Pearl Harbor P-40

[liquorboxracing]

I bought the new 1/72 Curtiss Hawk 81-A-2 Airfix kit and was really pleased with the new mold. The fit and detail aren't to bad. I started building this kit to replicate the P-40 Lt George Welch flew during the attack on Pearl Harbor. I already have the decals from Starfighter Decals. This will be pretty much be right out of box. I did remove the gun stubs and drilled the engine cowl, and wings for hypodermic tubing. I added masking tape seat belts to the detail painted cockpit, then started putting it all together. I fitted and filled gaps, and seams as I went, but the fit is way above standard for an inexpensive Airfix kit. Since starting this build I have bought another one of these kits to build.











As you can see I have the wing assembly attached to the fusalage. I do need to address some minor fitment issues noted by the red arrows in the pics below. But the fit as I said before really is outstanding for a kit that only cost about $7.00 US.





More to come.

 

[liquorboxracing]

I did some work to the P-40B this week end. I got the gaps in the wings to fuselage filled. I also got the rear stabilisers and rudder fitted and glued in place. I plan on putting a primer coat on her this week so I went ahead and aplied liquid mask to landing gear bay and on all the guns. I Have to fit the exhuats, or maybe even make a new set, haven't decided yet. Going to work on that tonight. I also have to fit the radiator shrouds underneath the fuselage. Here are some more progress pics.

 

[Junkie]

Great looking little kit, super build too.

 

[kiwi gav]

nice work

 

[liquorboxracing]

Got some more done on the P-40B today. I highlighted all the panel lines with the airbrush, then sanded the rough over spray off around them. I then sprayed the natural grey on all the bottom surfaces. Turned out nice. Just transparent enough. Tough to see in the pics though. I had a minor mishap this afternoon though. I left the model out un-atended while gone and my cat decided to play with it. She broke off the rear rudder, and the tip of the verticle stabilizer. Couldn't find the tip so I have to make another one from styrene. Got a piece glued in place already, I will shape it tomorrow. I started drilling out the ends of the exhaust so they look a little more realistic tonight as well. Here are some pics.

 

[the Baron]

Wow! You're turning out quite a gem with this kit, well done! I think your panel line technique produced just the right effect.

 

[Ferris928]

Great work on this!

 

[Quaralane]

Definitely looking good

 

[liquorboxracing]

I got a few more things done to the P-40B. I finished trimming in the paint around the cockpit, and masked up the canopy. I glued the canopy in and masked up the gray surfaces under the plane. I sprayed the rest of the plane with Olive Drab and some light over lays of Faded Olive Drab on the top surfaces only. I used the faded olive drab across the top of the fuselage, and within certain panels on the tops of the wings, and rear stabilizers. I also painted the wheels neutral gray and the prop flat black with zinc chromate tips. I then gave the prop a semi gloss top coat. Here's some pics.










Now that its painted I can see I need to fill the gap around the front of the canopy to the fuselage.

 

[Chiefpettyofficer]

Well painted so far. Looking forward to the finished bird

 

[letsgobrowns82]

Great work. I just love these old planes. They have so much character!

 

[JMac]

Sharp looking P-40.

 

[Quaralane]

Very nice paint work

 

[liquorboxracing]

I got the decals on within the past couple of days. Most turned out ok. I have a couple that after sitting over night some of the silvering has cleared up but not completely. For the most part they are ok, but the silvering bugs me, cause I can't figure out why some did and others didn't,and some only did in spots. I ordered a decal solvent called Solvaset. I'm told that will remove silvering. We'll see. I managed to get the exhaust and tires painted this evening. As soon as I get the decal solvent I will get the silvering taken care of and get the decals sealed down. Here are some update pics.

 

[letsgobrowns82]

That is looking sweet! Very clean and crisp build.

 

[Ferris928]

Awesome work on that paint! Laying down a clear gloss before decals should help with avoiding silvering.

 

[the Baron]

Ditto Ferris!

Silvering is typically caused by air trapped in tiny surface irregularities, under a decal's clear carrier film. A gloss coat evens out those surface irregularities by filling them, reducing the chance of trapping air. I use Future (formally, Johnson's Kleer with Future Shine), a liquid acrylic floor finish, but there are also many clear varnishes available, both from hobby suppliers and at the hardware store. A gloss coat should prevent that, the next time.

Still, it's coming along very nicely!

 

[liquorboxracing]

Got the silvering taken care of on all the decals but two. Sealed them up with a couple coats of Dullcote. I then mixed up a burnt umber wash and detailed the panel lines as well as some streaking off the guns and horizontal panel lines. I finished painting the landing gear, and tires, as well as the exhaust. I then got those glued in place. I mixed up some dry pastel greys and dusted the exhaust stains and the tire scuffs. I am going to add PE gun sights to the cowling tomorrow. Headed towards the finish line.










This roundel and the one on the port side of the fuselage are the only two that I could not get the silvering to go away on.

 

[JMac]

Nice.

 

[the Baron]

Coming along beautifully, and I wouldn't even have noticed the edge of the roundels.