SPA Modeler

Very nice Carlos! If I remember correctly, the 57th were the first instance where the Tuskegee Airmen got into combat flying P-40s....I built "Ace of Pearls" years ago based on a similar scheme and enjoyed the build immenseky.

Bruce and Jeeves, thank you.

Jeeves, the Tuskegee Airman we’re assigned to a different Group, something in the 300 series. But I don’t recall the exact Group off the top of my head. The 57th was one of the few existing g pre war P-40 equipped groups that was fairly experienced in flying that aircraft when the US entered the war, two others being the 8th and 49th. Those two were sent to the South West Pacific to help stem the Japanese advance, arriving in the Spring of 42. Due to the deteriorating situation in North Africa in the early Summer of ‘42, the 57th was sent there to help in July of 42, and began their combat orientation in early August. They, and a B-25 and B-24 Group were the USAAF equivelant of “Sahara” during the time there.

Stikpusher wrote:Thanks. It’s a shame that this color and paint line were discontinued. I could probably eyeball a mix using some other current paints. But nothing that I have come across in current paint lines quite matches. Tamiya and Humbrol Flesh each would be good starting points. But have more yellow or orange hue that needs to be overcome.
Well between the current heat and work at work, I have ended up sleeping more in the
morning, so no paint sessions. Tomorrow I ought to be able to get some bench time in...

Have you looked into Mission Model paints? Here it is:

https://www.michtoy.com/item-MMP-081-LRDG_Pink.html

It looks to be a very close match.

Blacksheep, that color might just work. Thanks for the heads up. I still have enough paint in the bottle for at least one more large build. But I have a B-24 and B-25 that I would like to do in the same color scheme, so...

Anyways, back to my 57th FG P-40F... I found a better scan job of the reference photo of “offset” 53, and let’s just say, there just might be traces of a yellow serial number obscured under dust... after all look at the blue of the star on the fuselage. So I opted to add the serial number in some very old decals that I had in my stash. Thank goodness for Microscale Decal Film to revive them... they are at least 40 years old. So I did them as if the tri color flash covered one half on each side... serial number 41 13921. On most USAAF aircraft the first digit of the number was omitted when they were painted on the tail.





And in B&W to show the low contrast between the base color and the yellow serial





I also decided to add the name on the cowling... as well as the aircraft info stencil taken from a sheet in my spares...



and the propellor blade stencil info from that same sheet...



more to come in a day or two...

Your work is really coming together beautifully. What a great ride from start to where you are now... closing the gap to the finish!

Thank you Bruce. I am really happy with how this one is turning out, and on closing on the finish line finally.

She’s starting to look purty.....

Thanks Blacksheep! I can’t wait to get this one done...

Lots of little progress bits this weeeknd pushing me close to the finish line

All sub assemblies and parts painted except for the tires...



Then I began panel line washes on the upper and lower surfaces





And lastly I glued the exhausts to the engine access panels, and glued those into place...



Getting closer now...

Since I can’t do any build updates today due to work, for your viewing pleasure we have this actual WWII footage of the 57th Fighter Group on board USS Ranger during their Atlantic crossing, and flying off to Africa. Pretty impressive when you think 1, the P-40 was not designed to fly off of a carrier and these were rolling take offs, not catapult launches, and 2, these were Army aviators, not carried qualified Naval aviators. And the USS Ranger, as well as other Atlantic Fleet Auxillery Carriers made several such trips in 1942 and 1943 to bring P-40s to where they were needed, battle ready and not needing to be assembled from shipping crates.