Curtiss P40 Kittyhawk Mk1a - 112 Squadron RAF..
- 2 January 2012 17:08145149My latest model, just completed. The first of my large scale 1:32 stash....
The Aircraft:
The P40 (Warhawk in US service) was the main USAAF single seat fighter in 1941. It was also operated by the RAF and Commonwealth air forces in North Africa and the Far East. On paper it was outclassed by the more nimble and faster German Me109's and Japanese Zero's that it met in combat, but in the hand of experienced pilots was able to hold its own. It was, however, a superb fighter-bomber, was rugged and dependable (important in the desert and jungle conditions it operated in) - it was also well armed with 6 x .50 cal machine guns.
The Kit:
Hasegawa 1:32 scale depicting an aircraft from 112 'Shark' Squadron RAF with its signature emblem of the shark teeth warpaint. This aircraft was based in Egypt 1942.
- 2 January 2012 17:43145151Nice work Barry.Never give up...
- 2 January 2012 19:22145175Wonderful work Barry.
Looks like quite a short plane and the paintwork looks great - is that authentic ?
Roger - 2 January 2012 20:40145203It certainly is authentic Roger....
I have tried to depict the paint as being bleached by the desert sun and the 'Mid Stone', lighter top camo, was applied in the field quite roughly over dark green and I have also tried to show this with some of the green showing through. It is not so clear in the pics but is very effective on the actual model. The colours have come out slightly different in the pictures, I only used a camera phone and I am not much of a photographer.
There is actually a lot of debate over the authentic colour tones and each paint manufacturer makes their version of a colour slightly different. That is easily explained in that colours faded and changed in service. I use Vallejo paints as they cover really well and are good in the airbrush. - 2 January 2012 21:44145222Intrigued by the cockpit detail-what scale is it?Never give up...
- 3 January 2012 07:451452591:32 Richard.
Here is a photo of it alongside the Mk1 Spitfire I made recently in 1:48 scale. In 'real life' the two aircraft are about the same size, both single engined, single pilot, fighters. You may remember the typical Airfix kits that most youngsters used to build, they are much smaller in 1:72 scale.
- 3 January 2012 09:03145276I meant to comment on the cockpit detail in my first post - excellant.
The difference in sizes betwenn 1;32 and 1:48, really show there - thanks Barry.
Roger - 3 January 2012 10:28145300Another nice model. The skill is in the finishing isn't it. Anyone can put them together but it takes a bit more effort to finish them nicely.
- 3 January 2012 10:37145303There is a lot of truth in that Colin. That said there is a world of difference between the old 'stick it together' childhood builds and what I do now. The most important factor is cleaning up the pieces when they come off the sprue and cleaning seams and mold lines/faults. For instance this particular kit was a modular build due to it catering for the Mk1 which (as Roger says) has a short fuselage and a Mk3 with a longer fuselage. The back half came with two separate modules so there was a terrible verticle seam to deal with that meant a lot of filler and sanding then panel line rescribing. The wing roots on the kit and some of the other fuselage seams needed a lot of work too.
As I said before, feel free to pop into the office have a coffee and take a look at the models. I do not have any clients this week, just lots of research/admin and report writing so I would welcome a break!! - 3 January 2012 10:48145305Ok, I'll pop in this week some time then. Probably won't be today though, looks a bit nasty outside at the moment.
- 3 January 2012 14:22145343I look forward to seeing you Colin.
I might even give you a glimpse of my latest project. I am building the Tamiya 1:32 scale Mustang P51D. This series of WW2 1:32 scale fighters by Tamiya are setting new standards of model engineering in fit and accuracy. Amazing kits of 3 types, the Japanese Zero, the Spitfire and the Mustang each costing around £100 but are worth every penny.
I am not building the Mustang as a USAAF bird as per the 3 kit options but I have done some research and decided to depict a RAF Mustang Mk IV. The actual aircraft will be a 112 'shark' squadron Mustang from 1945 - Mustangs replaced the Kittyhawks in 112 service and it will be nice to have these two aircraft alongside each other on display, shark mouths grinning at each other. I have had to buy no less than 4 sets of aftermarket decals in order to put together the right markings and paint camo scheme for the specific aircraft am building.
To show how good the kits is, it has taken me one session just to complete construction of the main Merlin engine block, still got the supercharger and firewall to do for a complete engine build. There were 24 parts in just the partial engine I have done so far. The kit is amazingly well detailed and I will just have to add some extra piping from lead wire to fully depict it in situ. The engine panels are held in place with magnets enabling them to be posed open with the engine on display or closed.
Here is a pic of the engine block next to a £1 coin for perspective. Those 24 parts include 3 photo etch parts for some detail tucked away in the top of the block. Tonight hopefully I will have the chance to finish off the engine apart from the extra pipework and then paint it ready for weathering. the engine is a complete kit in itself as is the cockpit interior - this is going to be a long build...... I will enjoy every minute.
- 3 January 2012 19:23145412Thanks Barry - quite a small engine and to have 24 parts to it, must make it slow progress to put it together properly.
Roger - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,835
15 January 2012 15:45147424I found this on another forum I am on, whether it is of any interest who knows
..................
If it's of use to those who like Airfix, there is an offer code in this
year's Women's Insitute voucher booklet for a free Battle Of Britain
80-page hardback book from Airfix. Go to www.airfix.com/freebook and use
code WIBOOK. You pay P&P of £2.95. Offer ends 30/06/12.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 16 January 2012 08:41147563Interesting thanks Jan. I built two 1:48 Airfix kits recently and they have certainly upped their game with the accuracy and fit equal to Tamiya on their new mould kits. Sadl;y though they do not make kits in 32 scale so I don't expect to be building any of theirs for some while.
Anyway - while posting here, after two weeks I have just finished the engine of the Mustang, 54 pieces in all so here is how it looks now:
Finished off the cockpit interior too so I am now ready to join the main fuselage halves.
I wont post any more of this build until its finished but here are some shots of the interior detail as much of it will be obscured.
- 16 January 2012 08:56147567That is incredible detail Barry and 54 pieces on that engine block - you must have a lot of patience.
Roger - 16 January 2012 14:02147599I think Barry's patience shows in various threads on here
