T Bolt
Colonel
I was doing through the parts I've collected for My P-47 cockpit project last weekend and realized that I had enough left over instruments to complete another control panel, although not one as large and complicated as the P-47 one. Making a P-40 panel seemed to be the one to build as it had been a close second choice behind the P-47.
Now the hard part. Which model of P-40 to build? The panels differ greatly from model to model. I think I have it narrowed down between the P-40B/C or the P-40E. Both have advantages and disadvantages. For instance, I have all the instruments right now to make up a P-40C Panel. If I make a P-40E panel I could use the N3C reflecting gunsight that I have, but I would have to get an 8-day clock, and those are expensive.
I have made up dimensional drawings for both panels and posted them below. I did this by pasting a head on picture of them into an excel document, and knowing the diameter of the instruments, I blew it up until it was exactly ½ scale, then measured out all the other dimensions with a scale ruler right from the computer screen. I used this same method to layout the P-47 panel.
This is going to be a long term project as I will be working on The P-47 cockpit more than this one, but I wanted to start this thread so I can record the work as I do it. I am also going to confine it to the panel itself and possibly the gunsight and not let it get carried away as the P-47 panel did!
Now the hard part. Which model of P-40 to build? The panels differ greatly from model to model. I think I have it narrowed down between the P-40B/C or the P-40E. Both have advantages and disadvantages. For instance, I have all the instruments right now to make up a P-40C Panel. If I make a P-40E panel I could use the N3C reflecting gunsight that I have, but I would have to get an 8-day clock, and those are expensive.
I have made up dimensional drawings for both panels and posted them below. I did this by pasting a head on picture of them into an excel document, and knowing the diameter of the instruments, I blew it up until it was exactly ½ scale, then measured out all the other dimensions with a scale ruler right from the computer screen. I used this same method to layout the P-47 panel.
This is going to be a long term project as I will be working on The P-47 cockpit more than this one, but I wanted to start this thread so I can record the work as I do it. I am also going to confine it to the panel itself and possibly the gunsight and not let it get carried away as the P-47 panel did!
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