SPA Modeler

It happened 30 years ago (on 25.08.1987) that I got from my big brother the only birthday-gift that he ever gave me: Monogram's P-40 in 1:48.

As you know, 1:48 is not my favorite scale, but I took the 30th anniversary on Friday as a chance to start the kit.

The kit form itself is quite old (according to the Scalemates it is from 1964), but the model still has beautiful but raised structures and quite thin-walled parts.

Fitting is not great, but the kit is what you can expect and not a bad surprise. I guess when it was released the first time it was benchmark.

BTW, which colors do you suggest to do the Chinese Version? (I prefer Gunze or Tamiya colors)



Once I was on the P-40 theme, I also started Hobbyboss’s P-40M in my favorite scale 1:72.

The Flying Tiger P-40s, or Chinese as you called it, were finished to RAF standards, being diverted from a shipment to the Brits. Use your preferred versions on Dark Earth, Dark Green, and Sky. The later P-40E and beyond that version used paints that were not matched to the RAF standard for that same scheme. The P-40's in desert colors were matched to RAF standards. All this is according to research by Dana Bell.

The photograph of the Third Pursuit Squadron — Hell’s Angels — of the American Volunteer Group was probably taken from aircraft #47 on May 28, 1942 near the Salween River Gorge on the China-Burma border. The shot of P-40 Tomahawks includes #68 flown by Arvid Olson, #46 flown by Bob Prescott, and #24 flown by Ken Jernstedt.

To echo Carlos, Dana Bell concluded that the paint colors used by Curtiss were U.S. Medium Green ANA612 & Dupont Brown ANA 617 for the upper disruptive camo & Aircraft Grey ANA512, FS16473 for the lower surfaces.

Thinking about this, so far I l would choose Tamiya AS-16 for the lower surfaces, for sure. I am not sure about the upper colors yet. I will keep researching, maybe Tamiya XF-68 “NATO Brown” and XF-67 “NATO Green? I think.

P.S. The camouflage painted by Curtis was hard-edged not soft.

Great. Thanks to both of you.

You are most welcome! I very much like your photo-montage of the project in process, Marius. Very clean and sharp lines and color choices. I look forward to what you will do in both 1/48 and 1/72.

And—also—happy belated birthday, correct? I noted this several times when I read your earlier post and wanted to wish you many happy returns, Marius!!!!

speedgraflex wrote:

And—also—happy belated birthday, correct? I noted this several times when I read your earlier post and wanted to wish you many happy returns, Marius!!!!

Yepp. Last Friday was my birthday (41). Thank you.

Long time without update.
There are several reasons for that.
First, I worked on a project for a championship at the German board Flugzeugforum and I am not allowed to show it anywhere else until it is finished – otherwise I would be disqualified. Second I replaced my old display cabinet by a new one. I was not willing to pay thousands of Euros, so I decided to buy a wardrobe at Ikea, equipped with a LED, glass-shelves and glass-drawers.





Nevertheless I made some progress on the Ta 183. I scratched an ejection seat, implemented it to the cockpit and added the canopy. This area needs some rework because of bad fitting with some big gaps. The sanded surfaces are rescribed. And I also worked roughly on the upcoming finish. I also bought a new airbrush with 0.15mm needle/nozzle.








So what do you think of my work during the last weeks?

I think it is fantastic. Congrats on the cabinet, although I think you are going to need a second one soon, given how full that one is already! Nice work also on the model; it is coming along well.

an IKEA wardrobe with lights and glass shelves? I never knew that they made such things! I don't know about using that for clothes, but as you did- perfect!

Your Ta-183 is progressing nicely! Very fine work on that seat!

You have been busy! I need a diagram of completed inventory on those shelves or shelf by shelf installation views. I did have a thought about lighting. Now I am unable to see the exact placement of LED strips or the amount of space available inside the cabinet, but I would try vertical runs of LED strips on both sides of the cabinet to create an even lighting, add a styrene strip L-bracketed valence to contain the LED light source within the cabinet. This will work for the upper levels to create an even look. Lighting the lower drawers is a little tricky. Not sure why but leaving these as unlit might be best... then you can dramatically reveal what is inside. The other note I have is to add or at least experiment with colored gels. I think a blue or smoke color gel would be interesting.