1/72 Academy P-40B AVG

[Mikey]

I've been playing with this build here and there, mostly to try out my new compressor. The upgraded compressor has made spraying a lot easier but new problems have developed that I didn't have to worry about before, such as tip dry. But I'm working out the bugs as I go because I've read more than a few forum posts that have given the solutions. So I'm doing pretty good lol.

The kit is actually quite aweful, having misaligned parts that are not always in scale. The kit glass is too small and required me to add styrene shims which makes it look like the canopy came from a Hurricane. It's only saving grace is that the decals are accurate for Charles Olders plane.

I decided to build it wheels up and there is still some detailing to do before I call it complete. But I am at a point in which I think I can share this little crap bird.

Colors are Vallejo - U.S. Dark Green, Game Air Earth, Vallejo Sky Grey, and Tamiya NATO Black. Aside from touching up the sharks mouth decals I've primarily used just those colors.

[image]https://www.use.com/images/s_2/aa7a235c2ec4ebbf8741.jpg[/image]


I've been wanting to build this kit for a long time. I knew it wasn't a great kit, but it's an AVG P-40. I must build it lol. Besides, it did make for some good airbrush practice!

[BorgR3mc0]

That does look nice!

As for a dry tip using Vallejo: I thin them with wind screen wiper fluid, winter mix with glycol. That works pretty good.

[Mikey]

Thank you, Borg.

Winter wiper fluid... that's an interesting choice.
I have the Vallejo fluid for that and it works if I use just the right amount. I'm still figuring out my air pressure settings and that has a lot to do with it as well. I'm Stil at the stage where I'm either too little or too much lol. I haven't found my Goldilocks setting yet.

[BorgR3mc0]

I spray Vallejo at very low pressure 1.2 to 1.5 Bar. I use a gravity feed double action airbrush so that works pretty good.

[Mikey]

I've got an Iwata Neo and I'm using about 15~25 PSI depending on my paint mix. New compressor, new learning curve lol.

[jkim]

From this perspective, the P-40 turned out very nicely. It looks like you got a good finish from the new airbrush!

[Stikpusher]

Agreed with what John says. As a learning project, it is looking real good. And a kit like that with its' problems is perfect to use to find your "Goldilocks" zone for airbrushing those paints. Your not out a big investment if things go wrong. But it looks like you have the situation well in hand.

[Medicman71]

Very nice! I guess the decals worked out for you ok? I hate Academy decals.

[Mikey]

It worked out quite well as a test bed and it doesn't look bad lol. I had no real troubles with the decals except for the tail stripe which is too long and straight as an arrow. I had to trim it and massage it into place, but with careful applications of Tamiya LC it conformed. The LC helped ensure that the decals stayed right where I wanted them to.

After some touch ups with a hairy stick to clean up the borders and registration issues you can't tell that there were any problems at all.