**** DONE: Curtiss P-40M Wairarapa Wildcat FO Geoffrey Fisken Commonwealth GB

[A4K]

Never heard reference to red outlines in all the info I've read on her in the past, so with Alan and Peter on that...

 

[Wayne Little]

There are "lines" that can just be distinguished....look closely!

Source from the Internet.

 

[T Bolt]

Well this really confuses the issue doesn't it! Maybe its OK to go either way with it then. I kind of like the looks of it with the red stripes, but those thin decals could turn into a nightmare if the decals don't go down real nice. Maybe it will depend on how well the decals are going at the time.

 

[Wayne Little]

Well mate I don't know if the 'lines' are red or tape residue or what..... but something is there?

Me....I would tend to go with a Dark line of the camo colour at this stage.....while the Red looks cool just don't know if it would be right?

Coin toss time...!!

 

[Night Fighter Nut]

I found a few pictures, hope these might help.

 

[Night Fighter Nut]

Looking at the last photo, there seems to be a diagonal line across the elevators.

 

[T Bolt]

Well mate I don't know if the 'lines' are red or tape residue or what..... but something is there?

Me....I would tend to go with a Dark line of the camo colour at this stage.....while the Red looks cool just don't know if it would be right?

Coin toss time...!!

Sure is! At least I have some time to think about what I want to do.

I found a few pictures, hope these might help.

Thanks, that profile and pics are great and I'm sure it will come in useful.

Looking at the last photo, there seems to be a diagonal line across the elevators.

There are white diagonal stripes on the elevators. The kit painting and decal guide show them on the top and bottom.

 

[Airframes]

I think the 'dark' lines on the edges of the stripes are where the masking tape has been, but not residue from the adhesive, rather more likely to be clean, fresh paint, where the tape has lifted any grime etc. This would make these areas look like fresh paint, so darker than the existing camouflage colour.

 

[ozhawk40]

Hi

This Comment in a magazine article might add some further insight to the issue. Author is Ian K Baker, from MAM Feb 2002

".....and on this example its white bands had the definite appearance of having been trimmed with an edging of a colour darker than the surrounding olive drab, but just what that colour was has remained a problem. Many years ago the idea was put about that the white bands' edging had been red, on this and a number of other examples, and readers who possess the old Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk I-IV 'Profile' will be familiar with Ronald Percy's depiction of red-edged bands on NZ3072. And this notion resurfaced recently in a popular US publication's illustration of NZ3072 'Wairarapa Wild Cat'. However it seems highly improbable that so much red would have been applied to any Allied aircraft in any Pacific combat area at that time. The edging may well have been black, it certainly apppears darker than the insignia colours in the reference photo....."

​

I personally would suspect something similar to Terry's idea on this. Whoever masked the stripes used tape with too much tack (maybe left out in the sun hardened the adhesive?) with the result that the paint in these areas was pulled away. These areas were then retouched with fresh camo, but that's just my theory.

Cheers

Peter

 

[LDSModeller]

Hi Gents

The white stripes were for Identification by
Allied (RNZAF/USN/USMC/USAAF/RAAF) forces
as the P 40 had a similar planform to a certain
Japanese fighter at a distance.

Any red could have been mistaken by nervous/trigger happy
gunners (shoot first ask/ questions later) in the heat of combat.

RNZAF P 40 drivers were often requested by USN/USMC
units on bombing missions to escort them to and from target.

We know that IJN/IJAAF had aircraft with red markings
(other than the hinemarus) and any red eg stripes would
have been asking for trouble. Hence the reason
why the red centre of P 40 K/M's had a 1 inch red
dot in the roundel (pre blue/white roundels/bars).

I'm certainly of the opinion that any outlines would be due to
other issues (tape residue etc) not red borders. The other
possiblity is an optical illusuion.

RNZAF ground crew from the Servicing Units often cleaned
their aircraft with rags soaked in avgas to help remove the coral dust
this not doubt would have affected any tape residues by either
appearing darker or affecting the paint*.

I have attached a link to Ventura Decals (they except for the colour blue
on some roundels are generally quite accurate) these show P 40's with
the white stripes no red boders.

P-40N decals 32nd scale

Even looking at the colour illstrations you can see it appears that some
of the stripes have a border when in reality there is nothing.*

HTH

Alan

 

[A4K]

Great info guys!

 

[phas3e]

The Aircraft 100% had no edging on the ID stripes, No RNZAF P40s did.
The darker appearance was masking residue and the solvent used to clean them off.

Also NZ3072 had a replacement left alieron which the ID band didnt cover.

I will try and get some photos which arent up yet

 

[T Bolt]

I will try and get some photos which arent up yet

Thanks! That would be helpful and much appreciated.

 

[Wayne Little]

Think I'm gonna be joining you on this one Glenn.....

 

[rochie]

Think I'm gonna be joining you on this one Glenn.....

no pressure then !

 

[N4521U]

WOW.. you are going to end up with a great plane there.
Has anyone Ever gone wrong with an Eduard kit????

My little Defiant was an Eduard and I found it soooo nice.

 

[T Bolt]

Think I'm gonna be joining you on this one Glenn.....

no pressure then !

I looked for a smiley face with sweat breaking out on it's forhead, but couldn't find one!

WOW.. you are going to end up with a great plane there.
Has anyone Ever gone wrong with an Eduard kit????

My little Defiant was an Eduard and I found it soooo nice.

I've only made one Eduard kit, the P-400 (P-39) and loved it. I'm really looking forward to this build!

 

[T Bolt]

I finally got of to a small start..... Washed all the parts tonight. Don't think I'll be breaking any speed records with this one. My goal for the next week is to make a start on all those PE and resin cockpit parts.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Plenty of time left on this one Glenn, the panic will come after New Year when we all realise suddenly were in a short month

 

[Wayne Little]

C'mon Glenn....I'm on your tail now...