WIP P-40M

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June 6, 2020
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May 12, 2020
This kit caught my attention while rummaging through my local hobby shop before the lock down and I thought I'll give it a try as a quick in between project.
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May 12, 2020
The desert scheme with the shark mouth looks nice, but daunting considering my previous experience with those Easy Assembly kit decals. We'll see...
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May 12, 2020
First little task is spraying the spinner a nice even red. For this I primed it white and started with a yellow base coat (MRP).
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May 12, 2020
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May 12, 2020
After which I sprayed some MRP red, which came out nice and glossy.
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May 12, 2020
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May 12, 2020
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May 12, 2020
This is where I want to thank Roland Gunslinger for pointing me to this make up brush holder, which is ideal for holding freshly sprayed parts! Thanks!!!
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May 12, 2020
A quick dry fit... I'm always a bit weary with these kits, because they are meant to click together and sometimes it's hard to pry them apart again.
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May 12, 2020
Quick and dirty paint session.
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May 12, 2020
Doesn't look that shabby...
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May 12, 2020
I noticed the fuselage plug left a big step compared to the rest of the aft fuselage, so I figured that a strip of styrene sandwiched with some sprue goo would even it out. Wasn't this a quick in between build???
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May 12, 2020
Either way...
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May 12, 2020
Yeah, I couldn't resist tackling the ill fitting cowling as well.... Focus, Patrick!!!
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May 12, 2020
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May 12, 2020
The exhausts have prominent mold seams, but I actually sanded around them as the original exhausts have a weld bead on them.
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May 12, 2020
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May 12, 2020
Starts to look like a P-40 to me.
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May 12, 2020
OK, just get some paint on it!
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May 12, 2020
I tested my paints on the separate horizontal tails as that saves on masking later on.
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May 12, 2020
Yes! Primer!
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May 12, 2020
Filling in the individual panels first, I can achieve a mottled but still pre-shaded appearance.
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May 12, 2020
A bit harsh light, but I like the effect in real life.
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May 12, 2020
For the worn paint on the wing roots I sprayed on some polished aluminum, stippled liquid mask on with a sponge and repeated the process with Chromate Primer color.
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May 12, 2020
After that, I went ahead with the same process as the underside and added some white to de panels afterwards.
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May 12, 2020
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May 12, 2020
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May 12, 2020
Finding the color demarcation in pictures looked quite sharp, I opted to mask off the brown patches versus freehand spraying. I left the front of the wing in a soft demarcation though.
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May 12, 2020
Same process applied to the brown.
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May 12, 2020
And here she is unmasked.
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May 12, 2020
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May 12, 2020
Added the prop for some contrast.
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May 12, 2020
Masking the clear part turned out to be a nightmare. The window panes are very well defined at the back part, but almost indiscernible at the front. No way to properly mask those. Therefor I'll opt for applying the framework by means of painted decal strips later on. Fingers crossed, otherwise I'll put a tarp over the canopy....
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May 12, 2020
Contrary to previous experience, the decals went on very well and are actually quite thin. The shark mouth had it's fair share of work, but in the end turned out not that bad after all.
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May 12, 2020
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May 12, 2020
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May 12, 2020
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May 22, 2020
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May 22, 2020
Adding some soot and grime on the exhausts and gun ports with MRP Exhaust Soot.
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May 22, 2020
Here I tested the feasibility of having a tarp over the offending canopy. This is merely water soaked cigarette paper.
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May 22, 2020
Final assembly!!! Or maybe not.... While pushing in the landing gear legs, this happened...
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May 22, 2020
But given the nature of Hobby Boss's plastic, I was able to bend it back without any noticeable damage. I wouldn't be able to do that with any other plastic.
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May 22, 2020
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May 22, 2020
Time for a diorama! I will use a Trumpeter display case as my base.
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May 22, 2020
Fits!
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May 22, 2020
I had some cast plaster rocks lying around from a different project. I wanted to go for a plain, but still rocky desert patch.
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May 22, 2020
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May 22, 2020
Adding some plaster dust and small slivers of plaster to create rocks and gravel.
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May 22, 2020
Now I first need to find me a fine enough spray bottle to mist over some alcohol and Mod Podge. My current one simply blows away the fine dust. (This is not my first try...)
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May 22, 2020
Added the canopy and only painted the rearmost canopy struts.
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May 22, 2020
The idea...
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May 22, 2020
The preparation...
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May 22, 2020
The intermediate result...
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May 22, 2020
The painted result...
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May 22, 2020
...and another go at the setup. (See how the dust is stuck on that patch? That was my pressure washer mist bottle. Since then, the base has been re-dusted and is awaiting it's mist)
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May 25, 2020
Finally, I was able to get the base covered and glued up.
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May 25, 2020
Not sure yet about the pinkish hue....
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May 25, 2020
.... I really like the pink hue, but it creates a very strong contrast to the plane itself.
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May 25, 2020
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May 25, 2020
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May 25, 2020
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May 25, 2020
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May 25, 2020
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June 6, 2020
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June 6, 2020
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June 6, 2020

Comments

13 12 May 2020, 05:52

Jos Jansen
Beautiful little bird.... 👍

6 June 2020, 06:06

Patrick Hagelstein
Thanks guys! I took this model to yesterday's model club meeting and it made it into the final for Model of the Month, but sadly lost to a Zoukei-Mura F-4D. Now my side projects are finished and I can finally clear my bench for a Tomcat!!! 😄

6 June 2020, 16:44

Jos Jansen
...ah that's a shame Patrick, hopefully next time better mate! OH YEAH...go for it...cat time 😄 👍

6 June 2020, 19:09

David Januska
Nice result. Congratulations👍.

6 June 2020, 19:23

Łukasz Gliński
Nice, I built this kit couple of years ago, but it doesn't look this good. What happened to the canopy?😉

6 June 2020, 20:20

Patrick Hagelstein
Thanks Jos, David and Łukasz! 👍 The canopy proved to be 'unmaskable' ... I had a hard time discerning the canopy framing and wasn't able to get the masking tape on right. I tried painting some spare decal film and to apply that in strips, but it didn't work either. Since the cockpit wasn't that detailed to start with, I decided to cover it up with a tarp. In the desert scene it gives an impression of the harsh environment and I could try out putting a tarp over stuff. 🙂 Apart from the canopy (and the empty cockpit) I really like this kit! It fits well for an Easy Assembly kit and the panel lines and rivets are correct and very crisp.

7 June 2020, 04:05

BC NRA
These Hobby Boss "easy assembly" kits are great for when you just want to get to the painting stage quickly. I built a Hobby Boss 1:72 Wildcat kit like that.

4 December 2023, 17:32

Bas Tonn
I like it !!

4 December 2023, 19:03

Patrick Hagelstein
Thanks BC NRA and Bas! And yes, that's what I use them for. If I just want a quick build or a paint mule for a more daunting project, I resort to those Easy Assembly kits.

4 December 2023, 21:19

Project info

P-40M North Africa

72 images

1:72

Completed

Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk.III

Royal Air Force (1918-now)
No. 112 Sqn. GA-M
1942 World War 2 - North Africa
BS381C:350 BS381C:362 BS381C:104

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