Hasegawa 1/32 Curtis Warhalk P40E Aleutain Tiger

[VermontGuy]

This is an amazing looking build so far I can't wait to see more

Mike

 

[michaelm]

Superb job on the cockpit, great looking harness, really enjoying watching you work your magic on this kit. M

 

[colin m]

It's looking great Vaughan. I really like the shape of a P40, nice work so far.

Colin M...

 

[Keith9657]

I dont think I've ever built a P-40 and can only echo others on the fantastic job you've made so far.

Keith

 

[Vaughan]

Thanks guys

More progress from yesterday and this morning. I spent most of yesterday fitting the wing armament. The kit comes with a choice of two options exposed gun barrels or recessed depending on the version you are building.This in it's self sounds ok but you are then presented with a block of plastic albeit shaped to fit the leading edge. The P40E has recessed barrels so that's the one I opted for. It doesn't matter how careful you are at fitting them there's always going to be gaps and steps. So it was a matter of sanding filling and sanding and so on but I got there in the end all looks flush and smooth now. Wings are still a dry fit I'm working up to gluing them. I haven't needed to spread the fuselage to take up any gaps at the wing roots as had been suggested on other forums so I'm pleased about that. A dry run with the canopy and it looks like a good fit. You have the option of open or closed using two different canopies. It looks ok but the only disappointment in having it open is the thickness of the clear plastic Hasegawa has used, it's totally out of scale they should have a look at what Trumpeter are producing in their kits.

Vaughan

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[treyzx10r]

Gun ports came out tight and clean ! The build is looking great, looking forward to seeing the next update Vaughan

 

[Centurion3RTR]

I don't normally say this Vaughan but, this is looking "sexy".

Have fun, John

 

[Vaughan]

Hi All

Not much has happened over the last couple of weeks and I was away on hols last week. So here's an update of what I have managed to do.

The area behind the pilots rear windows has been sprayed green zinc chromate in readiness for the windows. The reflector sight has been added and the front canopy is attached and masked ready for the interior colour and then some grey primer.

Wings and tail planes are now fitted and only required a smear of filler. The panels around the exhaust stacks are also in situ along with the intake cowling. The exhaust stacks will be added later.

Side windows are masked I used the thin strips of tape method which worked well.

They were then fitted to the fuselage there are some gaps that will have to be filled.

I have also adde some pre-shading.

I thought that I had sorted the gun barrels on the leading edges but they are going to need some extra filler I hadn't at this point sprayed them with primer and presumed they were ok, so I'm back to square one with them.

Vaughan

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[Vaughan]

Well I think I'm there, more filling and sanding and a coat of primer and all is well.

Vaughan

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[Vaughan]

Small update on my progress.

The underside has been sprayed with neutral grey and the pre-shading is nice and subtle not too over the top. I have also managed to spray the topside with olive drab again pre-shading has worked well so it doesn't appear as one solid colour. The rudder has been sprayed with a band of white then masked and spayed with olive drab. Just the fuselage band to add and then a coat of Klear this afternoon.

If I have time tomorrow I will start on the decals.

Vaughan

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[Buttonman]

Really nice job buddy, Hope to get something like that next

 

[Buttonman]

Realy nice work buddy, really like the clear cockpit seems a shame to cover everything up that we work so hard to look good.

cheers

Martin

It's me age am a old twat

 

[stona]

That looks great. Olive Drab is always a bit tricky to get looking realistic,but that does.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Vaughan]

Thanks guys, Martin it's always the way but you know it's there. Steve glad it looks ok, the photos 'you' take, don't always show how it really is, if anything the pre-shading is slightly more obvious but I'm happy with it.

Vaughan

 

[Vaughan]

Hi All

The fuselage band has been added this morning and I will apply a coat of klear tonight in readiness for the decals.

Vaughan

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[treyzx10r]

Vaughan really clean looking build ,looking forward to seeing the decals on!

 

[Vaughan]

MAULD BY AN ALEUTIAN TIGER

Well after five hours of applying the decals this morning I finally gave in. The majority of the decals went down fine. The 'U.S' on the underside silvered badly but with a combination of decalsoft and a pin all worked out ok.

Then I took a deep breath and made a start on the nose art. The sheer size of the tigers head is enough to put you off attempting it in the first place. The decal sheet has a choice of three different tiger heads one with a circular disc underneath that contains the Aleutian mountain range and a mosquito in flight carrying a bomb. I opted for this one as the tigers head is smaller.

After 1/2 an hour I gave up, the decal wouldn't conform to the shape of the engine cowling, it just kept creasing and there was no way it was going to fit.

On the up side I had removed the disc with the mountain range and was going to fit it separately. The next attempt with the second tigers head went much the same way.

Luckily I had had seen some images of a Warhawk that just had the disc of mountains with no tigers head. So thats the one I've plumbed for and all looks good.

The next step will be another coat of klear and then onto the weathering There's still lots of dangly bits to fit but they will come later.

Vaughan

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[Buttonman]

man I hate big decals you have my sympathy bro.

Take a deep breath and have a jam sandwich.

Martin

 

[mobear]

a jam sarny after looking at the job hes done,never.still a rerally nice build mate totally love it

mobear

ps espesh the b/w pics

 

[colin m]

It all looks very purposful now, maybe even displaying some bad attitude - you can tell I like the P40. Great job Vaughan.