Here’s my 2 cents. I’ve built them all, some you’ve seen here recently, to include a spliced a Hobbycraft/Academy kit. The latest incarnation of the 1964 Monogram kit is rough as, the molds are shot (like the P-61) The Academy/HC kit is very basic and extremely inaccurate. The Trumpeter kit has a strangely shallow pit with a child’s car seat, skinny props, and rivets that are more like bomb craters everywhere. So far the Trumpeter kit with an aftermarket pit is the lesser of all the above evilness, but far from great.
Airfix is about make all of this moot anyways. I’d wait, unless you like torturing yourself.
Joe
P.S. Jester…good to see you back my friend…what’s shakin?
I second this about the Monogram molds. The newest boxing is a few steps above garbage. However, if you can find a white box kit from the 70s or what not, go for it.
I have a white box in the stash. Since I’ve heard all this from you guys about all the kits I think I’ll add a resin pit to that kit and Doctor up the wheel bays and call it good. Then buy the Airfix as soon as it hits. Until then the Hasegawa -E is soon to see my bench.
Now don’t get me wrong, the Monogram kit looks real good shape wise. its just over 50+ years, they’ve put out hundreds of thousands (maybe millions?) of that kit, and it really shows in the newest releases. Box in the wheel bays and slap a resin pit in there, and you’ll have a darn good looking Tomahawk with your skills.
Well, I ordered a PE set for interior, mostly for the IP as well as a Legend resin pit, squadon canopy, and Montex mask set. I found two great books on the P-40’s that should show me what I need to know for the kits faults that I can correct. I plan to scratch up the wheel bays like BVallot did. I’ll give the whole kit some love and see what it can look like in my hands. I’ve seen others make it look great, I hope I can come close. We’ll see.
For me the Revell kit holds a special place in my heart. For the B version you will need to work on the pit a bit (What little detail depicts an -E version) and some other bits and bobs (Gunsight most notibly) but it can be a beauty to build up. The Trump kit, at least in my mind, needs more intense work to get a decent build. I have built up a number of the different kits but all in all I find working on the Revell kit to be more satisfying than the others.
I second those of you who warn against buying the new Revell boxings of the old Monogram kits. I don’t buy them, either, and it’s not really an issue, because you can get older, earlier moldings so easily and cheaply on the second-hand market.
I’ve been away from the forum for a while on account of work, and holiday stuff, in-laws staying with us, etc…so I’m just catching up on everything I’ve missed.
I have to agree with fightnjoe on this one. That Revell kit still has the best shape and proportions out of everything out there. Now I imagine it really comes down to where do you feel like putting the work in. I’m not as prolific a builder as some of you here so it’s possible the only two kits I bought came out half decent…or maybe it’s just that I’ll put up with garbage as I’ve hopefully not gotten too spoiled yet. =D
I haven’t seen anything about the new Airfix kit just yet as I’ve been so tied up, so I suppose I’ll have to jump into that. Until then, I really think you get the most out of giving the Revell kit some love that it needs. I really don’t fancy myself such a great modeler for the most part. The painting process is where my experience comes in to help bring my builds more to life. So far my scratchbuilding is very basic and rudimentary. And I was quite happy to end up with the Hawk I have even with a very basic scratchbuilding skillset. Just my thoughts.
Being I’m a p-40 nut I stocked up on the p-40 kits I could find. after geting back in the hobby after a 20+ yr break. To to only find out there all crap. Bummer I should of did my home work. I’ll still build them.
I just read here about the p-40 airfix that’s on its way so that’s rite up my ally.
