Antoine Posted April 25 Posted April 25 Bonjour à tous ! With family members living in Oz and since early this year in NZ too, I felt that I had no other choice than to participate in this ANZAC GB. And if I would have needed more reasons, there was this Kitty III already started somewhere in the workshop. So with a clearance from the host (as the kit's well over the usual 25% done), and helped by the pics I took at the time, I'll "restart" the build from the beginning. Let's go! The book I was reading at the time was Air-to-Air by Chris Rudge, the subject being A2A combat claims by Kiwi pilots during WW2. No surprise at some point in the book appear a guy called Geoff Fisken. I’ve first heard about him in the early nineties when I was reading the Bloody Shambles trilogy, from Chris Shores and his team. Well, I won’t say much now, as I’ll tell the whole story once the build is finished in a thread on RFI room. And to make a long story short, I’ve in my stash the following Hasegawa kit in 1/48 (it does exist also in 1/32), and I’m going to build Fisken’s Wairarapa Wildcat, aka NZ3072. 11
Rabbit Leader Posted April 25 Posted April 25 Wow.. the great subjects just keep on coming don’t they! Very nice choice @Antoine, this will be a popular subject, Kiwi Kitty’s always are. Cheers and all the best.. Dave 2
Antoine Posted April 25 Author Posted April 25 (edited) And to get along with the Wairarapa Wildcat, I brought with me the St André Wildcat, also known as Tiffie (Yes indeed, short for Typhoon!). She's black & white, but they'll get along just fine. Edited April 25 by Antoine 2 6
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted April 26 Posted April 26 Antoine welcome here. The Wildcat is one of the most well known Kittyhawks from the war. 1
Karearea Posted April 26 Posted April 26 31 minutes ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Antoine welcome here. The Wildcat is one of the most well known Kittyhawks from the war. Quite an interesting point worth mentioning, Fisken only flew this particular aircraft on 9 sorties- downing two aircraft on the first sortie only. The kill markings represent 6 he achieved flying the Buffalo with No. 243 Sqn. and a further 5 from Guadalcanal. The aircraft received fame through a very effective media campaign, which I don’t think diminishes the appeal at all. Great choice! 3
LDSModeller Posted April 26 Posted April 26 27 minutes ago, Karearea said: Quite an interesting point worth mentioning, Fisken only flew this particular aircraft on 9 sorties- downing two aircraft on the first sortie only Geoff Fisken also flew NZ3060 as well, it being a P40K (long tail), as opposed to NZ3072 being a P40M.The Black cat was painted on NZ3072 by US servicing Personell who nicked named him Wairarapa Wildcat, as he was from the Wairarapa. Interestingly the white outline was not part of the original image, it was chalk line drawn around the cat to help it stand out better for photographs ( either Bryan Cox/Alex Horn who both flew P40's in the SW Pacific mentions this in their books). Regards Alan 2
Antoine Posted April 26 Author Posted April 26 11 hours ago, Karearea said: Quite an interesting point worth mentioning, Fisken only flew this particular aircraft on 9 sorties- downing two aircraft on the first sortie only. The kill markings represent 6 he achieved flying the Buffalo with No. 243 Sqn. and a further 5 from Guadalcanal. The aircraft received fame through a very effective media campaign, which I don’t think diminishes the appeal at all. Great choice! 11 hours ago, LDSModeller said: Geoff Fisken also flew NZ3060 as well, it being a P40K (long tail), as opposed to NZ3072 being a P40M.The Black cat was painted on NZ3072 by US servicing Personell who nicked named him Wairarapa Wildcat, as he was from the Wairarapa. Interestingly the white outline was not part of the original image, it was chalk line drawn around the cat to help it stand out better for photographs ( either Bryan Cox/Alex Horn who both flew P40's in the SW Pacific mentions this in their books). Regards Alan Thanks for pulling the rug from under my feet, guys! Usually, I post all the details with a thread in RFI, when the build is finished... Well, don't worry, it's ok. 12 hours ago, Karearea said: Great choice! I hope so! I promised myself thirty years ago to build both a buffalo and a Kitty he flew. My second choice would have been Mackie. Building and painting his Spit Vc would have been great fun!!! 4
Antoine Posted April 27 Author Posted April 27 (edited) Here we go! The P-40 serie from Hasegawa started in 2005, twenty years ago! So they're not exactly new, but yet not that old! I don't remember to have ever heard something bad about the kit. But to release the kit in every Allisson engined version starting from the E, hasegawa had to provide a fuselage divided in two sections from front to rear. Engine up-front and central fuselage with cockpit, and tail. There's only one thing to build before closing the fuselage, that's the cockpit. No great deal. About the dashboard, Hasegawa gives us two different decals to apply. I quickly destroyed them both (as usual), so I was left with the only remaining solution: To paint it! Gloss black overall, some elements micropainted in white or red, white wash in the "clocks", matt varnish overall, then a drop of gloss for each instrument, and it should be ok. Edited May 1 by Antoine 9
Antoine Posted April 27 Author Posted April 27 (edited) And I'm already asking myself colour questions: Here are some decals with RNZAF roundel (and I must have more), the box's<decals, and those from an Eduard P-40N kit (from Mauve) The truth must be somewhere in the middle? Edited April 27 by Antoine
LDSModeller Posted April 27 Posted April 27 (edited) Quote Here are some decals with RNZAF roundel (and I must have more), the box's<decals, and those from an Eduard P-40N kit (from Mauve) The truth must be somewhere in the middle? Your kit decals are closer to the real colour than the Mauve Electric Blue, which is totally fictitious. I have had many "discussions" with know it all's over the years, telling me that that Light Blue colour was correct. They had spoken to their mothers cousins step brother's cousin twice removed who had spoken to some one in the Air Force (which Air Force???) - what these muppets didn't seem to get, is that if the main roundels were light blue, why is the Rudder Stripe dark blue.......... as in your photo above. And given that RNZAF Roundels were painted directly over the US Star/bar, would not the darker colour show through??? In one discussion, I had some individual tell me that the RNZAF in WWII didn't have a colour standard. Well actually we did, my friend from the RNZAF Museum provided me with the standard number " Stores Ref: 33b/164, B.A.L.M. Ref: S13-044, Description: Matt Blue Iden Colour" , equates to BSC 381c 110, Roundel Blue. My friend also provided me these colour plates (Copyright - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used for illustration purposes only) The colour is similar to Humbrol 25 (slightly darker) and NZ3220 - P40N) that was hidden away for some sixty years had/has the same colour on her under wing roundels - coincidence - I think not. Given that the RNZAF (formed in 1937) was a 'Minny Me" of the RAF, our Air Force followed British AMO's, the colour markings would be same or similar (i.e using Locally manufactured paints like BALM) to RAF colours. And if you choose to use the kit markings, good for you Hope that's of help Regards Alan Edited April 27 by LDSModeller 5
Antoine Posted April 27 Author Posted April 27 @LDSModeller, yes it help, thanks Alan Funny, I've never been to NZ but from your description, I think I know the muppets you're writing about???? Every country has some. Just ignore them. In fact, I had my own opinion, on the tune the truth is somewhere in the middle, yet closer to the kit's decals. In the end, I think you're right, but using the decals from Hasegawa is no good news to me, Well, I'll check the spare decal box. 1
Antoine Posted May 1 Author Posted May 1 Hi there, There's a slow move forward on some of my current GB builds, Mossie & ANZAC, who seems to have a mojo of their own, but as far as the Vietnam and F-16 GB are concerned, it seems that their respective mojos have left... Must have something to do with the fact that I've never be able to finish a jet in the past few years.... Well.... As I've said before regarding Hasegawa P-40 main drawback is its multi sections fuselage, and the first thing to do is to glue together all the half sections on one side, so that when ty's done; we've only two half fuselage... and no steps between all the different sections. To do this, I use a small piece of glass, so that I have a perfectly plan surface. I then take all the parts from the side without pin, and put them together on the glass. Once the fit is perfect, I apply the glue, extra thin one, and wait till its perfectly dry. I can then take the parts from the other side, and use this timr the first side to act as a guide. 7
Antoine Posted May 2 Author Posted May 2 There's also some work to do on the wings, around the machine guns position. Look at the place under the wing where the holes for evacuation of the spent shell cases are positionned. That part should be flush with the wing's skin, but it is not. Use a file on the inside edges of the part, then you're good. I forgot to open the holes... On the wheel wells, if you feel like it, you can scratch the protective canva around the side and inside. I promise, I'll do it... on my next P-40! The MGs muzzle is nice, but you'll have to correct the gap... Streched sprue with extra thin glue will do. 6
Antoine Posted May 3 Author Posted May 3 And while we're at it, let's push the test-fit a little further.... 5
Antoine Posted May 4 Author Posted May 4 And then, a first coat of paint, as a primer. I'll check and correct small glitches (there's already one jus up and left from the exhausts), and once it's ok, I'll go on with the white identification stripes all over the airframe. I've roughly masked the windshield, as I don't have yet a proper set... 5
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 4 Posted May 4 Other than the one gap on that little intake grate everything looks quite good. I admit you have a different technique to do the white post green ? I would have done white 1st, then Aluminum, some yzc in certain areas like wing roots to accommodate weathering. All of that followed by the Neutral grey and Olive green. Do you have an advantage by doing it this way ? If so I may have to give it a try on my P-40 build.
Antoine Posted May 4 Author Posted May 4 (edited) Hi, Alain, Please do not consider the first coat as a coat of paint, but as a primer. It doesn't matter to me that it is also OD, because there will be more than one kind of OD thereafter. And yes, I'll paint the white before everything, because I'll have to use less masking tape, and there will be no overpaint on the white, as it will be protected under the tape. I suspect you've the same reasons. I use sometime a few patches of metal paint (or even a complete coat), often more shiny than alu or dural, depending on the level of the weathering. But not here, as the pics I have seen show an aircraft weathered (Oil leak seen on the spinner for exemple) but not with paint damaged (The WLE does not show any scratches). Yet I'll add some scratches here and there, but a few only, and with a brush. And by brush too for any touch of primer. Last thing, if I would have donz this as a coat or patches applied by airbrush, I would have placed it BEFORE the white. Edited May 4 by Antoine 1
Chuck1945 Posted May 5 Posted May 5 I’m just catching up on this one, as you can see from my avatar, B&W tuxedo cats are in my life too. 😻 For all the times that P-40 has been in decal or box art offerings, I’ve not seen it built all that much. Looking forward to see this develop. 1
Antoine Posted May 5 Author Posted May 5 6 minutes ago, Chuck1945 said: I’m just catching up on this one, as you can see from my avatar, B&W tuxedo cats are in my life too. 😻 Hi Chuck, Seen that! True, IIRC, I've seen only one so far, early this year. In fact, it was the 1/32 kit, but with the same boxart. AFAIC, I have plans for another one shortly, an E together with an N from Mauve reboxed by Eduard, their first P-40. 1
Antoine Posted May 10 Author Posted May 10 My Kitty mojo was fueled up again early this morning, when I managed to put my hands on a P-40M set of masks, that somebody tried to hide in a mossie's box. Certainly one of my cats, don't know which one yet, but.... The white stripes were from a few days early, and had time to dry. And early today, it was time for a first coat of OD. I've one bottle from tamiya, and OD 1 & 2 from Gunze,.... and also a full six-pack of faded OD from Aeromaster. Should be enough. Seeing the picture for the first time now late in the evening, I see that a strong polish could have been useful. I'll see that first thing in the morning tomorrow, it's never too late. Playing with OD, and with only one motto: Nothing systematic, and nothing symetric! 5
Antoine Posted May 12 Author Posted May 12 (edited) And off the masks. Well... I'm not too happy with the result... My own fault, due mostly I think to the choice of the mask. There are a lot of touch up to do, and the stripes doesn't look right at some places. I know it's also due to the curves of the airframe. Yet I think it shouldn't be so difficult to correct all this. I'll have a try Edited May 12 by Antoine 4
LDSModeller Posted May 12 Posted May 12 (edited) 1 hour ago, Antoine said: Yet I think it shouldn't be so difficult to correct all this. I'll have a try Hi Antoine, Couple of help hints for you, the white stripes are a 6 inch stroke The tail fin and horizontal stabilizers white stripes meet at the base of the three, where they are joined in a white patch as in the photos below (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - used with permissions) This last one should help with angle of the wing stripes (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - used with permissions) Regards Alan Edited May 12 by LDSModeller 3
Antoine Posted May 12 Author Posted May 12 1 hour ago, LDSModeller said: Hi Antoine, Couple of help hints for you, the white stripes are a 6 inch stroke The tail fin and horizontal stabilizers white stripes meet at the base of the three, where they are joined in a white patch as in the photos below Hi Alan, sure it will help, many thanks! I should have enough spare mojo to get it in order, without destroying the work on OD! 6 inch are equivalent to 15.24 cm in the civilized world ()/48, so we have 3,17 mm width in scale. The stripes's mask were 3 mm width... I didn't thought that it would be that noticeable... For the stripes width, I can see in your pics, that there are differencies between the aircraft present. The vertical stripes stop sometime cut straight at 90°, or sometime pointy. Wing's stripe seems to aim for the base of the vertical stripe, and Hasegawa make them reach the WLE at about the place of the U/C leg wells... 1 hour ago, LDSModeller said: The tail fin and horizontal stabilizers white stripes meet at the base of the three, where they are joined in a white patch as in the photos below No time at the moment, but I'll have a better look tonight, as it doesn't seems to be really clear. Sorry for my poor english, I've difficulties when its getting a bit more technic.... 2
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