Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on November 23, 2012, 09:03:44 AM
-
I'm a big P-40 nut and over the years, I've build every version in 1/72 I could lay my hands on, even suffering through the challenges of more than one Academy kit and the venerable Airfix P-40E.
Well you can imagine my excitement when this was recently released:
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/airfix-hawk-81-box.jpg)
I was so excited, I had to get more than one:
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/AirfixP-40boxes.jpg)
Actually, this was only some of the haul in my ongoing efforts to spend all that overtime pay:
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/airfixkithaul.jpg)
There was paint and sheet styrene and some after-market props involved too. *sigh*
Anyway, I am really glad I got more than one of the new Airfix Curtiss P-40Bs! Like I said, I've built every 1/72 P-40 I could find over the years and this new release is hands down the best P-40 kit I've had!
Of course, as my mom often told me, I can't leave well enough alone. Immediately I could see modifications would be necessary. A nose-job was called for in this case:
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_Nose_01.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_Nose_02.jpg)
The engine from a Hasegawa He-51 was a good fit, especially after I scratched a new air intake out of card stock:
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_Nose_03.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_Nose_04.jpg)
This Hawk will be wearing a lot of yellow. I also gamely attempted to hand-paint the rudder stripes. I think they'll look ok once I add the big blue strip on the back:
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_parts.jpg)
As you can see, this kit comes with a friendly invitation to "enrol" in join the Airfix Club.
I recently found out my own Airfix membership renewal has been rejected:
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/AirfixClubRenewal.jpg)
I wonder why?
Brian da Basher
-
Looks like an interesting project, spats and open cockpit?
-
Oooo, that big BMW looks like it was meant to be there! Looking forward to this :)
-
Looking very good and quite plasuible. Any chance one of those other Hawks will get built as an export version with fixed and spatted main gear like some of the exported radial-engined variants?
-
Looking very good and quite plasuible. Any chance one of those other Hawks will get built as an export version with fixed and spatted main gear like some of the exported radial-engined variants?
That's a great idea and it certainly gives me good reason to pick up another one of these kits!
I'm hoping to get the fuselage and the long blue rudder stripe painted tomorrow and then final assembly and decals.
Thanks for the comments. They encourage the madness to no end!
Brian da Basher
-
Ohhhhh....glorious.
I've a P-36 that I'm goiung to "slightly" twist a bit....it'll be a Biggles Norwegian AF one from 1940.
-
Impressive spats on that Val.
Once you come out of closet and make your bashed builds public knowledge, its difficult but must expect Airfix renewal to be rejected.
Don't even consider applying for job that requires a security clearance.
Like how Hawk build is going :)
-
Don't even consider applying for job that requires a security clearance.
Yes, I have heard that is a certain fail. In fact I understand that in some countries that dangerous sect are even prosecuted...
-
Don't even consider applying for job that requires a security clearance.
Yes, I have heard that is a certain fail. In fact I understand that in some countries that dangerous sect are even prosecuted...
Also failing to pass your Boy Scout know your knots test. Another major black mark on your resume. ;D
-
Oh wow, I can't wait to see this one all put together. Carry on!
Cheers,
Logan
-
This nose job is a nice job! :-*
-
The engine from a Hasegawa He-51 was a good fit, especially after I scratched a new air intake out of card stock:
I've been interested by this weird nose, and I have imagined such Mustangs - together with classical Mustangs having an upside down nose:
-
I love the He 51-style nose, and its a perfect fit to backdate the P-40 to the Yellow wings era.
-
OK, this is crazy cool! :-\ 8) A very different and yet enticing look. :)
-
While many iconic aircraft such as the P-40 flown by the famous Flying Tigers have become household names, less known are the prototypes that came before them. One such aircraft is the Curtiss Hawk 74 of the early 1930s.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_001.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_005.jpg)
Few aircraft engines since the W.W. I Liberty saw as widespread use as the Curtiss Conqueror did in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The U.S. Army Air Corps not only funded an advanced version known as the Conqueror II, but also a new prototype pursuit taking advantage of advances in aeronautics such as retractable landing gear, cantilever wings and all-metal construction.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_002.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_004.jpg)
With great anticipation, the new Curtiss Hawk 74 monoplane was rolled out for flight tests at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio in February, 1934. The Prestone-cooled Curtiss Conqueror II engine exceeded all performance expectations and the Air Corps ordered several modified prototypes.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_Prestone_01.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_Prestone02.jpg)
The fourth prototype shown here carried formidable armament (for the day) of six .50 caliber machine guns, four of them in the wings and two on the engine decking synchronized to fire through the propeller.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_006.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_003.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_007.jpg)
The new Curtiss Hawk 74 obliterated all targets at a gunnery demonstration before Air Corps Chief General Foulois and his staff. Finally, the U.S. Army Air Corps looked like it would have a pursuit that was the match of anything else in the air.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_010.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_011.jpg)
To further test the new prototype, an un-armed version was built to participate in the 1934 National Air Races in Cleveland, Ohio. The Air Corps expected to win the coveted Thompson Trophy handily.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_009.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_008.jpg)
Unfortunately, the Curtiss Conqueror II engine threw a rod and imploded before rounding the first pylon. As this poster shows, a pilot wearing a mouse costume won the race and with it, the right to host the 1935 competition.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/DisneyAirRaces.jpg)
The Air Corps, completely humiliated by losing to someone in mouse ears, refused to order any more Hawk 74s and withheld final payment for the prototypes. It was back to the drawing board for the engineers at Curtiss.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_012.jpg)
However, even though the Hawk 74 is completely forgotten today, further design work resulted in the aircraft flown by the Flying Tigers that became so legendary.
Brian da Basher
-
Mmmm....
-
Once I had the rudder stripes done and the multiple coats of yellow on, it was all down hill from there!
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_upper.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_under.jpg)
The decals were from an Olymp P-6E and a Monogram P-36 which may be older than I am.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_013.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_014.jpg)
The exhausts were salvaged from an Airfix Short Stirling. The entire model was brush-painted by hand with acrylics.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Curtiss%20Hawk%20Prototype/Hawk_Proto_015.jpg)
I hope you enjoyed yet another of my also-rans. I've got two more in the stash so stay tuned for more P-40 fun!
Brian da Basher
-
I'm surprised Brian. I would have thought this would have been your favourite of the Curtiss Hawk family:
(http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1156/hawk753hd7.jpg)
(http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4597/image019dl9.jpg)
-
It's like you can read my mind, Mr GTX! I have plans to build a spatted, export version of the P-40.
As for the spatted P-36, I did one in Siamese markings a few years back.
Brian da Basher
-
And a spatted, biplane version too.
Brian da Basher
-
Whew...that's a relief. For a while there I thought we had an impostor and that the real Brian was tied up somewhere... ;)
-
Funny story, beautiful model... :-*
-
Smashing, I mean Bashing finish, Brian!
-
Very nice, Brian! I like it a lot, though I admit that I'm as surprised as Greg that you didn't give it spats!
Cheers,
Logan
-
Brilliant! :)
-
Now that is a great idea!
-
She finished up beautifully! :)
-
I too was amazed at the lack of spats.. Still... I LIKE IT !!
-
Turned out great!
-
S'cool. :icon_fsm:
Do you have another He 51 nose? If so perhaps use that inverted on a spatted export Hawk 74.
-
I am wondering if the next model will be a Allison nosed He-51....
-
Hey! P-40 is so beautiful!!! :-* ;)