The Curtiss P-6E ‒ Step 6: Colours

[Toryu]

The 2024 range of groupbuilds offers a long-awaited opportunity to produce a complete series of 1/48 Curtiss Hawk biplanes thanks to a convenient bunfight outcome and a well-timed schedule.  This is my very ambitious program -

 

 

F6C-3        US Navy GB        11 May - 1 September

 
  P-6E         Golden Age of Transport GB       this groupbuild

 

 

 

 BFC-2        KUTA          19 October - 9 February

 

 

 Hawk III          Asia GB           3 August - 24 November

 

 

Step 1 ‒ The Task

 

My subject is a P-6E flown by the squadron commander of the 36^th Pursuit Squadron, 8^th Pursuit Group, based at Langley Field, VA during 1936. A photo of this aircraft is published in Squadron/Signal's IN ACTION 128 but the quality is rather poor -

 

 

I have two options to work with: The Classic Airframes No.444 of 2001 and the Lindberg No.72542 (not 1/72!) of 1992. Both kits are said to have some shortcomings.

 

 

As we progress I will need to decide which parts are best suited respectively. One set of wings, however, needs to be reserved for my next GB entry, the F6C-3 (more soon). Here is what's in the boxes -

 

 

Finally some publications that support the project -

 

THE CURTISS ARMY HAWKS, PROFILE PUBLICATIONS NO.45, PETER M. BOWERS, LEATHERHEAD

CURTISS P-6E "HAWK", SCALE AIRPLANE DRAWINGS, PAUL MATT, TEMPLE CITY, 1967

THE CURTISS HAWKS, PAGE SHAMBURGER / JOE CHRISTY, KALAMAZOO, 1972

CURTISS ARMY HAWKS, AIRCRAFT IN ACTION NO.128, LARRY DAVIS, CARROLLTON, 1992

AIR FORCE COLORS VOL.1, DANA BELL, CARROLLTON, 1995

THE OFFICIAL MONOGRAM US ARMY AIR SERVICE & AIR CORPS AIRCRAFT COLOR GUIDE VOL.1, ARCHER, STURBRIDGE, 1995

WINGS OF STARS - US ARMY AIR CORPS 1919-1941, PETER FREEMAN / MIKE STARMER, ARLINGTON, 2009

 

 

Step 2 ‒ Fuselage

 

Classic Airframes are short-run kits and, as experience shows, quite vicious builds. No difference here. There are a number of positives like their singularity, super-fine panel lines and excellent resin parts, but also dimension issues, missing detail, soft plastic and - worst of all - no positioning pins anywhere, which is particularly bad in the case of biplanes. Some of these inconsistencies are reflected in my fuselage modifications -

 

 

These are small improvements, the big blunder, however, is the wing root which is too far forward by 4 mm. Since the bottom wing determines the position of the upper plane this error would affect the overall outcome. I therefore cut and inserted the Lindberg wing root in the correct place. An easier wing installation via slot and pin is a worthwhile side effect.

 

 

Step 3 ‒ Cockpit

 

The kit's resin cockpit is neatly done but the sidewall frames are not reproduced correctly. Some scratch work was necessary. The embossed instrument panel was reversed in order to facilitate dial decals on the flat side. When dry-fitted everything matched properly -

 

 

Before fixing the cockpit and merging the fuselage halves I drilled rigging holes and inserted wires, exhausts and the radiator. The rear deck was closed and the sternpost extended by 2 mm (too short!). Finally, I added some more detail -

 

 

Although two oil cooler scoops are provided by the kit (plastic and resin!) I scratch-built one because neither was deep enough. A further departure is the Lindberg vertical tail (plugged-on here for test purposes) which has a more accurate shape and better articulated rips.

 

 

Step 4 ‒ A host of pins

 

The regrettable lack of adjustment pins demands some makeshift solution. Several metal pins and corresponding holes were worked in to support weak connections (see red circles). The wheel housing arches had to be reamed because their own wheels wouldn't fit (!), and axles were added for the wheels to be rotatable to a flattened seat lateron.

 

 

Instead of using either of the P-6E wings I cannibalised the lower surfaces from the Lindberg F11C kit that I held in reserve. They match the new centre section (see step 2) much better. Next, all components were primed - grey underneath blue areas and white for yellow areas.

 

 

Step 5 ‒ Wings

For the main wing I reverted to Lindberg P-6E parts to match the deeper ribs of the lower surfaces even though they may look a bit overdone. The integrated pin holes for the struts are of advantage, too. The unused Classic Airframes wing will then aggravate my future F6C build 🙄.

 

 

The wing planform needed to be trimmed at the tips. Then I braced the lower part with a strip of fiber since the topside will be added only when the rigging is complete, and I don’t want to risk any wing bending. Before priming I amended both wing halves with some more detail.

 

[Zigomar]

That's a typical woke GB!😂, I will seriously follow your progresses with pleasure! Schusssss

[2996 Victor]

Lovely selection of subjects - looking forward to seeing these develop!

 

Cheers,

Mark

[CliffB]

Lovely Hawks.  Good luck with your project 👍

[Col.]

Ooh, nice subject series Michael, that you have one planned for the Asia GB as well gains my full approval

[Mjwomack]

7 hours ago, Toryu said:

 BFC-2        KUTA          19 October - 9 February

 

Very organised to have something allocated to KUTA already! Seriously though I think it's a very clever approach and a good use of the KUTA wildcard

[Toryu]

1 hour ago, Mjwomack said:

a good use of the KUTA wildcard

 

Thank you Mr. Womack. Incidentally, I built this BFC-2 already in 1996 but it needs to be taken apart for a 200 hours overhaul - very apt for the KUTA.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Welcome aboard with some of my favorite interwar aircraft. 

[Old Man]

Are these all to be in the Gentleman's scale, Sir?

 

It's a great project. I've items in mind for the Navy and Asia GBs, and might choose a Hawk III in the latter myself.

 

 

James

[Toryu]

1 hour ago, Old Man said:

Are these all to be in the Gentleman's scale, Sir?

All 1/48, James, and all with some or other improvement due to their limited origin.

A Hawk III for the Asia GB? I take up the gauntlet…

[John Masters]

Nice selection.  Some of my favourites!

[Old Man]

On 3/16/2024 at 11:43 PM, Toryu said:

All 1/48, James, and all with some or other improvement due to their limited origin.

A Hawk III for the Asia GB? I take up the gauntlet…

 

Perhaps another gauntlet, Sir?

 

I've got two for the Asia build in mind, and will have to decide.

 

One is a Finemolds Nakajima A2N Type 90 Carrier Fighter. Flying off the Kaga at Shanghai, these were the first Japanese fighters the Hawk III encountered.

 

One is an old MPM original Hawk III, which I would do by kit decals as one flown by Tommy Walker, a mercenary pilot whose exploits, real or fabulous, form much of the account of air fighting over China in Martin Caiden's 'The Ragged, Rugged Warriors'.

 

Either would make a nice pairing....

 

 

James

[Toryu]

5 hours ago, Old Man said:

One is a Finemolds Nakajima A2N Type 90 Carrier Fighter.

Well, I‘ve got the 1/48 ABK Models Nakajima A2N, but that‘s one kit too many for this year, I‘m afraid.

 

[Colin W]

A great theme and a good idea to join several group builds together.  I very thought about it but never managed to.  

I built the Classic Airframes  Hawk 111 in Thai markings a few years ago and it was challenging. Good luck with these 4 and I look forward to seeing them through the year. 

[Toryu]

Step 1 ‒ The Task  see first post at the top.

 

[stevej60]

Great subjects and great schemes too!

[Toryu]

Step 2 ‒ Fuselage  see first post at the top.

 

[Toryu]

Step 3 ‒ Cockpit  see first post at the top.

 

 

[Toryu]

Step 4 ‒ A host of pins see first post at the top.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Wow this is really taking shape ! I wish I coild get this good at Bi-planes, I have a WNW Albatros V/Va and an Williams brothers F9C Sparrowhawk that are just begging to be built. Links ate too the specific versions I have. 
 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/wingnut-wings-32907-albatros-dva--1249032

 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/williams-brothers-32590-f9c-sparrowhawk--1087633

[Toryu]

Nice models Dennis @Corsairfoxfouruncle

The F9C in particular. There is no 1/48 kit afaik, maybe a vacuform?

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

2 minutes ago, Toryu said:

Nice models Dennis @Corsairfoxfouruncle

The F9C in particular. There is no 1/48 kit afaik, maybe a vacuform?

I agree I looked around forever to find one in 1/48 or 1/72. Finally found the 1/32 kit and figured it was small enough to fit in with my other kits. 

[Toryu]

Step 5 ‒ Wings see first post at the top

 

 

[Toryu]

Army Air Corps colours of the period are tricky. Flying surfaces were painted Yellow No.4. In July 1934 Light Blue No.23 replaced olive drab on all other surfaces of operational aircraft but a sedate transition period was admitted for economical reasons so that it is often difficult to assess which fuselage colour is shown on a b/w photo. As I want my Hawk to display this colour combination I chose an aircraft that left no doubt.

 

 

Research of contemporary colours was conducted by Dana Bell and by Robert Archer (see references). While the strongly saturated orange-yellow chroma of No.4 is well represented by Tamiya TS 34 'Camel Yellow', Light Blue No.23 is a different and controversial story. It's often described as blue-grey with a distinct turquoise undertone. Archer's 'Monogram Color Guide' includes a paint chip which I took as guideline. Since none of the commercial paints came close to the colour sample I finally settled with Citadel Colour 'Ahriman Blue' which I blended with 50% medium grey and tested on a paint mule (see above).

 

 

The fuselage (again with the tail plugged on) could now receive its principal colour coat.

[Tommy Liu]

5 hours ago, Toryu said:

Army Air Corps colours of the period are tricky. Flying surfaces were painted Yellow No.4. In July 1934 Light Blue No.23 replaced olive drab on all other surfaces of operational aircraft but a sedate transition period was admitted for economical reasons so that it is often difficult to assess which fuselage colour is shown on a b/w photo. As I want my Hawk to display this colour combination I chose an aircraft that left no doubt.

 

 

The most thorough research of contemporary colours was conducted by Dana Bell and by Robert Archer (see references). While the strongly saturated orange-yellow chroma of No.4 is well represented by Tamiya TS 34 'Camel Yellow', Light Blue No.23 is a different and controversial story. It's often described as blue-grey with a distinct turquoise undertone. Archer's 'Monogram Color Guide' includes a paint chip which I took as guideline. None of the commercial paints came even close to the colour sample until I discovered Citadel Colour 'Ahriman Blue' which I blended with 50% medium grey and tested on a paint mule (see above).

 

 

The fuselage (again with the tail plugged on) could now receive its principal colour coat.

 Great job! This typical 1930's USAAF camouflage reminds me of the A-12 Shrike, Martin B-10 and Boeing P-26.