I seem to be stuck on my early B-26 (no excuse, just stuck in the head) so I am starting on the Planet XP-40Q, quite a nice resin kit of the last P-40 variant. Here’s pictures of the parts, then I’m off to Westley’s the parts.
As a side note, I am almost sure I saw one of these at Ed Maloney’s museum when it was still at Ontario in 1965. I was certainly a P-40 with a bubble canopy.
I just picked up a copy of P-40 in Detail & Scale, and while looking through it I had to do a double take! The picture sure looked like a P-51, but it was in a P-40 book! Well, then of course I read more and learned about the XP-40Q.
Which direction do you plan to go with the markings?
I’m going with the nmf scheme, I have plenty of OD P-40’s already.
Working on the P-40Q. Going pretty well except for the worst job of painting seat belts ever. Parts fit is pretty good except as you can see in the photos the fuselage sides and cockpit side panels had to be routered a bit to allow the instrument panel to fit. Lots of test fitting because as is usual with resin kits there are no definite part locations for most parts. I hope to improve the seat belts some more before installing the canopy.
Interesting kit and build. I have not seen a resin kit being built.
HI, Scott. It would be an excellent first resin kit, but you are probably just referring to the XP-40Q. Just one real issue so far.
Working away on seam work, preparing the vac form canopy, and building the propeller, which comes as a shaft, spinner, and four blades. Holes have to be drilled in small indentations on the spinner for the shaft and blades. I replaced the resin shaft with music wire and brass and aluminum bushings. I like spinning props. I did run into the poorest fit on the kit, the nose piece is oversize all the way around. I centered it up as well as I could and glued it on and commenced filing and sanding. Worked out OK.
As suggested I put a filter on the seat using thinned OD, looks better if still ugh-ly.
This is very cool, Jeaton. I’ve always been a fan of the P-40 ever since I watched “God is My Copilot” with my dad waaay back when. A while back I built an AMT P-40N, Lowry Field, Colorado, 1945, when my dad was there. I still have four different AMT P-40 kits in my stash and I’m always looking for more. I’ve thought about building this Planet Models P-40Q occasionally but I haven’t been able to find one. There are two ways I’d like to build it. Well, maybe three. Who knows. Anyway, the first I’d like to try is the airplane as a post-war racer.
Or maybe as a P-40Q-1:
I’ll be following this build, Jeaton. Good luck. Can’t wait to see it finished.
Do you think a P-51 spinner and prop would work on this kit?
Frank, the spinner looks pretty close but the blades are the toothpick style, not as broad in chord as any Merlin powered Mustang. The Allison powered Mustang prop blades look broader too.
I’m not so sure that the blades are correct on this kit, the general profile looks right but might be skinnier than they should be compared to photos.
I got mine from Hannant’s recently, they have them in stock.
Oh wow John very cool! Personally maybe I’m weird but I always thought the P-40Q was a better lookin’ bird than the P-51…
Cool that Hannant’s has them, I’ve looked for the kit a few times and it seemed hard to catch it in print. 1/72nd isn’t really my scale so I’ll probably pass though.
Mr. Garibaldi (chuckle), this kit is 1/48 scale. For that reason I may give it a try when I find one. I did see one on eBay priced at (are you sitting down?) $185.00.
From photos the propeller blades look to be the same as the blades on earlier P-40s. Hmmm.
Thanks Frank!
John listed it as 1/48th in his header text but I’m old and blind… [:XX]
Yeah, I’d seen it listed around for insane prices, now that I think about it (memory is shot too) that’s got to the reason I kept on going…
Hannant’s has them for 55 pounds, I think. In 1/48![:D]
The kit comes with two canopies made from a good thickness of material. I cut the first one to the lines molded in, but it didn’t really fit that well, too short along the cockpit sill and there was going to be a gap left open. I looked at more photos and came to the conclusion that the canopy frame actually had a smooth curve from the windshield frame back, so I cut the second canopy in that fashion, on the left in the photo below. Fit was very nice cut that way.
That is a good looking P-40, but not a variant that I am all that familiar with.
Thanks John! Still a little rich for me though!
Your P-40Q is turning out great though!
Jeaton, this is coming along nicely! I love when you get the airframe together and it looks like a plane!
I do have to say, those prop blades look a little off… no fault of yours, though.
A very interesting subject. Looks like a cross between the Mustang and a P-40.
Well Now ;
This is interesting . I thought I knew All the P-40 variants .This is so cool ! This would look good next to my Gabby Gabreski “Jug” and John Glen’s P-51 . Very interesting to see a resin kit , up close and WIP .Thank You ! T.B.
Saw this review from five years ago. Ultracast Hamilton Standard 1/48 scale propeller hub and blades. These might work in place of the kit propeller. I might be late with this suggestion though.
http://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/hamilton-standard-11-7-dia-3-blade-6353a-18-prop-and-spinner
Frank, it was a Curtiss Electric prop. As was mentioned the blades should be similar to the earlier P-40’s, I think. However, I am not going to get bogged down with it. Although it is an interesting airframe I am building it more to fill a gap in the Curtiss P-40 line than as the ultimate P-40Q. You gotta choose your battles, right?
As usual, the pitiless eye of the camera shows some places to go back to. I just finished installing the exhaust stacks. Each one of the 12 is an individual part to cut from the pour block, clean up, and then try to align correctly. I used 5 minute epoxy. Very fiddley and not entirely evenly aligned. Here’s where it is now.
Just looking so cool. Modelpalooza is coming up in mid September here in Orlando. Maybe a vendor will have a kit for me to bring home.