I currently have the Academy kit of this guy up on cinderblocks, and while there looks like it needs a bit of work (cockpit and wheel wells at the least), my question is painting this thing.
I’m using the Squadron/Signal P-40 in Action book. The Squadron books have always served my purpose. The color callouts for an AVG fighter indicates Dark Earth and Dark Green uppers, and “Yellow Sand” belly. Is this correct? I can’t think of any US fighters (or British for that matter) with “Yellow Sand” lowers.
Also ISTR AVG P-40s were painted to british specs, but used US paint stocks, so the colors were not EXACTLY like British colors. SO which colors should I use?
Keep in mind I am not a hard-core air modeller (I’m an armor modeller mostly), so if this info is widely known, I don’t usually travel in those circles…
There is some debate as to wether the underside of AVG P-40s are sky (the RAF color), a light blue (sky blue) or even a sky gray (a light blue gray). Various sources point to each of these colors. But sand is out.
I did an AVG P-40 in a GB here a few years back and I came up with Model Master light grey, dark earth, and dark green 34092. Here is what it looks like, except that since these pictures I added a fuselage band and repainted the spinner dark earth.
DarkEarth/Dark Green uppers and a lighter gray underside are closest to the color photos & historical references I’ve seen. John’s suggestion for the gray is a good choice.
I’m very interested in AVG birds, and have lots of references. Please let me know if I can help with looking up any info or providing references.
You might find this link helpful in your research.
Curtiss painted the aircraft in the closest colors they had to the RAF specification, using paint from Dupont. Although not a perfect match, for modeling purposes Dark Earth, Dark Green & Aircraft Grey are close enough.
Damon: I have a color photo in my library of a Flying Tiger P-40. I am not good at posting photos. Send me your address and I will send you the photo. Gordon gdking@metrocast.net
