Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on December 10, 2012, 09:13:07 AM
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You know, sometimes after finishing a difficult project, a nice, simple, quick build can be just the ticket.
Mine started last night with that wonderful new 1/72 Airfix Hawk 81/P-40 kit.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/airfix_P-40_box.jpg)
When I compared the sprues to the parts in my spares box, it seemed the engine & cowling from a cast-off Testor's Dauntless were a nice fit.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_prog_01.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_prog_02.jpg)
The way the Testor's kit is designed, the engine sits far too forward, the cylinders actually meeting the inside lip of the cowling. I was able to kludge it in close to "jest right" with some sprue and a half-circle of card stock.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_prog_04.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_prog_03.jpg)
Now that I had that figured out, what markings and paint scheme would work?
I looked at the Airfix P-40 decals and it hit me. Why not an AVG P-36? A distinct possibility if history had happened a little more quickly.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_001.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_002.jpg)
I swapped out the Airfix shark's mouth for a set from the Academy kit as those were larger and seemed would work better wrapped around that big radial engine. The big 8 I found in my spares.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_003.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_004.jpg)
The model is brush-painted by hand in Model Master acrylics. The OD I had was too brown, so I added some green and came up with a shade that would work next to the Dark Earth. Actually, this OD is the second batch. The first batch came out too dark and with a touch too much blue, but should make an excellent NIVO night scheme.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_005.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_008.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_006.jpg)
The pictures are a little dark because those Airfix Chinese markings don't show up very well brightly lit.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_light_01.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_light_02.jpg)
Those markings are my only complaint, but all the decals settled down nicely. I especially like Airfix's rendering of the Disney-designed Flying Tigers mascot which is the best I've seen in this scale.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_0010.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/AVG%20P-36/AVGP-36_009.jpg)
I had a blast with this AVG P-36 and it might be the first time I finished a model in one day. Anyway, it was the perfect tonic and now I'm refreshed and ready to tackle another oddball project!
Brian da Basher
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Nice one mate - really like that hoofing great engine on theat poor little Hawk!!
Might be doing something similar along the lines of a plane from 'Sky Crawlers', got myself a Fokker DXXI for the build, and it comes with spats...and ski-spats! Do you want them? My bird has retractable u/c, so I don't need them.
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Thank you for the nice comments and the spats, Mr Deathjester!
PM inbound.
Brian da Basher
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BdB, that's a gorgeous piece of work. Now, are we going to see its predecessor in AVG service with fixed gear and spats?
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:)
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Very nicely done BdB :)
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Very nice man!!! Gives me ideas for a similar bash I have planned 8)
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Looks great! Sometimes a quick build can be mighty satisfying. :)
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Wonderful! The Hawk 75A-5 through the back door :)
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Brilliant :) :-* Kind of the oposite of my latest project >:D