I’m currently working on the Revell 1/125 U-47, but I felt like painting something again. So here is what I’ve done since last night.
The 1/72 Airfix P-40B from Libya 1941.
I started by painting it in Vallejo Desert yellow and Game Air Earth, masking the pattern with silly putty worms. It came out okay and I dusted it overall with a mix of matte, gloss, and a couple drops of Buff.
I didn’t like how it turned out so this morning I remasked the Earth and resprayed with Middlestone. I like this look better.
After that I had to mix up my own Azure Blue from Vallejo and MSP colors. It’s surprising how compatible those two brands are. Sprayed like a dream.
This is a good little kit and almost as impressive as the 1/48 scale model.
Some details painted in for later and another couple panel tone changes, and then an enamel clear Cote to seal it up.
In the background you can see the included Humbrol colors that came with the kit. They are far darker than the colors printed on the packaging that I used for my reference.
The weird thing is that each of the colors took the gloss differently. Some smooth and some like a fine sandpaper - almost gritty.
Isn’t it wonderful how gloss cotes can show you every little painting flaw sometimes?
There were some pretty distinct raised edges along some of my camo scheme that were accentuated by the gloss. I went over them with a wet/dry 4000 grit sanding pad to level them out.
I also got a bit jumpy with the roundels on the lower wings, applying them before the clear had fully cured. I knew I should’ve waited til tomorrow (facepalm) but I just couldn’t wait. So there will be some paint touch-ups (like usual for me) after I get all of these decals on tomorrow.
For now, I need to add a new Cote of gloss and let it dry overnight. Ah, learning curves… Amazing teachers.
One thing I have learned with this build is that thin cotes of gloss layered on with a brush work better than on thick one out of a spray can. And now I know, and knowing is half the battle. Go Joe!
I’m learning a lot from the couple of P-40 builds going on now. I have 3 set up to build after I finish some clean-up and repairs on some models for the museum then I’ll get started on mine. Thanks for posting all the great pics and the info.
So, 3 P-40 builds you say? I still have the 1/48 Airfix to finish and a 1/48 Revell I haven’t even started yet. Once completed I’ll have a total of 5 of them in my display and 4 of those will be -B’s.
That doesn’t include the three or four P-36’s I have as well lol.
I’m no expert, but I do know quite a lot about the P-36/40 series. If you have any questions, PM me anytime.
Some of these decals have been a royal PITA. The F*GA are all one solid decal and the A was a bstard! It folded and crinckled and had to be cut loose and untangled before being re-placed on the fuselage.
For a “starter” kit there is no way without a copious amount of Micro Sol that the sharks mouth will line up correctly. Probably best to cut off the lower black stripes and just simply paint that part on.
I expected better from Cartograph. Yes they are beautifully printed and register perfectly, but these are just a touch too thick for the sharks mouth contours without the Sol.
So, this is one side. Took me all freaking afternoon til now.
Yeah. That’s one side. Guess I’ll do the other side tomorrow lol.
I have the Pro-Modeler P-40E, Hobby Craft “AVG” Tiger Shark and the Trumpeter P-40B. I have slowly been ordering all the AM I wanted for the builds. It’s been coming by dribs and drabs.
Well if you do build any of them, you can count on me to follow along.
Final pictures? Maybe more later with a better backdrop than my cluttered table lol.
With a MiG 3
All paints were Vallejo. Weathering was all Tamiya powders.
I modulated panels, used oil washes, and lots of Set and Sol to get finished. Tamiya’s weathering powders kept it simple.
I’m impressed with how these new Airfix kits can turn out. I have a couple more in 1/72 and a couple in 1/48 I need to finish as well.
Thanks for following the painting progress with me. The build was straight forward and the only mistakes were made by my making it a quick build. It could’ve been even better.
