P-39 Airacobra Group Build

Unfortunately I have not been able to start for this GB yet but will be soon I hope.

Welcome to the build MPH34.... you are on the 1st page now too, and will be on the web page soon.

As far as perfect paint matches.... I doubt that will ever happen... or even be agreed on.  This can easily turn into the age old "correct paint color/shade" discussion that has been going on for a long time and will continue to do so.  Remember that when viewing a printed photo of a real a/c of paint sample.... you are viewing a printer's ink version of that color.  The ink, just like the real paint, will be have variations from batch to batch.  And a color sample on your monitor may be skewed by the color adjustment.  ALL colors will look different depending on what is around it too. So the best we can do is get close... and to use what we personally feel looks as right as we can get it.

The 1^st pic here is on a Bell P-59 nose gear painted with MM FS 34092 and just a little black dry brush.

And these are the same paint with varied degrees of an acrylic burnt sienna/gray wash, and then dry brushed with straight FS 34092.

I have started mine the hasegawa kit is another good kit pretty detailed for just plastic, but I think my interior color is a little light, but we'll see how it turns out.  build away!

Gents, to throw another log on the interior color fire, here's a few of mine with the Euro green I referenced earlier:

First two without flash, next one with:

Mucker, Detail and Scale unfortunately gives no specific callout for Bell green, simply calling it "Bell Green color" throughout the book.  I'll try to find the other reference I found, think it was an internet site.  D&S book, though, has some nice color photos of a nicely restored P-39Q and P-63A that are supposedly very accurate.  Even in these photos, the paint looks different depending on lighting and distance from the camera.  In areas of lower light, the Bell green in the photos is pretty close to the Euro green, though I won't stake my life on it.  I am having second thoughts about it being too dark, but if I ignore my doubts, I'm sure it will pass!  In my opinion,though, I wouldn't sweat the exact shade too much.  These planes were beat up so bad in operations that you could hard weather just about any shade of green and be justified in calling it right! (though I think I'll see where this discussion settles in case I'm wrong and need to repaint )  I'm finding with the P-400s, color references are hard to nail down.  For exterior colors, I've found everything from standard RAF Dark Earth/Dark Green, "Bell's interpretation" of RAF Dark Earth/Dark Green, and Sand and Spinach, whatever that is.  Most photos are black and white, and even the occasional color ones are suspect because of color shift over time.

Dave, I'd be very interested to see your green, though.  Post some pics if you can.  These kind of discussions are what make group builds a great learning experience.

MPH34, Welcome!  Should be a fun build.

Hi all, I didn't want anyone to think I was not in on this build. I still be to get my Eduard 1/48 P-39. I hope by the end of Jan I will have it. I have till Sep to get it done so I have a lot of time 

I think by the time I get the kit most of you if not all will have yours done

Will keep y'll updated

Have a GREAT Night

Bud

mucker wrote:

This would be a good thread to practice picture posting on. There are many ways to post pics, but I've had good luck with photobucket.com. once you get your pictures posted on that website, you simply copy and paste the URL box under each picture in your Finescale post and the job's done

Just be sure to copy the 3rd (bottom) link and paste that one into your post. 

This would be a good thread to practice picture posting on. There are many ways to post pics, but I've had good luck with photobucket.com. once you get your pictures posted on that website, you simply copy and paste the URL box under each picture in your Finescale post and the job's done

Well I will try to get you a pic, I have never posted a pic before as i just really got everything i need to do so. So I need to learn how to post a pic first. I guess I need to learn anyway so i can post pics of my build.

P.S. I think we should ban Hawxboss from this thread, he wont like it anyway.

Jeff:

Now I'm stuck with naked plastic! I don;t have the Detail and Scale (unfortunately), and the reference I used (IPMS Stockholm) is wishy washy between "Medium Green" (FS34092) and "Bronze Green" (FS34052). Since I have the FS34092 already, I am hoping to use it, but not if it's incorrect. Does the Scale and Detail stand firm that FS34092 is the "stone cold lock" for Bell Green?

The AM kit is indeed with Eduard kit...very nice kit. It comes with the masks, but unfortunately no nose weight oe PE. I can do without the PE, but the nose weight would have helped. I'm sure I'll find something heavy enough to use.

I will attempt to keep one door open and one closed. I read a review stating that the pilot obstructs the view of the nice detail inside, so I will forego the pilot as well.

Thanks for the info.

Mucker,

I'm using Model Master 1764 Euro Dark Green (FS 34092).  It definitely has the blue tint to it and compares pretty well with some color pics in Detail & Scale P-39.  I shot it on my interior and landing gear pieces a little while ago.  It looks a little darker than I expected at first glance on the plastic, but the lighting in my work area is horrible.  This color was recommended to me by Marc, and I found another reference that also compared it to the Bell green, though I can't remember the source.  Regardless, its on the plastic, and I'm pressing on!  I'll try to post a few pics as soon as I get something pictureworthy together.

As far as glueing pieces together, I'm twice as far along as you, with two pieces glued onto the cockpit floor!  Decided to paint all the interior pieces first since the cockpit and forward landing gear wells look pretty complicated with lots of tight spaces once glued together. 

How's the AM kit.  I understand its the Eduard kit, but does it have the PE and molded nose weight?  I'm very impressed with my Eduard P-400 so far, though I got the simplified version with no PE.  Guess I'll have to fabricate my own seatbelts, though the PE would come in handy.  Comparing model details against my Detail & Scale though, its proving to be very accurate.  The only negative I've found in the reviews so far is that the fit of the doors if you try to close them is lousy.  I was planning on closing one of mine, but we'll see.  Cheers!

jeff wrote:

Alright!  Finished the Buffalo a little while ago, and started the P-400,  if only just barely.  Applied the precut masks to the door windows and armor glass (thanks Eduard!) and glued the control column and gear crank to the cockpit floor.  Figure next step is to apply the Bell green.  Anyone else started?

Jeff:

That's funny..great minds must think alike: we both decided to apply the masks first, but I've only got one lever glued to the bulkhead.

Regarding Bell Green, what are you using? Using some of the IPMS Stickholm guides as a reference, they say it's some offshoot of medium green or bronze green. I've found a Polyscale 505296 in my stash, which is called "bronze green" by some but lableed Italian Dk. Olive", and matches up with the IMPS bronze green. I tested some on a sprue and it looks nice. Unless there is a better "Bell Green" in acrylic, I'll stick with this...

 I'd like to hear what others are using.

wing_nut wrote:

You beat me to the punch Charles.  I just posted a bunch of ref sites one page 1.

Great sites there, Marc. These should come in handy. Thanks!

wing_nut wrote:

AND THEY"RE OFF!!!!!  Gotta love that International Date Line.

Hey A thurderstorm knocked out the power for a while here. Now all my clocks are blinking 12:00...........Woo Hooo!!!

AND THEY"RE OFF!!!!!

 Gotta love that International Date Line.

I started cutting the parts off the sprues (too late for a sprue shot) of the Academy P39 Q/N.

It's a pretty nice fitting kit - I've assembled the cockpit parts already, but nothing's painted. I think I'll do this one OOB, or nearly so.

Great choice of nose art, Marc. The NMF scheme will be a neat one, too. I'm not a P-39 expert (the GB is still young!), but I haven't seen many NMF Airacobras.

For those of you out there still sontemplating schemes, check out this site for ideas:

 http://wp.scn.ru/

Less than 12 hours and counting...

Cool pics John...thanks.  I like the skull on the door. 

 Jeff...Glad to help.  I think by the time you give it some wear and tear and dirt it should be good.  Just as long as it is not the bright chromate green.  As far as you being in Germany, I am guessing you're going be snipping parts off the trees 1st....unless.... I can set up residence in Kiribati real quick. 

I love cominghome and seeing a box sitting onthe front porch.   Here is the scheme I am going with.  3rd one down..."Daisy Mae"   Thought an NMF 'Cobra would be interesting.  The profile is misleading though. The bluish on top and gray underside is their poor attempt at a 3D appearance.  Too bad since that would have been kind of cool too.  It is suspected to be a trainer since the wing and nose machine guns are removed.  From the limited info with the decal sheet...Cutting Edge CED48145... I am guessing they made this from a single, not too good photo as they were not 100% sure about the Nat'l insignia... just that it did not have a red center.  I also got a resin cockpit but will mix and match some parts from that with the kit's color PE.

If anyone wants any of the other markings I will donate them to the build on a 1^st come 1^st serve basis. 

John, thanks sharing for the pictures.

Marc, thanks for the info on the interior color.  I matched the FS number you gave me from the earlier post with MM Euro green.  Checking against my Details and Scale for P-39, its looks pretty much on the mark.  The Bell green definitely has a touch of blue in it.  Now I'm trying to settle on exterior colors for the P-400 I'm building OOB.  Eduard provides a cross-referencing table in the instructions, but comparing the paints given in the instructions side-by-side in the hobby store shows there's a great deal of difference in shades between companies.  In the end, I'll probably settled on MM Medium Green and Field Drab.  Matches the box pretty closely and could pass for the "original" RAF Dark Earth/Dark Green in a pinch.  Besides, the real P-400s were so weathered and beat up, its probably impossible to perfectly match colors anyway.  "In the ballpark" should be plenty good enough.

As for start times, I think I've got you all beat living in Germany!  Anyone live east of me?

Very COOL  Thanks for Sharing

Bud

Hey guys, I'm not in your group build but I thought you might like these photos.

This is one of my dads photos. I have no idea as to when or where it was taken. 

I took this of the business end of the plane at Wright Patterson AF Museum. Somewhere I have the photo of the engine end that connects to the prop gearbox in this photo.
 

Just wanted to share.

John 

espins1 wrote:

Actually, it's the other way around, you East coasters are 3 hours ahead of us.  You'll be able to start after midnight, and it will still only be 9pm here

Doh! I must have been facing the wrong way when I thought that!

well...ummm...ahhh...you get an extra 3 hours at the end of the build!

I like the P-39 clock time. Since you're the Group LEader, do we need to wait until the "official" time in your time zone?

I'm really looking forward to this one. The Holidays put a major delay in my current Fw190D build, and as I started up again yesterday, I've made a few more rookie errors. The P-39 build will be a clean new sheet to start with.

davew6003 wrote:

ollie wrote: I can start 5 hours ahead of any of you in the us. So to be fair we should all be able to start at 12:01 AM (whatever time zone the International date line is in) We can then all adjust our P 39 clocks to reflect the actual start date.  Kinda like Zulu time.

 Handily the line runs through the uk. But we would have a problem, we would be starting on 2 different days.

ollie wrote:

I can start 5 hours ahead of any of you in the us.

So to be fair we should all be able to start at 12:01 AM (whatever time zone the International date line is in) We can then all adjust our P 39 clocks to reflect the actual start date.  Kinda like Zulu time.