WIP: P-40E in Brazilian Air Force service circa 1943 (Academy 1/72)

[ArmouredSprue]

Hi all!



Let's start a new project. This time will be the well known Curtiss fighter and backbone of the American Air Force in the beginning of World War Two, the P-40E.



There is an excellent article about those first P-40E's received by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) in August 1942 written by Árpád Árbocz entitled: Cores e Camuflagens dos P-40E no Brasil (Colours and Camouflage for the P-40E in Brazil) here - (Sorry! Portuguese text only).



Basically, the first 6 aircraft to arrive in Brazil were part of Kittyhawk's MKIa lot originally destined to RAF. Therefore they had been delivered in the Temperate Land Scheme.

P-40E (US serial number: 41-36132) FAB 01

Profile representing the photo above



Besides that above mentioned link, I will also relay on my most recently acquired book

According to Árpád Árbocz author of the above mentioned article, the most probable colour scheme translated to the Federal Standard representation would be:

That will be my guideline.

The Kit

I'll be using the Academy kit in 1/72 for this project.

The box art

Sprue 1

Sprue 2

Sprue 3

Clear parts

Instructions 1

Instructions 2

Instructions 3

Instructions 4

Instructions 5

Instructions 6

Instructions 7

Instructions 8

Instructions addendum with RAAF scheme

Decal sheet

For this kit I'll be using this photoetched parts. I'm not totally green to the use of PE's but I'm not an expert either. So I can foresee some dramas along the away!

The PE set

PE instruction 1

PE instruction 2

I also have this amazing FCM decal sheet that I was saving for a long time, waiting to the right opportunity to use it. Finally the time has come for me to start my P-40 series in Brazilian markings.

Decal instructions

FCM decal (unfortunately discontinued)



Let's go!

 

[Wurger]

 

[Capt. Vick]

Very cool!

 

[Airframes]

Good one.

 

[Wayne Little]

Bring it on!

 

[Wildcat]

Cool! P-40's are one of my favourite fighters from WWII.

 

[Crimea_River]

This should be good.

 

[at6]

I like the possibility that there will sharks teeth on it too.

 

[ArmouredSprue]

I have started by adding the cockpit photoetcheds (PE). I was a little time consuming but I have managed to finish it without any incident. I used cianocrilate to glue it in place.

That's it for while!

 

[Wurger]

 

[fubar57]

Nice start. I don't know how you guys use photo etch in 1/72 when I fumble along in 1/48.

Geo

 

[ArmouredSprue]

Nice start. I don't know how you guys use photo etch in 1/72 when I fumble along in 1/48.

Geo

I don't use it very often. But now and then I don't mind using.

 

[ArmouredSprue]

More PE installed

 

[Wurger]

 

[Airframes]

Nicely done, and I agree with Geo !

 

[Crimea_River]

Good start!

 

[klugi]

Looking nice and tidy.

 

[ArmouredSprue]

More progress.

I've painted the interior green and then painted some details in black and dry-brush lightly with aluminium.

Add the PE seat belts and painted it.

Finally glued the fuselage halves together.

Also added the PE for the landing gear bay and doors.

Closed the sides and ready to putty and sand paper.

Any comments?

 

[Wayne Little]

 

[Wurger]

Looking good methinks. I like the way you are going to attach the wing to the fuselage. Gluing of the bottom half of the wing to the fuselage firstly , allows to avoid gaps at the wing roots while sticking the top halves of the wing usually. As far as the stabilizers are concerned.. personally I prefer attaching of them before the wing sticking. The tails can be the baseline to keep the correct wing dihedral.