RW - Rod Lewis' restored P-40C in 1/48

[KiwiZac]

Hi all,
I've never really been a fan of the early, long-nosed P-40s but when Airfix announced their 1/48 kit I decided it looked too good to miss out on. So I bought one and built it using the kit decals for George Welch's Pearl Harbor machine which, coincidentally, is the same markings as AK295, the P-40C restored in New Zealand for oil baron Rod Lewis. I never got to see it fly, although I did get to see it during the restoration. It flew a couple of weeks later:

the exhaust stacks to the top left of the photo are on the DH Mosquito I was standing under, no big deal 

Because I was building a restored aircraft it made colour matching/references infinitely easier. AK295 was one of the aircraft covered in top NZ warbird photographer - and my former boss - Gavin Conroy's first book Precious Metal, so I had a bunch of high-quality photos at my fingertips to check various little details. The big cockpit photo was an especially big help.

At the beginning of the year it was almost done, but I had a dust disaster when clear-coating the canopy and windscreen. Cue a long wait for Airfix to get the spares in stock - they then sent the whole clear sprue instead of just the two bits I asked for, thank you Airfix! - and then she was finished. This kit had me smiling quite often because it was a literal joy to build. Beautiful fit, lovely detail, and a good price to boot. Bravo Airfix. Bring on the Sea Fury and Phantom!








She looks right at home with my growing collection of 1/48 warbirds:


I used the kit decals (still need an extra stencil for the tail to match the restored aircraft), Tamiya acrylics throughout (main scheme XF-62 over I think XF-53) followed by Humbrol Glosskote and then Humbroll Satinkote.

[NARSES2]

Great job there Zac 

I've heard very good reports of this kit

[KiwiZac]

It's a beauty. The only other time I've smiled so much while building was the big Tamiya Mossie.

[NARSES2]

Cheers Zac, I'm seriously considering some of these new tool Airfix 1/48th's

[KiwiZac]

They're excellent value for money. Keenly waiting for the Sea Fury, and to have spare money for the Stuka.

[zenrat]

Wrong scale, but I suppose it looks OK. 

I'm not keen on P40s either.  Not sure why.  Maybe I got bitten by one when I was a child?

[KiwiZac]

These P-40s I don't actually like, I built this one because of the Kiwi connection. Give me an E, M or N-1 any day!

All that said, I've heard nothing but good things about the 1/72 version...

[zenrat]

"Ideal for beginners"
Thanks Zac, what are you trying to say?
 

[NARSES2]

These P-40s I don't actually like, I built this one because of the Kiwi connection. Give me an E, M or N-1 any day!

All that said, I've heard nothing but good things about the 1/72 version...

Conversely I quite like the early ones. I may well take a trip to the dark side of 1/48 and get this one. See what you've started Zac ? 

The Airfix 1/72 new tool is a very nice kit.

[Captain Canada]

Nice one Zac that looks spot on. I love the colors and the simple markings, really makes her look like a war horse. Thanks for saying what colours you used duly noted. The 48th scale collection looks great as well !

[KiwiZac]

"Ideal for beginners"
Thanks Zac, what are you trying to say?
 

In fairness, they don't have the kit-only option up yet as it's being rereleased!

Thanks gents, it was a great build. I have a handful of other warbirds to be finished in 1/72 as well - the 109G Black Six, Glacier Girl, and the Kiwi Spitfire XIV.

[zenrat]

Excuses excuses.


One of my 1/72 Furys is going to get warbird livery.
Prolly this one.