Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: KiwiZac on May 15, 2017, 05:29:28 AM
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Hi all,
I've never really been a fan of the early, long-nosed P-40s but when Airfix announced their 1/48 kit I decided it looked too good to miss out on. So I bought one and built it using the kit decals for George Welch's Pearl Harbor machine which, coincidentally, is the same markings as AK295, the P-40C restored in New Zealand for oil baron Rod Lewis (http://www.lewisairlegends.com/aircraft/p-40c-tomahawk). I never got to see it fly, although I did get to see it during the restoration. It flew a couple of weeks later:
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/Auckland%20trip%20270311/Tomahawk1270311.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/Auckland%20trip%20270311/Tomahawk1270311.jpg.html)
the exhaust stacks to the top left of the photo are on the DH Mosquito I was standing under, no big deal 8)
Because I was building a restored aircraft it made colour matching/references infinitely easier. AK295 was one of the aircraft covered in top NZ warbird photographer - and my former boss - Gavin Conroy's first book Precious Metal (https://www.amazon.com/Precious-Metal-Classic-Fighters-Zealand/dp/1877517925), so I had a bunch of high-quality photos at my fingertips to check various little details. The big cockpit photo was an especially big help.
At the beginning of the year it was almost done, but I had a dust disaster when clear-coating the canopy and windscreen. Cue a long wait for Airfix to get the spares in stock - they then sent the whole clear sprue instead of just the two bits I asked for, thank you Airfix! - and then she was finished. This kit had me smiling quite often because it was a literal joy to build. Beautiful fit, lovely detail, and a good price to boot. Bravo Airfix. Bring on the Sea Fury and Phantom!
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/55B925A7-9898-49CD-AD8B-5703D83FD8BC_zpswgl1nfkj.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/55B925A7-9898-49CD-AD8B-5703D83FD8BC_zpswgl1nfkj.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/23360B0E-CA29-403D-B5A9-D72CCF46F1DA_zpsg9vap9ge.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/23360B0E-CA29-403D-B5A9-D72CCF46F1DA_zpsg9vap9ge.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/0D13A9C7-1639-45F7-9192-261A24045CA1_zpsytx7achd.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/0D13A9C7-1639-45F7-9192-261A24045CA1_zpsytx7achd.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/08034479-2276-4D2E-829F-A16CD2415A5A_zpsdzrrogkh.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/08034479-2276-4D2E-829F-A16CD2415A5A_zpsdzrrogkh.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/3BC9BEDC-CC0C-4F61-A089-62F33C526B8F_zpsmib7yckd.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/3BC9BEDC-CC0C-4F61-A089-62F33C526B8F_zpsmib7yckd.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/0EA9D9D9-429E-4AF6-ACFF-55BCE330EB80_zps92zgb8k6.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/0EA9D9D9-429E-4AF6-ACFF-55BCE330EB80_zps92zgb8k6.jpg.html)
She looks right at home with my growing collection of 1/48 warbirds:
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/75766AE4-05DF-446C-B375-FC25B90F4050_zpsvysxx5sc.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/75766AE4-05DF-446C-B375-FC25B90F4050_zpsvysxx5sc.jpg.html)
I used the kit decals (still need an extra stencil for the tail to match the restored aircraft), Tamiya acrylics throughout (main scheme XF-62 over I think XF-53) followed by Humbrol Glosskote and then Humbroll Satinkote.
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Lovely bird Zac !
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Beauty, you really do some nice work. :))
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Beauty, you really do some nice work. :))
I couldn't agree more! Looks like a million bucks!
Well done, Mango King!
Brian da Basher