Here’s my next project, Hobbycraft’s 1/48 P-35A. I became interested in doing this kit after reading an article in Avation History about US aircaft manufactuers export business shortly before WW II.
I decided to build Servrsky’s export version of the P-35A sent to Sweden (i’m 1/2 Swedish) , the EP-106. The Swedish designation was the J-9.
As far as I know there are only 2 kits available in 1/48. Hobbycraft’s which is out of production and Academy. I chose the Hobbycraft because it includes the decals for the Swedish airforce. I was able to pick the kit up on Ebay for $15.00 still in the factory shrink wrap.
The kit is pretty good so far in my opinion. Not much flash and the molding seems pretty crisp. The smaller details are somewhat heavy for the scale however.
I’m using an article on hyperscale.com by Werner Scheibling as well as pictures I found on google for my references.
The kit will pretty much be out of the box except for some scratch built details.
I started with the fuselage to which I added some ribs and a floor for a luggage compartment. I spryed this with Modelmaster aircraft interior black and then dry brsushed with aluminum.
After assembling the Pratt and Whitney radial I also sprayed it flat black and dry brushed with dark gray and aluminum. I then added copper wire for the ignition leads.
It’s looking good! I built that kit with the Swedish markings a decade ago and it came out well. Sadly,when I moved a couple of years later it got destroyed in the process. Nice to see this kit again after so many years. I’ll be following your build with great interest. Keep up the good work.
I have two of these kits. Just putting the final touches on the Academy 1/48 P-26 peashooter. I will await your cockpit details. I too would like to build this kit without resorting to aftermarket photo etch.
I’m interested in your sequence for the interior colors, that you sprayed flat black, then drybrushed aluminum over that. Why did you use that technique, instead of spraying aluminum, and then using a black wash? Not criticizing, just curious.
I’m going to follow your build, too. I have this kit in the Hobbycraft boxing; I’m going to finish mine as one of the P-35’s in the Phillipines at the beginning of the Pacific War, which I’ve wanted to do since reading “Doomed at the Start”.
Mike, I’ve done kits with PE and resin parts. On this kit I wanted to keep the cost at a minimum so I’m going to do my best to make the most of scratch building and finishing.
Baron, this is the first time I’ve tried this sequence. I learned of it from an older gentlemen in our local IPMS chapter, the Lakes Region Scale Modelers to which I belong. He hand paints all of his kits, armour, aircraft, sci-fi, and figures in this manner and achieves amazing results. This was my first attempt and certainly not up to the level of quality of his kits but I was encouraged by the results especially on the engine.
Got in some modeling time[:D]. Here’s my progress this past week.
I wanted to put a couple of items in the luggage compartment as there is a clear hatch through which you can see the interior of the aircraft. So I scratch built a ammo box from styrene. I scaled it from an ammo box I have in my garage. I also made a sleeping bag from some left over curtain fabric my wife had and some masking tape.
For the instrument panel there was not much to dry brush so I cut out some spare decals, glued in place, and covered with Micro Krystal Clear. A punch and die set would have come in handy here.
I made seat belts from masking tape and brass wire. First attempt at this and I was very pleased with the results.
Here’s a couple of pics of the fuselage. Added a little brass wire here and there to add a little more interest.
Thanks for looking. Question, suggestions, and comments welcome
You might even want to sculpt some figures, instead. There was at least one incident, it was recalled in “Doomed at the Start”, in which a pilot took off with two other pilots crammed into that hold, as they were fleeing the Japanese on Luzon.
Thanks guys. No progress tonight, a little burned out from work today[|-)] However was excited to receive my first issue of the IPMS Journal today. Spent some time reading this, always things to learn.
Believe it or not I really have done some building oever the summer. Sorry for the absence of WIP updates.
I built this kit OOB expect for the sliding section of the canopy. The kit part would not fit over the rear section in the open position. I ended up buying a Squadron vacuum formed canopy for the center section. This was my first experience with a vacuum formed part and I was quite happy with the results. Other than that I scratch built details in the cockpit, the compartment behind the cockpit and items stored there, landing gear bays, and details on the engine.
Anyway here’s the finished pictures. Questions and comment welcome.
Thats a really nice looking P-35 m8 and i don’t want to nitpick, but i’m pretty sure the control stick is in backwards, thats something judge’s notice. Other than that it’s a fine looking bird.
