Here’s a couple shots of MPM’s 1/48 P-63 Kingcobra kit. I used the kit decals, which are very thin. Surprisingly, I was able to move them once they were on the model. They stuck like glue to the last one I built, and were difficult to move without adding lots of water. These were dipped into very hot (but not boiling) water, so that may have helped. The whites are very opaque, but the yellow tail codes are translucent. I may have to overpaint them. I added Eduard PE belts and cockpit lights to the kit.
It’s one of MPM’s earlier limited run kits, with LOTS of flash and no locator pins or tabs. I even had to take a razor saw to the forward fuselage portion of the lower wings to get everything to align ! The vac canopy is also difficult to fit. It took about three minutes to mask, but almost three hours to fit. Not a kit for the faint-of-heart.
Bill,
Woooah… now that cuts a dashing image indeed, the Cobra! [:)]
Looking good inside and out, thanks for the peek!
Take care,
Frank
Bill, nice P-63!, I believe you did an AiraCobra about this time last year that was very nice as well. Any way one question. I have a Monogram P-39 with a conversion set for this kit which provides a 4 bladed prop. In your research have you run across any info on any P-39’s with this prop. Seem to believe that the Kingcobra variant used this. Other wise I was thinking a late “Q” may have appeared with 4 bladed props. Not much info so far on a google search.
Chuck
Fly Navy
Hey Pix… looks great. I think the tail numbers just look faded… in a good way, like weathered paint.
Pix,
Nice build!!! I’ve always loved the lines of the P-63, that is, until they put that big blob of a tail on it in the later models. This looks great! I may have to get one of these. I’ve got an MPM FW-190S-8 waiting somewhere in the wings, so I may have to pick this one up too!
Nice looking kingcobra, grat job Pix!
I have always wanted to build one, Pixs your looks great
Thad
Pixi
You never cease to amase me on your work, all I could say is one word
AWSOME,
Keep it up
Looking great as usual Pix. I will be waiting for pictures of the finished product.
Looking great as always Pix. Thanks for sharing. Bryan
Cool cobra dude! Looks like the star and bar on the starboard side is a little cockeyed, but it’s probably my cockeyed perspective. Thanks for the shots Pix!
Steve
Very nice build of a classic American warbird! Thanks for sharing
Thank you Frank, Chuck, Adam, Cobrahistorian, Gilmund, Thad, cuda, Model Grandpa, falcon, crockett, and mucker !
Chuck - yes, some of the later P-39Qs had a four-bladed prop. I’ll take a look & see what I can find. The Eduard kit comes with both 3 & 4 blades, so there’s some info there. I know there’s a site that lists all the varients and differences. I’ll have to find it.
Cobrahistorian - this is a P-63A. I built MPM’s P-63C a few years ago, and it has the strake under the tail.
crockett - the lines of the fuselage makes things appear a little different from most WW II aircraft. The insignia is aligned with a vertical panel line.
Thanks again !
Looks great Pix. Another great add to your collection.
Regards, Rick
All things considered you did a magnificent job Pix. I’ve got MPM’s 1/48 PRP-63 Kingcobra “Pinball” on my build list. Glad I made the decision now to go with the orange scheme rather than the OD version and struggle with the decal issues of the serials.
Thanks Rick and Quagmyre !
Quagmyre - some of the “Pinball” birds carried some pretty wild schemes. I have a mag (probably “Wings” or “Airpower”) that has an article on these birds. Even with all the armor protection and the frangible ammo being shot at them, it took guts to fly. Have you seen the striped one?
Thanks again !
No, I have not seen the striped one, but would love to see a pic if you’ve got one. I was planning on doing the orange one straight from the kit. Figured this RP-63A “Pinball” and my P-39Q “Devastating Devil” (coral and light blue color scheme) builds would be good breaks from the relative monotony of OD, NMF, and Blue USN finishes that dominate my modelling subject matter area of 1/48 scale US circa WWII. Thus why I choose the Dark Gull Grey and White scheme of my FM-2 depicted below in my signiature. Waiting for the replacement prop to arrive in the mail to complete that one.
Pix ,looks like another awesome build. Thanks for letting us have a look. How much time do you spend building? Your 3 current projects would take me about 2 years.
Quagmyre - I’ll have to sort through the mags to find it. It may take a few days, though. There’s a water leak in my living room ceiling, so things are a little chaotic these days.
Thanks ron b !
I have the three nightfighters, this one, a Classic Airframes Polikarpov I-153, Monogram C-47 and this one:
on the bench at the moment. I spend at least six hours a day working on them, sometimes as much as twelve. I’m disabled and can’t work, so I do this seven days a week. Very few of my builds have taken more than six weeks, and most are done in about three.
Thanks again !
That’s looking very nice Pix. You’re doing a great job of a difficult sounding kit. Thanks for sharing.