P-40K-5 ZK-PXL

[K5054NZ]

Hi all.

Some of you may remember my crazy little quest to model each of the aircraft of the Alpine Fighter Collection as it was on January 1, 1996.

Another rather significant aircraft for this is the P-40K ZK-PXL, which was restored in NZ from 1988 to 1992, when it flew (for the first time since it crashed in the Aleutians) on the morning of that year's show.

In 1997 Phil Murray crash-landed her after something blew in her zero-timed engine. Her back was broken and her wings crumpled. Offered for sale by tender, she was snaffled up by Dick Thurman of Kentucky, who had the aircraft restored by AVspecs at Rotorua.



These are the colours she wore after her second restoration: exactly the same as she wore during her wartime service. Recently she was sold again and repainted.

However. That doesn't matter right now.



As you can see here, I very carefully took off the existing decals with the X-Acto and then sanding, following which she received a coupla coats Sky Grey, JA Green and Flat White.

The result is below.





At the moment I'm awaiting sufficient funds to allow me to purchase a mammoth decal sheet with more than enough options to do the remainder of this largely RNZAF-oriented collection. More pics when this happens.





Comments?

[elmayerle]

Zac,
That's gorgeous!!  One question, though, weren't P-40Ks powered by Merlins?

[Radish]

Merlin-powered P-40s were the P-40F and P-40L  

[lancer]

Brilliant work there Zac, she's looking pretty damm good.

[Brian da Basher]

Wow Zac that's one sweeet refurb job! I really like the green you used! It seems perfect for a Kiwi P-40. I can't wait until you get those decals (or "deckles" as our Canadian friends say). Thanks for the update.

Brian da Basher

[Ollie]

Very nice Zac!

^_^          

[John Howling Mouse]

Nice to see, Zac.  Did you modify the leading edge at the base of the vertical tailfin?

[K5054NZ]

Thanks dudes. Your encouragement is very precious to me.

Radish - damn straight! Thanks for pointing that out. FYI dudes, there's a P-40F being restored to airworthy in Aussie.


Bazmeister, indeed I did. This is the Academy E kit, what I did was cut a little triangle of cardboard, attach it with balsa glue and used some Humbrol filler and VOILA! Instant short-tail K! You can sorta see some grey filler poking thru in the post-sanding pic.


Like I've said, I've been dying to do this aircraft since I was aged in single digits, so this project is a real joy to be working on.

Au revoir for now, and as Ray Mulqueen (AFC Chief Engineer) said during the P-40s restoration:

"When It's Ready!"