**** DONE: Curtiss P-40M-5 Kittyhawk III, ‘Wairarapa Wildcat’, C’wealth GB

[Airframes]

Sounds logical. Most American aircraft in British service retained the U.S. harness, if it was a full harness, although there was at least one exception I know of, in the Fleet Air Arm, where Sutton harnesses were fitted to Avengers on arrival in Britain. Certainly such types as the P51 and B25, in RAF service, stayed with the US full harness - no point in changing.

 

[LDSModeller]

Hi all

WWII RNZAF aircraft received from
RAF stock ex USA, eg P 40E's and
even early P 40M's would have been fitted
with the Sutton (fitted in New Zealand).

Lend lease aircraft to my knowledge retained
their US harness systems eg TBF-1 Avenger
F4U Corsair and later versions of the P40 (even
the later received P40M's) this will include Geoff
Fiskens aircraft

Hope that helps

Alan

 

[Wayne Little]

Thanks for the confirmation Alan.

Next Question....Early or late seat belts? Green or Beige/Light Tan? Which is correct?

Seat now repainted...

 

[LDSModeller]

Thanks for the confirmation Alan.

Next Question....Early or late seat belts? Green or Beige/Light Tan? Which is correct?

Seat now repainted...

Hi Wayne

Pictures of P 40 coloured seat belts hard to find, all
I have are black and white. Having said
that the P-40M's started arriving March 1943,
and further lend lease aircraft after that.

Grumman TBF1-c Avengers arrived circa
October 1943 of these I have seen the belts to
be Beige, some P 40 shots I have seen seem to
be a similar colour (though in B/W). I would
go with Beige and that soon would be discoloured
at any rate to have a slight tan/brown color

HTH

Alan

 

[Wayne Little]

Thanks again Alan, appreciate the input.

 

[Airframes]

I agree there, from what I've found so far, the green (US) harness wasn't fitted until late production aircraft (all types, not just P40), from very late 1944 as far as I can tell, possibly even 1945. That means aircraft built at those times, not issued.

 

[Wayne Little]

Continuing on in the cockpit area.....and showing the seat dry fitted....

 

[Vic Balshaw]

This is going to be yet another good one.

 

[Wurger]

Looking very nice.

 

[Airframes]

Looks great Wayne, and the green looks more 'green' in these pics - bazzing job mate!

 

[Crimea_River]

I never get tired at looking at your nice, clean work Wayne. Your stuff seems to have a crispness that I can never achieve. I always find imperfections in my finishes when I do my close-ups - specs of dust in the paint mostly.

 

[imalko]

Nice clean work as always Wayne. Like it a lot.

 

[Wayne Little]

Thanks Guys.....seat and belts are now done and fitted...

 

[T Bolt]

Looks just like the cockpit pictures Wayne.

 

[Wurger]

 

[javlin]

It's look'in good there Wayne Cheers

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

As always Wayne, SUPERB WORK sir!!

 

[Crimea_River]

I agree.

 

[Airframes]

Nice one.

 

[Wayne Little]

Thanks Guys, more later....