1/48 Academy: Hawk-75 WIP

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Some time ago I started P-40 project. While building P-40E from Australia and P-40M from China, I decded to add a bit more spice into P-40 and build P-36 (Hawk-75) from “French Episode” 1940.

The engine made by Academy simply … is not good enough, so I replaced it with a resin kit. Theengine cawlings are also a bit “rough” so I made a correction here as well

Academy engine …

it just does not make any sense

Academy parts are out of this world … [:)]

Next step was to correct guns covers …guns covers are much too long …

a comparison …

and after some time it looks like this:

Next step will be engine valve pushtube covers and ignition wires flaps from Eduard

but this is a next Week task [:)]

2

So far, so good man. How was the build?? I wanted to build a curtiss-hawk 75 in an argentinean scheme, but I have to make severals modifications… hobbycraft makes a 1/48 scale of the argentinean version, but I think is out of production now.

so I will probably use the academy kit, so any spots need some care?

best regards

Jeremias

3

Academy and HobbyCraft are the same kits (in my opinion). Maybe some people could compare both kits.

You asked what parts require speciall attention ? - ALL OF THEM [:)]

It is a very rough kit. You can however took care of a lot of things fairly easy, a lot of sand and putty and sand … [:)]

Since there is nothing else on the market at this time (in 1/48) - I did not have any choice but get Academy and a lot of aftermarket parts:

  • cockpit resin kit (Legend ?)

  • engine (Quickboost)

  • wheel wells (Eduard, Part)

  • flaps (Eduard)

  • canopy frames(Part)

  • Landing gear (Part)

I hope by adding the above the kit will look really nice.

4

Greg, looking good there. What kits are the P-40s?

5

P-40E - 1/48 Hasegwa - a very nice kit. If I am going to build next P-40 it will be Hasegawa!

P-40M - Eduard Special Edition; nice kit but far behind crisp Hasegawa kit.

6

very nice build so far! BTW, where did you get brass tubing for the guns? I’ve been looking for something like that for mustang wing guns and maybe B-17 .50 cal barrels.

7

Greg-

You’re doing beautiful work as usual, glad to see you have not lost your touch. Your improvements to the cowling area really make it look better. WIll this aircraft have Polish markings from when they served in the French AF? I hope so. [:)]

8

[:)] Frank, you read my mind, however H-75 flown by Polish pilots did not have Polish markings - they got them streight from the factory to the air [:)] with no time to repaint them [:)] (almost [:)]). I am not sure yet what exactly markings I will use, the first choice is H-75 flown by Lt.Col. Hagelen (French); It was his personal decision to place Polish Red/White insignia on his plane. There is an interesting story with him and Polish Air Force), The other choice would be an aircraft from GC II/5 flown by Polish pilots. The four colour camo may be a challange [:)]

9

Iv’e got them at LHS in CT. I think even Luckymodels.com carry all kind of brass parts (and with very reasonable prices too)

10

Greg- Very cool! I would like to know the story about Lt.Col.Hagelen. [tup]

11

Greg great looking trio you have going.

12

Thanks [:)]. In fact both P-40E and P-40M are almost ready for a first coat. The picture above was taken pretty long time ago [:)]. All three have a common denominator [:)]. You probobly know that already [:)] (besides being from Curtiss production plant [:D][:D])

13

I finished the engine (at least for now) and started wirking with flaps

fitting …

14

This is all just spectacular. It’s so nice to read about such careful and skillful work. Well done. I’ve got several of these on the shelf and your detailed descriptions will prove very helpful.

15

Grzegorz, did you try to fit the propeller while the engine is inside the cowling ? When I was building mine H-75, I’ve made a gun barrels from hypodermic needles, but I’ve discovered, that they were to long, and the propeller blades couldn’t rotate because of them - I left the project with the problem unsolved.

Hope you can manage with it !

Regards. Aleksander

16

Thanks for pointing this issue. I will take care of it. The length of the barrels was set according to drawings and pictures I reviewed. The engine position is also not set yet; and it will not be as shown on Academy instruction - I think those are wrong.

17

So - I will follow your construction progress - may be I could do something with my Hawk too !

18

On PWM “Ryczace P-czterdziestki” [:)]

19

Your level of detailing has always been mindboggling, Greg! Well done so far! Especially with the engines-top drawer work, right there![tup]

20

Gosh makes the one I did for the 48 hour GB look like poo-do! Good thing I didn’t see this until now otherwise I never would have made the deadline. Never realized all the inaccuracies. The wheel wells I thought were ok? The canvas covers inside seemed fairly well rendered I thought?

I’ll be watching! I built the Hobby craft one years ago and marked it with Chinese whit 4 markings I’ll have to check and see where it is and compare, I remeber that the fit seemed a lot better with the Hobby craft kit.