Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on June 07, 2013, 05:17:43 PM
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Curtiss opened a Canadian subsidiary based in Hamilton, Ontario in 1928. In 1936 while setting up production for the Hawk 75, it was discovered that replacing the Twin Wasp engine with a Vauxhall Victoria V-12 inline led to improved performance. A proposal was made to the RCAF. Unfortunately, the Air Marshall vetoed the nice, pointy prop spinner, stating "This expensive item is needless, ornamental frippery! Good God don't they know there's a Depression on?!"
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/Air_Marshal_RCAF.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/Air_Marshal_RCAF.jpg.html)
So the new aircraft was given a Hamilton Non-Standard prop and the RCAF saved a whopping $4.79 per plane. Thus the Curtiss Canada Kingbird was born.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_001.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_001.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_002.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_002.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_003.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_003.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_004.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_004.jpg.html)
The new fighter was just what the RCAF needed. It outclassed anything else then in service in North America. For a couple of years, RCAF fighter squadrons based near the U.S. would play tag with their American counterparts across the border. The Yanks could never catch them.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_005.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_005.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_006.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_006.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_007.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_007.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_008.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_008.jpg.html)
The Curtiss Canada's Kingbird would be put to the test in May, 1938. It all started when ground observers in Dead Horse, B.C. near Yukon spotted an unusual intruder.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/groundobservers.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/groundobservers.jpg.html)
The strange aircraft landed and a man jumped out and ran inside Tim Horton's. By the time the observers got near, the man had already got back inside the aircraft loaded with coffee and muffins and it drifted away. A call was put in to 412 1/3 Sqn. based in nearby Skunk Pass. A flight of Kingbirds was scrambled to intercept.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_009.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_009.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_0010.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_0010.jpg.html)
Unfortunately, they never caught up with the aerial invader. The strange craft made it back to its base.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CCCPballoongondolaontruck.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CCCPballoongondolaontruck.jpg.html)
This would spell doom for the Kingbird which was replaced by license-built Hurricanes and relegated to advanced training duties and is completely forgotten today.
Brian da Basher
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Fantastic backstory and a very Kool looking fighter,too. I must say that I don't really care much for the colors but to each his own.
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This all began with the wonderful 1/72 Airfix Curtiss Hawk 81 (P-40B).
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/airfix-hawk-81-box.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/airfix-hawk-81-box.jpg.html)
Stunning box art aside, this is a magnificent kit and excellent value for the money. I think it's a contender for best P-40 in 1/72 scale. Of course, mine would come out a little differently...
It started like many of my builds, with a nose job. Perhaps I was influenced by Canadian license-built Hurricanes with Hamilton Standard props or maybe I was thinking about the old P-30 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_P-30), anyway I found this not-convincing engine in my spares box. I lopped off the cylinders and after cutting back the P-40 nose, glued it on.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_00_prog_01.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_00_prog_01.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_00_prog_03.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_00_prog_03.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_00_Prog_02.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_00_Prog_02.jpg.html)
I had a spare Wildcat prop which was a very nice fit. I've been playing around with color schemes and with this one, I was going for a faded version of the famous USAAC yellow wings scheme. I used German colors, RLM Gelb on the wings & tail and Feldgrun on the fuselage. The decals are mostly from the kit except for the fuselage roundels and codes.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_0011.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_0011.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_0012.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_0012.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_0013.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_0013.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_0014.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Curtiss%20Canada%20Kingbird/CC_Kingbird_0014.jpg.html)
The entire model was brush-painted by hand with acrylics, including the rudder stripes. This model took me three days from start to finish. I hope you enjoyed it and the story about how the Kingbird tried to stop an unauthorized Soviet Tim Horton's run.
Brian da Basher
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Beautiful job and backstory. You find the most fascinating bits of history.
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This is not my vision of beauty, but I love this enriching the Hawk big family. Thanks! :D
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:)
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Very much late 30s.
Did it again with a spot on paint scheme. :)
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Love the CCF Hurricane prop connection! Of course, a Real World Canada would still be debating whether those props should not have saves us at least $4.89 per plane ;D