Before I jump into the next big scale Corsair, I figure I’d knock out a few quick builds (famous last words). The new Airfix P-40 is is one I’ve been itching to do for quite some time and I can no longer wait (heck I bought 4 of them). I’m going with Robert Neale’s 1st Pursuit Squadron mount with the AVG. He was the leading AVG ace with 13 kills while with them. Other than some belts, guns and perhaps some wheels (depending what the kit’s examples look like), I’ll be going out of the box.
Neale’s “White 7”
I started with the pit. Wow…what a dandy out of the box. They even give you placard decals. Airfix gives you two seats, a rounded and square backed version. My research revealed that AVG planes usually had square backs with lap belts only. I followed suit. I added some small styrene squares at the top per pic reference. I also read that AVG Hawks were originally destined for England and were painted accordingly, to include the interior. I used X-5 Flat Green, XF-21 Sky and XF-65 Field Grey to simulate RAF cockpit grey-green. The instrument panel was a decal and it worked great.
I painted the chin intake/radiator flat black because I suspect they won’t be seen. I rarely waste time and energy painting things that can’t be seen. Life’s too short…paint is too expensive. These were glued in place on the starboard side, as was the cockpit. I also added the nose cowl panels at this point so I won’t have to deal with them later. I’m not sure why Airfix chose to make these separate pieces, but fortunately they fit fairly well. Here I have test fitted the fuselage. I’m pleased so far.
P-40 Gurus, real quick, the scalloped area behind the pit should be camoflage color correct? Thanks in advance for the input.
I got the 72nd B-1 last year, great looking kit and i am waiting out on the B-2/R-2. It used to be i would not touch them, now i look forward to every new release.
That pit is nice to put together, isn’t it? The IP decal fit like perfection and has beautiful detail. The inclusion of the pilot in my build meant a lot of the pit can’t be seen, but that IP shines through, fortunately lol.
I understand your choice with the radiators, I gave mine a little effort, but you really have to look deep to see them. I’m glad they were added to the kit and I like knowing they’re there, but they are difficult to see from more then head on.
Ive made notes in my build log of the next few trouble spots once the wings are on. None of them are very troublesome. Just a little putty and you’re good to go.
I’ve got mine on hold so I’m quite interested to see how yours will turn out.
Have you built one of the new Airfix kits yet Toshi? They have made serious strides with new technologies to be top competitors for our hard earned monies.
With regard to the scallops; I’ve been researching my P-40s for some time now and I have a source that states they were painted both ways with no rules stating that they had to be one way or another. So, some were interior cockpit color while others were exterior colors. You can’t really tell in BW photos and the color ones that you can find are usually of restored AC. So it’s basically builder’s choice. I will have one with cockpit color and one with camo color. I prefer the look of the camo myself. I’m still looking for the source I found that info. As soon as I do I’ll post it up.
Interesting. So all models from the D onward could have been either pit color or camo, but early models such as the B and C were most likely (but not exclusively) pit color?
That’s how I read it. Sounds like they painted them according to how easy it was to access that area to change the color. And that most likely they mostly came out of the factory with pit color and were changed later if it was easy.
Hi Mike … I’m researching for a P-40B from the flying tigers and the pictures I’ve seen show the area to be painted to follow the camouflage colors… So even that early you can see both .
I’ve been pondering this. Logically, I would think that the rear window panels would be painted whatever color the aircraft was originally ordered in.
If there were any field modifications to the factory paint scheme then that area would remain the original factory color.
I’m referring to B and C models, of course.
So far in the pictures I’ve seen of pre-war P-40’s the area is O.D.
I assume that the AVG aircraft, being ordered from the factory in Brittish camouflage, would likely be painted in camouflage behind the glass panels as well. Since the camo patterns were not field applied.
So I suppose it is up to us as the artists to research the subject, as per the norm, and determine how we choose to paint the subject.
I think it would safe to assume that not too many of these planes were left with the pit color behind the rear panels. But that’s just my opinion based on my own understanding of the article provided.
I also like the camo being behind the rear panel and not pit color so I don’t think I’ll be painting that area pit color anymore.
In my research for my -E I discovered that it was orginally painted OD over NG and shipped to China where it was given a British camo scheme on the upper surface and assigned to the AVG. Then later on when it was reassigned to the USAAF it was again repainted to darker browns and greens over NG. So, the thought that they all left the factory with OD in the cutouts is sound, but some planes were painted in the field to British Camo as there is a photo of the # 106 -E AVG model undergoing a color change in its camo in the field.
Great start, Lawdog. She’ll be another stellar addition to your collection.
I have just finished reading Charles R. Bond, Jr.'s “A Flying Tiger’s Diary” which gives a good account of the day to day happenings of the AVG. For reference, the tiger emblems from Walt Disney did not show up until after March 13. Just a bit of trivia.
