'm going to be posting them over in the aircraft forum but I'll also drop 'em here...

Don't laugh too hard folks!







More later!


Fade to Black...

heath looks very good to me.



joe

Hannaman they are looking great!! I do have a few questions for ya. Does pre-shading eliminate the need for doing a wash in the panel lines? When you pre-shade, do you paint your top coats lighter than you would if you were to wash the panel lines? And what did you use to mask your cockpit, is that a piece of scotch tape? I just like to know different techniques, and have been interested in trying some pre-shading.

Joe those are nicely built landing gear!! Your build is flying.....lol no pun intended!

Welcome to the group Pix!!! Come on in, the compressor is pumpin'!

Here is what I got on the sides so far.....just a couple tiny touch-ups, and then I will do a wash on 'em. I have found that the panel is actually pretty dull.....not much going on color wise on the real plane, so I decided to stick with that as closely as possible. I did paint some hydro lines in the wheel bays, but it really isn't that thrilling to look at...lol I am testing out a new weathering idea on some scratch plastic before I paint the cockpit seat and floor. If it works out, I will let you know what I did, otherwise it might not be worth explaining yet. I like to paint a bunch of things at once when I am spraying a color, so don't mind the steering wheel, she was just along for the ride!!

The preshading came out looking nice, Justen!

Here's a link that might be of interest to someone building a P-40E:

http://www.cybermodeler.com/history/meteor/cresswell.shtml

I know I'll be building it one day!

Mark

Looking good Hannaman. Keep us posted.

Regards, Rick

looks very good from my desk. great paint work.



joe

Okay, I was able to fire up the airbrush and get my girls wet! Here's the first early stages of paint.

Welcome aboard Pix. You'll love the Hassie P-40E.

Regards, Rick

Joe - Your moving along nicely on your build, wish I could be.

Blackwolf - Thanks for the pic. I can't wait to get to the painting portion of the build. Right now I am trying to fix the problem with the wing to fuselage fit right now.

You're good to go Pix!


Fade to Black...

Hey Steve-O !

I just ordered one of the new 1/48 Hasegawa P-40E kits. It will probably get here in a week or so. Even with a late start, I'm sure I could make the deadline.
Did I make it in time to join?