P-40B at Pearl Harbor

[George]

Gents:  I am not 100% sure about cockpit color.  I have seen P-40B color images from Flick-r which may indicate it was "yellow-green."  I don't know it is more yellow than green or mix.  I was advised it was halfway between FS 34258 and FS 34259.  I also was advised it was 10 parts ZYC, 1 part lamp black and .25 aluminum paste which tells me it is more yellow. 

 

Also, were the "scallops" (underneath the plexiglass) aft of the cockpit painted the exterior color (Dark Olive Drab 41) or the cockpit color?

 

I ask because I have 1/24 P-40B project.  Thanks.

 

I would love to know your thoughts on the matter. Thanks, George

[Furie]

1 hour ago, George said:

 

Also, were the "scallops" (underneath the plexiglass) aft of the cockpit painted the exterior color (Dark Olive Drab 41) or the cockpit color?

 

 

The "scallops" were painted the same colour as the exterior of the aircraft, just like camouflage.

 

 

 

Asisbiz Curtiss Hawk-81A Tomahawk photo gallery

Edited November 21, 2023 by Furie

[George]

Thanks.  This is perfect! Happy Thanksgiving!

[George]

I looked at a color image of a Curtiss Owl O-52 cockpit from the National Museum of the US Air Force.  It's yellow-green in color leaning more towards yellow.  I bet dollars to donuts this is probably the same or approximate color standard of the P-40B cockpit.  We can learn from other Curtiss early WW2 aircraft.

[TAG]

Hey, George

 

I'm inclined to agree with you, "Curtiss Green" tended towards the yellow with some brownish undertones, I'd almost call it an ocher (depending on the lighting, of course).

 

LIFE Magazine actually did a full-color story on the Curtiss factory back in the summer of '41, so prior to Pearl Harbor, and you can see the full set of photos on Inch High Guy's blog, here's part I, part II, and part III.

 

Meanwhile, here's a few choice samples that showcase the cockpit color in early Warhawks.

This is a little overexposed by the glaring flash they used, but shows the yellow-brownish cast of Curtiss Green to good effect.

 

Some more from the LIFE story:

Note the color of the cockpit in daylight, as opposed to factory lights and a giant flash. Also cool to see the differences in flying gear, betting these fellas are civilian pilots hired by Curtiss who are all wearing their own personal duds.

 

These hubcaps were painted in the same color as the cockpit, really shows off how much browner Curtiss Green was compared to most other versions of Interior Green.

 

Here's another period color shot that's not from the LIFE series, the armor plate is painted in a darker green (IG possibly?) but the rest of the cockpit is clearly Curtiss Green.

 

As for the scallops, as @Furie mentioned above, they were considered an exterior surface and thus painted in exterior colors. The windows were easily removed, so repaints usually adhered to the same principle. One thing to remember about early P-40's is that scallop on the port side had two filler ports, the forward one (painted red) being for fuel and the rear one (painted black?) for the oil tank, which led to some pretty wild leakage stains. It's a pretty cool weathering detail to add to your early P-40 that most modelers miss.

 

AVG in China, note the giant fuel and oil stains under the rear filler ports, also the back of the prop blades scuffed back to bare metal from the dirt and rocks of their primitive airfields.

 

They even leaked while still at the factory!

 

Good luck with your build, post some photos if you can.

 

Cheers,

- Thomaz

[phasephantomphixer]

Great stuff guys - P-40's weren't top performers, but top in coolness! Always loved them.

 They just have the fighter look. The old Revell kit is what got me going in 1/32 really.

[dennismcc]

Great photos, now I am confused about what to build, AVG or Pearl harbour defender both are very attractive looking machines.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[George]

Hi Dennis.  I recommend building the P-40B (Pearl Harbor Defender).  For inspiration, watch these clip from Tora, Tora, Tora.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohnoNnz8xEE

 

[George]

Gunze's H58 is good approximation for "Curtiss Cockpit Green."

[MikeMaben]

 

hth

[LSP_K2]

On 1/13/2024 at 2:28 AM, phasephantomphixer said:

Great stuff guys - P-40's weren't top performers, but top in coolness! Always loved them.

 They just have the fighter look. The old Revell kit is what got me going in 1/32 really.

 

For me it was the A6M Zero kit, though I eventually ended up with the P-40 and others as well.

[phasephantomphixer]

On 1/13/2024 at 2:37 AM, dennismcc said:

Great photos, now I am confused about what to build, AVG or Pearl harbour defender both are very attractive looking machines.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

What may help you decide is PH one would've been very clean and new whereas the FT would be sun baked, weathered and worn.

[George]

The PH Defender is nice!  Try it in 1/24 scale!

[Dpgsbody55]

One thing to consider with Curtiss aircraft is that their adherence to official colour guides were best described as "loose".  If they were low on stock, it wasn't uncommon to source them locally to a rough approximation of the required shade or colour.

 

 

Cheers,

Michael