ProModeler 1/48th scale P-40E

[John]

I've had a soft spot for the P-40 since I was a kid.  I blame the Airfix Kittyhawk kit. It was a must-have when I started getting interesting in building modes in the second half of the 1960s: the exotic colours; the shark mouth; the box art flying over a burning Axis convoy on a desert road - what wasn't to like?

 

https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/8/4/8/148848-11669-pristine.jpg

 

I clearly remember having one in its bare silver grey plastic with the markings stuck on, and another later example finished from my dad's stock of gloss Humbrol enamels that he kept in the house. No matt paints, only gloss, so the chances are the colours were something like 9 Tan and 10 Service Brown over 47 Sea Blue, or perhaps some of the now discontinued but equally inaccurate shades in the grey check-pattern tins. The smell of vintage gloss Humbrol enamel still takes me back to that newspaper covered kitchen table...

 

I also had a 1/72 Revell P-40E, in US Army markings:

 

http://www.boxartden.com/gallery/var/resizes/Boxart-Collection/REVELL/MILITARY AIRCRAFT/PROPELLER/Revell P-40E Curtiss Warhawk 1-72 '60's.jpg?m=1362192280

 

It had a sliding canopy - that was cool. Curiously, I didn't know Revell GB had released this kit in RAF markings until I saw one a couple of years ago. I have no recollection of this at all, because I certainly would have invested my pocket money in one if I'd come across it:

 

https://s1.scalemates.com/products/img/2/4/9/406249-15398-47-pristine.jpg

 

Then - wonder of wonders - I was given the Aleutian Tiger boxing of the 1/32 Revell kit as a present. It had an engine, sliding canopy, retractable undercarriage and that amazing tiger on the nose. Wonderful:

 

http://www.oldmodelkits.com/jpegs/r/Revell H271 P-40Alut.JPG

 

Over the years I've dipped in and out of the P-40 kit market, building a couple of the Otaki/Arii/Airfix 1/48th kits and the Hasegawa 1/72. My interest was restarted by the new Airfix P-40B/C kits, and in a fit of nostalgia I dragged my ProModeler kit from deep storage:

 

 

There's no box shot because it's a long time since it had one but it looked like this:

 

https://guideimg.alibaba.com/images/shop/2015/12/15/49/revell-p-40e-warhawk-1-48-scale-military-model-kit_12903449.jpeg

 

I also have this decal sheet bought in contemplation of finishing an Otaki/Airfix kit with it, but that never happened:

 

 

 

I might be able to do an homage to my long gone Aleutian Tiger.

 

Anyway, I thought it might be interesting to put this together along with the Airfix P-40Bs I'm working on. 

 

John

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Thom216]

Would like to see that. Sounds promising.

[John]

Many moons ago, in the late 1970s, Revell introduced a series of 4 single-engined WWII fighter kits. There was a very well received late model Bf109G, along with a Spitfire II, P-51D and a P-40E.

 

As far as I know, and I had the kit but never built it when it came out at first, this kit is based on that P-40E mould with an extra sprue to add detail. This seems to be the original Revell plastic:

 

 

and this is the new sprue:

 

 

Looks good.

 

I don't know when the last time this kit was available was but the Bf109G and the Spitfire are still in the Revell range today. The P-51D seems to have been retired in favour of the Monogram mould, which was probably a good move.

 

John

 

 

[Jaffajake]

I'm looking forward to seeing this put together! I love a good Warhawk.