I am interested in modeling the Curtiss P-40 used by the early AVG in the Burma theatre in WWII. I would like a 1:48 if possible. Can anyone direct me to a good quality available model? I did search the forum for P-40 but didn’t come up with anything.
[?]
There is the old Revell Monogram 1/48 kit and it is currently available. It takes some work to bring up to hi speed, but it is a good starting point. Hobbycraft made nice newer molding of the P-40B/C, but I think it is currently OOP. Trumpeter also does a 1/48 P-40B/C that is probably the nicest (and newest molding) of the three. There are plenty of decals out there as well.
Try entering a specific model type: P-40B, P-40E, etc. You’ll get results you want.
Jim
I recently built 5 P-40s. I built the Trumpeter P-40B kit which was the best quality of the 5 I built. The Academy kit was a P-40C and was of decent quality but the cockpit lacked good detailing. The old Monogram kit is a classic but needs a lot of work to bring up to modern standards. The others I built were later models that the Flying Tigers did not fly. I’d recommend that Trumpeter kit. And there are lots of good decal sets available.
I agree with you. the Trumpeter P-40 is a good model. I’ll go for that one for a P-40.
Here’s what I did with the old Monogram kit:
Manny, that’s gorgeous!
What cockpit did you put in? Is it AM or scratch?
Not trying to hijack this thread, but could you explain what you did/modified/altered on that kit Eric?
That has got to be one of the finest P-40s I have ever seen. Tell me more!!! [:P]
Manny,
That’s one fine P40! Which decale set did you use?
The company I worked for built the engines used in all the P40’s, and at onetime they must have had forty pitures on display of the Flying Tigers alone (on the oposite wall from that brand new M46 tank). The whole display has been gone for about ten years now, and suspect they just tossed the photos!
gary
[#ditto]
The newer kits are nice, I’m sure, but my vote would still be for the Monogram kit. I have 2 of them currently in progress. Well, OK, they’ve become bench queens, but it’s not for want of anything, I keep a couple of things going at once, and I’ve completed some quick builds.
I built the Monogram P-40 as a kid, and it was one of the first kits I sought out, when I returned to modeling some 20 years later. In fact, I think I more in the stash, too, in newer boxings, above and beyond the 2 that are in progress.
Regards,
Brad
And actually, look at Herr Feldmarschall’s model, I am as astounded as the others, he did a beautiful job, but there’s not a lot you have to add. I would say that the biggest problem area on the Monogram kit is the fit of the nose plate to the front fuselage. The front halves may be just a hair narrower than the nose plate (which includes the chin intake, the nose intake, and the nose machine gun snouts). But I found that all it took was a spacer made from a piece of sprue, to push the fuselage sides out.
With good skills, and a little extra effort, you can make it into a really nice model.
Regards,
Brad
The Monogram P-40B is the only one that pleases me, the other two are easier to build but have a poor nose shape and less than actual fuselage depth in the cockpit area, which causes problems with wing incidence. Here is a Monogram kit I built last year.
There’s also the Academy P-40B/C.
Here’s links to reviews of both kits.
…just have to comment on MansteinsRevenge. HOLY COW! Beautiful.
And since we’re showing, this came from the 70s:
All that remains of my Monogram 1/48 scale P-40 “Flying Tiger” is this well posed, but grainy Polaroid photograph.
Dmk and all - thanks so much for the responses. More out there than I thought and I never knew that Walmart even sold model kits? Where do you look?
Eric Von - hope you will have time to answer all the folks who are as jazzed about your model as I am! Specifically, what decal set did you use? Is it the case that the one supplied with the kit is never very good? [:P]
On another note, I am looking to model the original AVG group that flew for 7 months before being incorporated into 14th USAF. What I read is that they were given the original Curtiss P-40, not the P-40B. Is that correct and if so, is it much difference in modeling?
Would love to get a decal set with Pappy Boyington in it. [sigh]
Outstanding examples… Wow…
Oh yeah… My vote is for the Monogram P-40 as well… I love that kit. Managed to snag two offa Ebay a short while back… Like everyone says, it takes a bit of work to bring it up to standard, but that’s 70% of the fun of those Monogram birds, and it’s like goin’ home…
Hans - assuming I can find that Monogram model, what specifically did you have to do to spruce it up and bring it up to standards? [?]
You can find it. It was just re-issued by Revell under their new style label. Or should I say re-boxed. I don’t think it has really been OOP since it was first issued way back when. It has been that good of a seller.