Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on December 22, 2016, 05:08:24 AM
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(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_002.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_002.jpg.html)
During W.W. II, many U.S. industrial giants built famous fighter designs under contract and sometimes improved upon them.
The Goodyear F2G is a well-known example of this.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/corsairs.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/corsairs.jpg.html)
Far less remembered is International Harvester's version of the iconic P-40.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_001.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_001.jpg.html)
While International Harvester was heavily supporting the war effort...
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/IH_Plowshares_are_Swords_small.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/IH_Plowshares_are_Swords_small.jpg.html)
...they weren't known for cutting-edge combat aircraft.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/IH%20shop%20manual.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/IH%20shop%20manual.jpg.html)
The innovative staff at International Harvester came up with the radical P-40 re-design while working on an order for the Monaco Air Force. When Monaco was over-run by Italian troops and drunk tourists, the order was transferred to the U.S. Army Air Force.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_003.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_003.jpg.html)
Powered by a 1450 h.p. Allis-Chalmers engine and featuring a new, more robust canopy with better view, the new fighter was further enhanced with fully enclosed retractable landing gear to improve streamlining. The new aircraft was fast, especially in a dive. It also packed a heavy punch as it was armed with eight .50 mgs, two mounted over the engine synchronized to fire through the propeller arc.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_004.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_004.jpg.html)
Officially designated the P-40IH, it was more commonly known as the Harvester, or just the "Heavy". Unfortunately, the new P-40IH was substantially different from existing models, causing supply chain problems. Only one unit was partially equipped with the new sub-type, the 77th Pursuit Squadron. It may have all ended there with such small numbers actually reaching service.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_005.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_005.jpg.html)
Luckily, the Hootersville metropolitan area was in need of air defense after experiencing over-flights of an unknown nature.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/Hootersville%20Herald.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/Hootersville%20Herald.jpg.html)
The mayor was apparently unconcerned and took no action.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/arnold%20ziffels%20aloof.png) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/arnold%20ziffels%20aloof.png.html)
Luckily, one of Hootersville's leading citizens was able to employ her particular form of persuasion and successfully lobby for U.S. Army Air Forces protection.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/all%20eva.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/all%20eva.jpg.html)
While A & P flights of the 77th were keen to test their new fighters, they were a bit taken aback at the location of the duty.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/green%20acres%20title.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/green%20acres%20title.jpg.html)
They were reminded that there were worse places to be.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/desolate%20outpost%202.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/desolate%20outpost%202.jpg.html)
Thus A & P flights of the 77th formed the nucleus of what history would forget to record as the Green Acres Task Force.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_006.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_006.jpg.html)
Known for their unique tail marking, the pilots of the Green Acres Task Force would fly countless patrols, always keeping a keen eye peeled for anything out of the ordinary.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_007.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_007.jpg.html)
Commencing operations on Labor Day, 1942, over thirty-eight missions would be logged before the unit was transitioned to more modern aircraft and reassigned to a combat theater in early 1944.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_008.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_008.jpg.html)
No more sightings of unknown aircraft not eventually identified as scheduled flights or attributed to Green Acres Task Force ops were recorded for the entire time the P-40IHs patrolled. If historians ever bothered to note this brief period of events, they'd probably write off the initial sightings as war nerves.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_009.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_009.jpg.html)
No P-40IH Harvesters survived the war and it's not even remembered as well as many fictitious Luft '46 projects so no kit has ever been made. However, a conversion set was briefly available which is so poor many assume it to be a Merlin product although the actual maker remains unknown. Much like the P-40IH.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_012.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_012.jpg.html)
Brian da Basher
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This all started with a bagged 1/72 Hasegawa P-40E that showed up recently (thanks again, hamsterman!). This is a lovely kit, and while I don't have any box art to share, I do have pics of the various mis-adventures. Things began by losing the splitter plates for that huge intake. Some card stock came to the rescue.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_xprog_nose.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_xprog_nose.jpg.html)
Once that teensy bit of detail was taken care of, I saw I'd also lost a horizontal stabilizer. A pair was swiped from a P-36. After all that, I was keen to simplify things by adding gear doors.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_xprog_xunder_01.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_xprog_xunder_01.jpg.html)
Of course, keeping it simple would go off the rails a bit as I decided the P-40E was deficient in not having machine guns on the engine decking. SE-5A landing gear bits were used for the gun blisters.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_xprog_xfuse_01.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_xprog_xfuse_01.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_xprog_xfuse_02.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_xprog_xfuse_02.jpg.html)
Gun barrels were bits of sprue added just before painting.
While going along, I noticed the rear canopy from a Martin B-10 was a pretty decent fit. This was tinted with Model Masters RLM something Licht Blau as were the rear clear panels. Then the old hairy stick and a lot of Polly Scale Building Brown were taken to the uppers and a bit of Model Masters Euro Green was used for the accents.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_00_upper.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_00_upper.jpg.html)
Underneath was done in Polly Scale Underside Gray.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_00_under.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_00_under.jpg.html)
Only the national markings, codes and underwing U.S. Army were kit decals. The squadron emblem on the nose came from a sheet for P-36s by Starfighter. Those unique Green Acres Task Force tail markings are actually belong on a 1/144 B-17. I was pretty tickled how they fit, only needing a slight trimming.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_014.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_014.jpg.html)
This model took me about a week from start to finish. I had a blast building it and can't recommend the Hasegawa P-40E highly enough. While it's very simple, it's very well engineered and builds easily with no filler needed.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_013.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_013.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_016.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_016.jpg.html)
I hope you enjoyed the P-40IH and reading a little more buried (some might say planted) history.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/P-40IH/P-40IH_015.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/P-40IH/P-40IH_015.jpg.html)
Brian da Basher
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Beautiful! You farmed out the details on that one quite nicely.
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You did well do tackle the issues that cropped up regarding missing parts and, while some may call the use of SE.5a parts an agricultural solution, I commend you for plowing ahead.
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Good! Maybe this is not your first Hawk but this one is good too...
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:)
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Nice one
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Mr Haney would be so jealous of your great work Brian.
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You just keep coming up with subtle but imaginative variations of the Hawks, and always with a hilarious backstory with pictures! :)
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Another example of a low production variant, which did not see action, being ignored by historians.
Lobbying efforts by one of Hootersville's leading citizens would likely had more coverage than P-40IH itself.
Depth of your research is impressive as well as bashed build of this never kitted variant. :)
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While it is true that International Harvester were not known for "cutting edge combat aircraft," it is a little known fact that the P-40IH was NOT their first aircraft. In fact, their Farmall division had produced their Model K "Farm-to-Market Rapid Delivery" aircraft in 1938. Based on the Stinson SM 6000 (an eight-year old design which Stinson was only too happy to sell the rights to), Farmall developed an inline 6-cylinder engine of 350 hp and installed three in the new Model K. The engine nacelles retained the Raymond Loewy styling that was common to all Farmall tractors. The Model K was not a commercial success, but it was popular among certain farmers who were intensely loyal to the Farmall brand.
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Love that new canopy. Its makes it look fast 8)
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So simple and yet amazingly real. Great finish and love the idea. Yet another first class Basher brilliant build.
Please keep 'em coming.
:D >:( ;)