P-40 GB Build FUN

[dahut]

Ok, here's the skinny on this one. I got into a GB over on FSM AND ARC which allows me to do one P-40 for both builds. I decided to do a 112 Sq, Kittyhawk Ia, but instead of the usual ones, I've selected the mysterious GA * ?.

So, I have sorta been toying with this, trying to get a little momentum going. It is the first model I have gotten earnest over since the Great Plastic Annihilation wrought by my ex-wife a few years ago. Tonight I took a poke at the office.

Being a little oldschool, I have NEVER tried a resin detail set - well, not yet. I have a few collected up, but none for the P-40. But, since I am doing this with canopy closed, absolute fidelity won't be needed in there. In such cases, I just refer to a few photos and add replicant "fiddly bits" down in the hole. I just want to add flavor and the hint that there is "business" in there, should one take a look through the canopy. Here's what it looks like in the raw state:

Have to finish the painting and washing and dry brushing... well, you get the idea. Note its brushes, as I have yet to get an a/b going again and I'm still working in a lash up, just a cleared off corner! One thing at a time. I'll put up a pic or two when it's completed, if anyone cares to see them.

I'm not looking to win any contests here. I just want to be worthy of the GB badge.

Cheers.

Edited November 22, 2007 by dahut

[Mentalguru]

Well its good to see the enthusiasm returning. Ex wives can be strange in their anihilation requests- if they can't assimilate you, then you must be deleted.

But it looks like you are quite close on the interior colour.. These earlier P-40's definately appear to show a very light sandy interior green. Almost a bit like you had mixed light green with the Japanese bamboo colour.

Looking at the photo posted of GA the other day, It seems "obvious" that the Dark Green areas of the camou finish wer erepainted the lighter desert colour perhaps, as evidenced by the masked off serial under the tail and obviously much darker backing colour, and the mess of the roundel. Now- IF this lighter interior colour was indeed applicable to this aircraft, then it would appear to mimic the midstone lighter colour, including the areas under the side perspex panels. This might be a point for discussion as it is such a Brit subject.

[dahut]

Well its good to see the enthusiasm returning. Ex wives can be strange in their anihilation requests- if they can't assimilate you, then you must be deleted.

But it looks like you are quite close on the interior colour.. These earlier P-40's definately appear to show a very light sandy interior green. Almost a bit like you had mixed light green with the Japanese bamboo colour.

Looking at the photo posted of GA the other day, It seems "obvious" that the Dark Green areas of the camou finish wer erepainted the lighter desert colour perhaps, as evidenced by the masked off serial under the tail and obviously much darker backing colour, and the mess of the roundel. Now- IF this lighter interior colour was indeed applicable to this aircraft, then it would appear to mimic the midstone lighter colour, including the areas under the side perspex panels. This might be a point for discussion as it is such a Brit subject.

Oh yes, I'm pretty sure that the temperate green was oversprayed; factory deliveries are quoted as being in the usual British temperate scheme - dark earth and green. I've seen the pic you refer to, as well, so what you say makes sense. I'm making an assumption here on the interior color, however - really, just good old generic ZC. The various 'Hawks were produced in the USA and, AFAIK, used standard US coatings on the interiors. It also seems there is no absolute standard for zinc chromate, colorwise. I am a veteran of NAVAIR service, and have seen it anywhere from a yellowish color to more of an olive.

That being said, it was just simplest to nip a bottle of ZC from the paint bin and slobber it on! I'm trying to get some momentum going here, if you'll recall, and not wring my hands over EVERY detail.

SIDE NOTE: That old bottle of Pactra ZC paint is still going strong after all these years. It tries to thicken up, in some sort of perverse acrylic defiance, so I add a little more Windex in response, give it a shake - and away we go! I wont use it in my airbrush when it gets up, but for touch ups, brush on's as here and the like, it's a wonder.

BTT, what is the deal with the clear perspex panels? Some renditions show them painted the fuselage color somewhere along the line, while others show them remaining in the factory green color, right? The few color references I've seen, mostly artistic renditions, indicate that went either way. I suspect that if I were a squadron painter out in the field, I doubt I'd go to the trouble to pull the panels and repaint that area a new color. After all, the Jerries were just over the next sand dune!

Can you shed some light on this, so I can be reasonably sure to get that right?

Edited November 22, 2007 by dahut