AIRCRAFT - On The Warpath: The Curtiss P-40

QUOTE: Originally posted by Quagmyre Wolf - Are you going to update the Duty Roster?

'Tis done...

All who are involved, please check the duty roster and make sure the info is correct. Also, if you haven't chimed in with your specific build subject, please do...


Fade to Black...

oh so close to the beginning. oh so far away.



joe

Sorry for the late notice, But I need to change mine from the Monogram P-40B to the Academy P-40M/N in 1/72. I too am looking forward to the start of this one. (What am I saying?? I have to many GBs going at the moment)

Well, the day is here folks...

Here's my first 'official' piece for this GB, a Mauve P-40N. Haven't yet decided what this one is going to be... perhaps an 80th FG ship.



So far I've put in the sidewalls and done the splitter and radiator assembly. This latter is going to be a bit of a problem as there are no guides of any sort to help in correctly placing the splitter onto the radiator piece. You gotta eyeball it...

Also, the intake itself has a problem or three and should be cut out a bit. However, the splitter doesn't meet the inside edges of the existing opening too well. So I'll have to think this over... but hey, I'm a modeler and I can deal with it...

I've also begun to do a bit of work on the cockpit floor. I've added a depression down the centerline of the floor. Next will be to add some links for the control stick as well as other misc details.

I'm sizing up the spinner; it's bulged and way too pointy so I'll have to do some sanding to 'flatten' it out. I had a bit of practice for this task... the AMT P-40N which I hacked at as a warmup for this GB has a similarly mis-shapen spinner. I won't be able to get it exactly correct, but hopefully I'll capture the right 'look'. I'll try and get some pictures of that project in here as well.

By the way, all that resin and brass lyin' around is for a P-40N, although I probably won't actually be using much of it here. I've decided to do a bit of detailing on this model and the extra fixins will serve as 'patterns' for scratchbuilding. I'll probably only use a resin seat, possibly wheels and maybe a vac canopy. I hate vacs, so we'll see how that goes...

More to come...

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Roadkill, no prob on the switch, I'll change the info on the duty roster tomorrow.

I'm still working on the website and will add some specific reference for some of those who've said what subject(s) they're building.


Fade to Black...

Looks like a good start Steve. I started removing a few parts from the sprues this morning. I've got a couple of other builds to finish up, but I'll try & squeeze some work in on this one. Just saw that Ultracast has released some resin exhausts for the Hasegawa E & they look sweet. May place an order .

I plan on doing Maj. John Chennault's P-40E from the 343rd FG, Aleutian Islands, 1943. My only question is on the color of the spinner. I've seen it depicted as white, yellow & OD. Anyone know for sure which is correct ?

Regards, Rick

I started the painting of the True Details cockpits for my two Academy hawks. I tell ya. For under 5 bucks a throw, you get some sweet detail. I just might have to build more stuff in 72nd. I'll post pics as soon as I get to a full functional computer.

QUOTE: Originally posted by rjkplasticmod I plan on doing Maj. John Chennault's P-40E from the 343rd FG, Aleutian Islands, 1943. My only question is on the color of the spinner. I've seen it depicted as white, yellow & OD. Anyone know for sure which is correct ?

Rick, although I can't recall seeing a photograph of Maj. Chennault's assigned plane, every color photograph I've seen of 11 FS, 343 FG P-40s that have the Bengal Tiger have a yellow spinner.

Mark

I've a few color shots of 343rd FG Hawks to put on the website. I'm hoping to finish up my dustin' and cleanin' and get things added today.


Fade to Black...

this is going to be a blast. with both the blacksheep and the p-40 build going i am going to be busy this month but hey if it were easy......................


hope to begin the carving tonight.



joe

I've started on my AMtech p-40E with a True Details resin cockpit, It's a Tex Hill special kit, so I'll be doing his plane as it was on the Salween raid.

I'll be in this I have an Acadamy 1:72 P40 N/M but I need to get my hands on the Academy P40E as I want to build a specific aircraft from 75 Sqn RAAF 1942, although I may not be able to finish it on time but I'll give it my best shot.

ok what have i done. i am working the revell/monogram 1/48 p-40b. although it lacks the details it is a good overall shape. i am planning some major reconstruction on this one. so here we go.


first thing to do is show the kit as it was out of the box.



notice how bland this looks. just wont do for what i want. so i took my trusty exacto and went to work. i cut the flaps, the rudder, and the nose. now this is what it ended up as.



tonight i finished all the cutting i had planned. next up. the pit.


joe

Well got a lot of work done on the old AMT/Etrl P-40E. I must say that I am liking Tenax 7R. I am the regular model and super glue person, but this stuff is amazing. The reason I am doing the AMT kit first is to get back in the hang of actually building a kit, instead of collecting it. Well without further ado here are some pix.

Blackwolf - That's a great looking kit. I wish I would have picked it up when they had one in my LHS. I want to build all the variants of the P-40. I don't know if my fiancee would like that to much .

Joe - Great looking start on your revellogram B. Can't wait to see more.

bryan that looks awesome



joe

Joe, Bryan, Looks like good progress is being made.

Regards, Rick

Shame of it is that I probally won't be able to get back to working on it till Wed or Thursday, due to Softball and baseball game. Oh well I might be able to squeeze in some time.

Joe, looks like you have some heavy duty detailing planned for this kit...

Bryan, you're progressing rather quickly! That Tenax is great stuff isn't it? Some folks don't like it but I think it's the cat's meow. The only thing better was the original Micro Weld, but they switched to a different formula which smelled really nice (I'm a citrus kinda guy...) but it worked like... I'll be kind and call it garbage...

Anyhoo, I'm glad to see some work being done on plastic!


Slowly I'm adding stuff to the website for those who are building specific subjects. I'm in the middle of processing a buncha images of 343rd FG Hawks for Rick and I'll tackle the 49th FG next. Justen, I'm trying to find some overall shots of 'O'Riley's Daughter' but all I have at the moment is a shot of the nose art.

I also have a few shots of the Napier Field Hawks for Quag.

Tex Hill's Hawks are proving troublesome for me. I have one crappy shot of a P-40E he is said to have flown but that's all so far. However I have a sh*tload of printed material to go through and I have to believe that there's at least one shot of one of Tex's P-40s in there somewhere...

For those who've expressed doubts as to their participation due to time constraints, this GB will be going for quite awhile I think. At least until the end of the year...

More later and keep it coming guys!


Fade to Black...

Hey Steve-O I would like to jump in on this GB if possible. I ordered the Eduards P-40M Profi-pak.....I am not sure of the markings yet, but may be leaning towards soviet just to shake things up a bit.

The only thing that I don't like about the old AMT/Esci kit is the cockpit. There is some good detail, just the placement could be better.

One of the kits that I am really looking forward to is the XP-40Q from AMTech. Just wish they would hurry up and release it.

QUOTE: I'll tackle the 49th FG next. Justen, I'm trying to find some overall shots of 'O'Riley's Daughter' but all I have at the moment is a shot of the nose art.

Thanks in advance, Steve. I really appreciate the help!

I have just finished my Academy 1/72 P-40B in the markings of Charles Older of the A.V.G. 3rd Pursuit Squadron. I am not at all pleased with the end result, probably because I was in too much of a hurry. The brown is not the right shade and the overall paint job is really poor.
I did drill out the two .50 calibre machine guns and air intake on the cowl, as well as each of the 12 exhaust stubs. I added a few details to a very sparse cockpit and otherwise it is pretty much OOB. I probably need to add a mist coat of light yellow and do some chipping, weathering, to get rid of the "brand new" look. ? ? ? ? ?

Darwin, O.F.

I think that you did a good job on your build. I too am never pleased with my builds, but one always finds things that they should have done different.

Looks pretty good Yardbird. A little weathering wouldn't hurt. That's not a bad little kit, considering Academy copied it from the old Frog molds & added some recessed panel lines & a little more detail.

Regards, Rick

a little more progress from me. the pit is done and attached. this is a scratchbuild/pe pit with just a couple of kit pieces thrown in.








now on to the engine. first up is the braces for the engine mounts.



next up is to detail this resin engine.





joe

Looking good Joe. Can't wait to get back to my build.

Looking good Joe. Your'e moving fast on this one.

Regards, Rick

Geez, Louise...

One's done and another is well on the way. Wish I could work that fast. Well, I suppose I could but I'm never satisfied when I take my time!

Kik, I'll add you to the duty roster soonly...

Darwin... make that Hawk look like it's been to hell and back! They definitely didn't get cleaner as time went on...

I'm off to relax with a model after a night of watching my Sis' rugrats...


Fade to Black...

Well got some more sanding done last nite. Now I have to rescribe some lines. Anybody have a better idea on what to use than the awkward rescribing tool that I have?

Man you guys are onto a fast start on this one. Joe, very nice looking cockpit.