Trumpeter P-40B AVG

[csavaglio]

This one's been on the bench a really, really long time....at least 2 1/2 years. When I started it, I ordered the decals and cockpit from Cutting Edge, if that gives any indication. I just got around to picking it back up a few weeks ago.

 

I still have to attach the antenna leads. I used the CE pit and decals. I didn't paint the green fields behind the tiger emblem.....I think they're a little big, so the field didn't look right when I was masking it off. I also scratched the RAF style pitot.

 

Chris

 

 

 

 

[Allan Peters]

Looks great Chris, excellent job on the weathering, not overdone. I've got the same kit/cockpit/decals and it might still be a few years until I get to mine.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Allan

[LSP_Kevin]

Very nice work Chris! You don't see this one built all that often, for some reason.

 

Kev

[Texas]

I like It....You did a really nice job all around.

 

Texas

[Allok]

Very tidy, nice work.

[csavaglio]

Thanks, fellas, I appreciate it.

 

I don't know why you don't see too many of these built up. Other than a few minor bits, it fell together, and they can be. The exhaust pipes are two piece and look good when together...they're hollow, but the two pieces didn't seem to fit at all. I had to cut off the angled area closest to the motor and putty up the gaps. I put them on at the end and cut off the little tabs that key into the motor. I just eyeballed them instead.

 

I'm not sure if I'd do the same thing again, but I'd like to use the motor in a different project, so I may have to rig up something with the exhausts.

 

I've got another destined to be either a Pearl Harbor plane or a trainer from Mitchel Field. I lived in Long Island as a kid and remember driving by Mitchel and seeing vintage planes there...probably during airshows or from the museum, but I was young. I distinctly remember a B-25, but that could be just a random memory.

 

C

[Mikester]

That's a beauty, Chris.

 

Definitely one I'd like to do in the future.

[stikpusher]

Beautiful work! I have that kit in my stash. Are there any pitfalls or speedbumps to watch out for during construction?

[LSP_Ron]

Nice overall finish. I like the subtle sheen to the paint.

[csavaglio]

The cockpit is really weird looking, being about 2/3 as deep as it should be with an floor instead of the top of the wings. I used the Cutting Edge cockpit, but it's long out of production. From what I've heard, the CMK cockpit doesn't address the depth issue. I have another one in the stash to do, and I'll probably scratch the cockpit since it's not terribly complex.

 

There's an odd step about 2/3 back from the leading edge on the wing roots and I'm not sure what the purpose was except to create a gap at the front areas of the root. I sanded this off.

 

The wheel well pieces didn't fit the wing real well, but I didn't fuss with them to get them to fit well since I knew I'd be using Apoxie to make the canvas boots and none of that would be seen.

 

I meantioned the exhausts earlier and theses were probably the only real PITA of the kit. Otherwise, the kit was a breeze and really fell together.

 

C

[LSP_Ray]

Looks good! I have some 2.5 year-plus old projects I am hoping to finish in the Group build. Hope mine end up looking as nice!

[TimW]

Most cool....I, too, am irritated about the depth issue, especially as the only Cutting Edge set I have is sitting in a Hawk 75 conversion I built a few years ago!

 

Now I have the Hobbycraft version of the P-40, lots of nice decals (including Soviet) and am not looking forward to scratch-building the cockpit.

 

The 1/24th P-40 had the same problem for some reason.

 

Cheers,

 

Tim W.

[csavaglio]

I think the later P-40s had a shallower cockpit with a traditional floor instead of the early ones that used the upper wing surface as the floor. Most museum examples are P-40E's and later, so I think that's why the shallow cockpit appears in the kits so often.

 

My plan for the second one is to scratch the cockpit. I'll use a few of the bits as the basis for new pit, since they look ok other than being short...like the stick. I may use the unused seat from this one to add a section in and make one good seat out of two bad ones. We'll see when that comes about...

 

I've never seen this one in the Hobbycraft boxing. Usually when they rebox a trumpeter kit, they give really cool decals. Occasionally, they'll even give you the original ones in addition to the new ones.

 

C