AVG P-40 1st Squadron

[Ken from NJ]

I actually finished this last week, but I then decided to add the three antennae... and spent three more days with the little turds.

Anyways, here's the particulars of my planned OOB build-for-fun-and-relaxation which became expensive-way-to-make-a-mediocre-plane:

--1/48 Monogram P-40 Tomahawk (molds from 1964)

--Eduard PE for Trumpeter Tomahawk (I just stuffed stuff all inside and outside)

--Eduard canopy masks (COMPLETE failure; did not fit at all)

--Vector .30 cal wing guns (Eh...)

--Ultracast P-40 tires

--Ultracast P-40 seat

--Quickboost P-40 undercarriage covers (nice, but could've done without)

--Quickboost P-40 exhausts

--EagleCals AVG Tomahawks 1st Squadron (Gorgeous sheet!)

--I added formation lights to fuselage side under cockpit

Wanted to do this:

Tried very hard:

And wound up with this. Pics do not show weathering off well:

Exhaust staining not so great, serial number is one digit off (I was burned out on tiny decals), but a lot of work went into it and I'm happy with it.

Ken

[Sledge]

Nice job with that ancient kit!

[Ken from NJ]

Thanks, Sledge.

I still have more Monograms and Otakis, and I enjoy them as much as more contemporary kits.

Ken

[wingman47]

Hi Ken, nice job on your P-40.

[Joel_W]

Ken,

From your intro I was kind of expecting a so so blah build. In other words, nothing to write home about. Quite to my surprise, your completed P-40 looks like a rock solid build. While I'm not a big fan of pre-shading your application turned out quite convincing as the base of your Camo paint scheme, that also is quite well done. And you started with a kit produced from molds cut in 1964!! My God, I was a Junior in high school then. Congrats on a build very well done.

Joel

[Ken from NJ]

wingman47, thanks and it's VERY good to see you back around here. But you must return soon to 1/48th planes. I and they miss you.

Joel, thank you for your kind comments. I'm also not a pre-shader but I thought I'd try a technique I remember reading about whereby you preshade all the raised panel lines on older kits, prime and paint, then gently sand away the primer and paint from the lines to reveal instant dark panel lines. But I completely forgot the sanding step.

Also, I was born in 1964, and I wanted to make a stellar build from these old molds to show that, 50 years on, the kit and I are still valid. Then I go and make what looks like 6" cables for antennae. My goof.

Thanks again, guys.

Ken