bashace Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 (edited) This will be a head to head showdown between the original and latest tool P-39 Airacobra's. I have a funny feeling an Eduard P-39 might want a piece of the action too! The plan is to construct the builds step by step simultaneously, showing the comparisons as the build progresses. Kits will be built OOB utilizing the supplied decals. *** UPDATE! *** It has been confirmed, the Eduard P-39 will be joining the bout! Edited October 1, 2019 by bashace Updated content Quote Link to post Share on other sites
picknpluck Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Nice! Who's plastic is the Pro-Modeler kit? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted September 27, 2019 Author Share Posted September 27, 2019 55 minutes ago, picknpluck said: Nice! Who's plastic is the Pro-Modeler kit? As far as I know, it's Monogram plastic, I know the first Hasegawa P-39 offering was the same plastic until they tooled their own in 2006. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt H. Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 This has the makings of an interesting showdown... New versus old, Japanese wonder kit vs. the old monogram kit .... I have never seen either of these in real life, so I look forward to lots of pictures and analysis. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted September 27, 2019 Author Share Posted September 27, 2019 3 minutes ago, Kurt H. said: This has the makings of an interesting showdown... New versus old, Japanese wonder kit vs. the old monogram kit .... I have never seen either of these in real life, so I look forward to lots of pictures and analysis. I also have the original 1969 release kit as well as the first new tool Eduard release for additional comparisons. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt H. Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 1 minute ago, bashace said: I also have the original 1969 release kit as well as the first new tool Eduard release for additional comparisons. If you have the ambition a 3 way smack down is even better. you can even perform an analysis of how the Monogram tool has held up over time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted September 27, 2019 Author Share Posted September 27, 2019 11 minutes ago, Kurt H. said: If you have the ambition a 3 way smack down is even better. you can even perform an analysis of how the Monogram tool has held up over time. Those are my thoughts as well, my track record for finishing builds during GB's is atrocious....but I do have a year😁 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted October 1, 2019 Author Share Posted October 1, 2019 (edited) To fact check the original 1969 Monogram 1/48 tooling with the 1995 Pro-Modeler 1/48 Release, these are pics comparing the two side by side. The Pro-Modeler offering included a new sprue that included wing cannons and ground crew, the gray plastic looks and feels almost identical to Hasegawa plastic, not the somewhat harder and crisper plastic in the original release from 1969. Per the instruction sheet and a little online research, the following options can be built from the Pro-Modeler kit: - British Airacobra 1, P-400, P-39D1, P-39D2, P-39L1, and P-39Q - Detailed nose guns - Open/closed Engine Bay - Early version nose gun detail only, no vents! - Choice of 6-stack or 12-stack exhaust manifolds - Right door can be positioned open - Choice of weighted or non-weighted tires - Smooth Style wheel rims - Choice of centerline drop tank or 500lb bomb (doesn't help the tail sitting😂) - Underwing gun pods - 3-blade propeller only Edited October 21, 2019 by bashace Added details Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted October 1, 2019 Author Share Posted October 1, 2019 (edited) With an age of 26 years at time of Pro-Modeler release, I would say the molds had held up pretty good, the only noticeable excess flash was on the nose gear strut. The Pro-Modeler extension strut appears to be short shot, it doesn't connect to the nose gear strut, this will have to be addressed during construction. ***Correction*** The nose gear strut of the Pro-Modeler kit was not short shot, one of the changes incorporated was a separate gear extension link which is included on the added sprue. Edited October 5, 2019 by bashace Correction added Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted October 5, 2019 Author Share Posted October 5, 2019 Calling the first cockpit done, the gun assembly was a little confusing until I looked at the finished assembly pic on the side of the box. Really tried to not AMS over the details, just a little a little pigment brushing and different hues of black. Decided to not use the included PE seat belts since the seat incorporated molded in belts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted October 9, 2019 Author Share Posted October 9, 2019 Here's what you get in the Eduard Profipack kit, a nose weight and canopy/wheel/walkway paint mask included. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted October 9, 2019 Author Share Posted October 9, 2019 The Hasegawa kit required 2 pics to get a snapshot of everything, no paint masks or nose weight included, but has the nicest cockpit of the 3 kits. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt H. Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 Nice work, and nice study of the two kits. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share Posted October 21, 2019 Calling the Hasegawa cockpit done for the most part, will be using the True Details seat in place of kit seat, kit seat only set in for the pics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt H. Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 I like what you did with this cockpit, nice chipping, shadows, and highlights. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted October 25, 2019 Author Share Posted October 25, 2019 I like what you did with this cockpit, nice chipping, shadows, and highlights. Thanks Kurt, really not my expertise, trying to keep it as simple as possible to show what basic modeling skills can do with these kits. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted October 27, 2019 Author Share Posted October 27, 2019 (edited) Here's a study of all 3 kit cockpits in their final assembly stage, black cockpit is the Pro-Modeler, green cockpit without forward weight is Hasegawa, and olive plastic with green cockpit and forward weight is Eduard. Edited October 27, 2019 by bashace Correction Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted October 27, 2019 Author Share Posted October 27, 2019 Here's the cockpits next to their respective fuselage halves. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted October 27, 2019 Author Share Posted October 27, 2019 Cockpits test fitted in their future final resting places. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted October 27, 2019 Author Share Posted October 27, 2019 What makes the Airacobra unique is the drive shaft that runs under the cockpit to the propeller gear box up front, each manufacturer has their own take on this and color callout. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt H. Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Oh no! my post was lost in the great post lost incident of October 2019! I said something like ... An interesting contrast in the directions from each manufacturer. Sticking to the instructions here is a great way to illustrate the differences in the kits. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Been a long time since I've looked at WW2 fighter info & I am thinking didn't the USAAC take custody of some Aircobras which ended up not being shipped to foreign forces? If so could that explain at least one of the different cockpit hues? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Am enjoying seeing the 3 side by side. And yes, the cockpit painting looks good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted December 3, 2019 Author Share Posted December 3, 2019 Updates will be slow for now, packed everything for the move back to the USA, of course I will mail GB project stuff via USPS so I don't have to wait 2+ months for the surface shipment😀 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt H. Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 5 hours ago, bashace said: Updates will be slow for now, packed everything for the move back to the USA, of course I will mail GB project stuff via USPS so I don't have to wait 2+ months for the surface shipment😀 Good luck with your move. Good call mailing the P-39s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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