Special Hobby 1/72 RNZAF P-40K Kittyhawk NZ3061

[k5054nz]

Hi all,

This kit was a birthday present to myself in August last year as I love P-40s, had liked the look of the Special Hobby kits, and am a sucker for RNZAF markings. The kit itself has lovely details and went together beautifully, the decals were well-behaved. The only issues I had were self-caused such as losing the correct canopy, and using a too-dark green for the top colour wich somehow became even darker under Humbrol gloss. For various reasons I only added the finishing touches - painting the light lenses - today.

 

But I want more of these kits. It was a delight and, as long as I don't bring myself down by using the wrong colours, I expect the next to be even better and more fun.

 

Photo of the real NZ3061 from "RNZAF The First Decade" by Charles Darby:

 

 

Edited November 12, 2021 by k5054nz
added photo

[stevehnz]

Nice job on that Zac. Fwiw, the green you have used doesn't look too bad, so don't be too worried about it. I've got this boxing too & if I can get it to look as good as this I'll be happy with it.

Steve.

[LDSModeller]

3 hours ago, k5054nz said:

using a too-dark green for the top colour wich somehow became even darker under Humbrol gloss.

 

Hi Zack,

 

That's one lovely RNZAF P40K

 

I personally think the NZ Foliage Green is just fine (just think of it as being a very recent re-paint )

and the NZ Sky Grey looks fine too

For some reason the Humbrol Gloss seems to make Dark Colours darker (had that happen on an RNZAF

Corsair)

Thanks for sharing your model with us

 

Regards

 

Alan

Edited November 12, 2021 by LDSModeller

[k5054nz]

Alan, you telling my my Foliage Green looks okay is all the encouragement I need. Thank you so much! As it was an Ohakea-based bird I rationalised it wouldn't get terribly discoloured.

 

I've no doubt you've seen it but I've edited in a scan from "RNZAF The First Decade" by Charles Darby showing the real NZ3061 after it came to grief at Ohakea.

  

3 hours ago, stevehnz said:

Nice job on that Zac. Fwiw, the green you have used doesn't look too bad, so don't be too worried about it. I've got this boxing too & if I can get it to look as good as this I'll be happy with it.

Steve.

Sorry Steve, I missed your reply! Thank you for the kind words - Foliage Green is such a minefield I just used an online "converter" for the Gunze paint in the instructions and went with it...second-guessing myself every step of the way... I'd love to get more of these even though I'm moving into 1/48, I enjoyed this build so much. I really want to get a P-40E so I can do NZ3031 (Alan is no doubt very familiar with that serial), lost in an accident near Wainouiomata killing its Wanganui-born pilot Tom Marchant. I recently visited his grave here in Whanganui and would love to build a tribute to him.

Edited November 12, 2021 by k5054nz

[LDSModeller]

47 minutes ago, k5054nz said:

I really want to get a P-40E so I can do NZ3031 (Alan is no doubt very familiar with that serial), lost in an accident near Wainouiomata killing its Wanganui-born pilot Tom Marchant. I recently visited his grave here in Whanganui and would love to build a tribute to him.

Hi Zac,

 

Not wanting to take away from your excellent P40K build, but these P40E-1 Swatches

are from NZ3031

 

I think a tribute build to Tom Marchant would be absolutely Awesome

So many of our Servicemen/Women are/have been taken in accidents, and really never

get much if any recognition for their Service.

Look forward to your build of NZ3031

 

Regards

 

Alan

[Anthony in NZ]

Absolutely delightful Zac!  Love that scheme too.  I think the green looks good too.  Well done mate, I would be proud to have that in my cabinet!

 

NEEEEEXT one please...........

[Remus389]

Marvellous aircraft, it's a nice decoration in any room.

 

👍

[Vulcanicity]

A very handsome P-40, well done

[Pete in a shed]

Thats a very fine looking P40 Zack. The NZ markings are particularly atractive on this aircraft.

Pete

[RMCS]

Niiiice 

[k5054nz]

20 hours ago, LDSModeller said:

Not wanting to take away from your excellent P40K build, but these P40E-1 Swatches

are from NZ3031

That's precisely why I said the serial of my planned project would sound familiar to you 😉 Perhaps you might appreciate seeing this:

  

19 hours ago, Anthony in NZ said:

NEEEEEXT one please...........

I'm hoping to get some proper paid work soon so you never know...but also Christmas is coming...

[Bertie McBoatface]

That's lovely. I like the white tail schemes. 

[Wulfman]

Lovely job on the Kittyhawk !

 

Wulfman

[k5054nz]

10 hours ago, Bertie Psmith said:

That's lovely. I like the white tail schemes. 

Thank you! I hate painting white but they tend to be inevitable when doing Kiwi P-40s!

[Bertie McBoatface]

6 hours ago, k5054nz said:

Thank you! I hate painting white but they tend to be inevitable when doing Kiwi P-40s!

I don’t paint pure white (or pure black) on anything. I think it looks too stark on a model so I use a very very pale grey instead, over a white primer. To my eye it looks better and as a side effect, it’s easier to apply too. 

[TonyOD]

I like that very much! What a striking scheme.

[kapam]

Great job!

The P-40 was a most versatile and well-used plane, but often gets overshadowed by more famous types (e.g., Mustangs & Spitfires).

 

[k5054nz]

Thank you, all! I feel much better about how it turned out.

57 minutes ago, kapam said:

The P-40 was a most versatile and well-used plane, but often gets overshadowed by more famous types (e.g., Mustangs & Spitfires).

Here in New Zealand it was our frontline fighter for most of the war so I think most enthusiasts have a healthy respect for them, even though at airshows the Mustangs and Spitfires inevitable get more attention.

  

20 hours ago, Bertie Psmith said:

I use a very very pale grey instead, over a white primer. To my eye it looks better and as a side effect, it’s easier to apply too. 

That's a handy tip, thank you for that!