cutaway p-40b...

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

…aka hawkenstien 3.

havent posted an inprogress build here for a long time. but the urge to gain new perpective and opinions has overcome me. maybe it is just a feeble attempt to stroke the ego and see my work on another forum.

my model building has taken an interesting, at least for me, turn. i am finding myself trying to replicate much of the detail that is unavailable without purchasing am sets. i find myself in a position of wanting this and no funds to purchase the am stuff so i chose the next best option. i spend time trying to fashion the parts out of scrap styrene, aluminum can, wire, and other items found in the box that i clean the desk off with.

the subject for this particular adventure is one that is familiar. the 1/32 trumpeter p-40b. for this adventure i wanted to try something out of my comfort zone. a cutaway to me is a build that showcases a model builders skill and talent. for me it is a quest to see if i can build a model without the option of hiding some of the glaring flaws from the production and the glaring errors of the builder.

three weeks ago i began this adventure where most of my adventures end, i began to disassemble a perfectly good injection molded kit. first step in the instructions is engine work. for me it was to decide which panels to remove to show the interior. well for me that took me here.

ok with that being done i began to “rib out” the interior with bulkheads and stringers, just for show mind you.

the other part of this was to fix the cockpit. the pit is well documented as far too shallow. so i dropped it.

that is the documented progress so far. now for the undocumented stuff. i am currently working on the recievers, hydrolic tank, fuel tank, battery, and all the lines and hoses for them. i have taken pictures of them but white on white doesnt work very well with my camera so i havent posted them.

i am finding that i now seem to have collected just about everything needed to build a p-40 from scratch. pictures, drawings, and schematics are plentiful right now.

this is an all in build for me. to challenge myself, to reach for something out of my comfort zone.

not much in the pictures to go by yet but there will be more in the future. i am to the point that i will need to commit color to the interior of the fuse and the items i have played with. the next update will follow that.

all comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.

joe

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Thanks for sharing, Joe. And I can’t wait to see more. I’m gradually trying to challenge my modeling skills as well. I want someday to be able to scratchbuild virtually anything…as far as models go. I’ve never scratchbuilt an entire model but I have scratchbuilt some small parts to varying degrees of success. Please continue to show as much of your build process as you can. I’m sure there is much I can learn from you.

Jim

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Looks good Joe-I will be following this build.

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Nice work, Joe. It’s always good to stretch the skill set.

5

Looks great Joe! I have seen lots of cutaway models but never WIP pics. I will be following this closely!

POST POST POST!!

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Great start Joe. I built a cutaway Shiden a few years back in 1/48. But I cheated and used Hasegawas ‘clear’ model as a start, as they have the interior skeleton in PE, not that it was easy putting that thing together!

You can see my effort here:

www.finescale.com/…/Building%20a%20cutaway%20N1K2-J%20Shiden%20Kai.aspx

Love to see more of your in-progess pics!

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Really cool! Great work on the stringers- I too really want to see how you do this!

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Great work Joe. Very realistic scratch building. Can’t wait to see that cockpit built up.

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Very nice work Joe. I can’t wait to see this one come together.

Joe

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well folks i am grateful for all of you tagging along. i have played a bit with the cockpits of earlier builds but this is a new animal all together.

waikong there is no cheating in what you did. it looks dang good to me.

i will keep you updated as i go along here.

joe

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had some issues with the white not showing very well in the pictures. with that in mind i waited and fabricated and then painted.

and the results…well not entirely happy but i will explain that in a few.

first of all was the fuel tank. this is one of four tanks that is present. thanks to saul “sharkmouth” garcia and his vault of references.

my rendition.

and a first for me. the recievers. all 5 of them are represented as well as the dynamotors.


and skipping ahead a bit, here is all of it together.


now with all of that what can you possibly see? well here…


all told i am not unsatisfied with the receivers and such. they look almost ok. i am however not real happy with the pipping, wiring, and such.

may have to revisit that before it gets closed up.

next up will be either the pit or the engine compartment. not sure just yet.

comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.

joe

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Looking good so far. Excited to see what you come up with. I’m really eager to show some planes being worked on to expose some of what’s underneath. Glad to see someone else take on the challenge. =]

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many thanks. the challenge for me is to make it look decent. to me it looks off. maybe cluttered is the right word.

joe

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Sometimes cluttered is just the way it works out. These guys were building aircraft to be what the needed to be. They weren’t so worried about ergonomics and cup holders and the like. lol =D But if you’re thinking about scale…then, I’d suggest you consider the scale thickness of the cables and wires that you’re including. That can do a lot to help “free up some room” visually and aesthetically.

Give it a shot. =]

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Gaaaaah!!! Wow Joe!! Nice work!!!

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many thanks for the kindness.

honestly i am looking more for less cluttered than more room. in the pictures everything looks thrown together and not with any kind of logic. i have removed it all and will be trying again.

joe

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Joe! It’s been a very long time indeed since we’ve seen you post here - welcome back!

You are…for lack of a better word…certifiably insane…LOL…and for not having all that wickedly expensive PE and aftermarket resin, you’re doing a pretty darned good job. I like it!

I can’t wait to see more - pretty impressive stuff, brother.

Keep up the good work! Thanks for sharing!

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well lee thanks. but you may want to wait a touch. see i didnt like what i had going. i finally listened to myself and tore it all out. starting from step one again.

joe

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LMAO!!! Yeah…I’ve done that…many times.

BUT…the good thing is - the next go at it will be even better than the first. Nice!

Keep posting the pics when you can, mate. Can’t wait to see your new, improved version!

Cheers, brother!

And your signature…yeah…hat’s off to those who serve. My fiancee is a Captain in the Army - she’s deployed three times to the sandbox…dodged mortars for a year in Iraq. The sacrifice they willingly give is…incredible - and humbling. They do it for us…and for America. HOOOOAH!

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Joe, very neat work and way to tackle that challenge. Looking forward to more.