RP-40 - Newest Unlimited Racer

[K5054NZ]

Or, Zac's Current Obsession Strikes Again 

Hi all!

Yup, I'm back with ANOTHER Reno racer , this time taking a practically complete P-40H Kittiwake

and b*st*rdising it into a new racer. I have the backstory for this         -engined baby in my head as I type, but I won't divulge until the project is done. Let's just say, inspiration from the "Red Baron" RB-51  and John H Sandberg's Tsunami  . Meantime, enjoy pics........and enjoy the puzzle of what sort of canopy and engine she will wear.....













Base model is the superlative Academy 1:72 P-40M/N Warhawk. At only NZ$12 she's a beaut. Mate. Good on ya.

[SinUnNombre]

Wow Zac. Can't wait to see how this one turns out. And I can't let you have all the fun with these little racers, I've still got some 1/72's crashing about that I can cut up and paint glossy...

Jon

[K5054NZ]

  Can't wait to see 'em! The more the merrier! We could have our own Whif Racing League!

Well, I guess that my attempt to keep the engine of this aircraft secret has driven away any interest so here's a pic of the RP-40 as she is now:


Backstory is in hand, paint scheme sort of in mind, very excited with the way she's going.

[K5054NZ]

HISTORY OF P-40N 43-22962

This P-40 started life as a Kittyhawk Mk.IV for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, delivered in 1943. Serialled NZ3220, the aircraft served with distinction under the name "Gloria Lyons". Following the cessation of hostilities in 1945, the aircraft was put into open storage (along with many dozens of other P-40s) and eventually sold to scrap dealer Jack Asplin in 1959. Over the years several individuals approached Asplin in an effort to secure some of the P-40s, Corsairs and Venturas still remaining at his Rukuhia site.

In 1965 Jack Riley, an American veteran of the Pacific theatre, was in New Zealand and saw the lines of single-engine fighters in a nearby paddock. He made inquiries as to the owner and eventually met Asplin, coming to an agreement which saw him accumulate two P-40s (the identity of the other has sadly been lost to history) and several tons of spares. The aircraft followed him back to his Everett, Washington base, where he commenced restoration of '962 to an airworthy condition. Working with a small but dedicated team of enthusiasts, the aircraft flew again on March 12 1967. However, although very happy with the aircraft, Riley soon tired of the type and sold it in order to purchase a P-51D Mustang (sadly soon after taking delivery of the Mustang it crashed on take-off and Riley was killed).

Talking with his team of ex-USAF engineers, new owner Kyle Melton planned up a new future for the machine in the high stakes world of air racing, with the aim of completing in the National Championship Air Races at Reno-Stead, NV, in 1970. The airframe was to receive a new Rolls-Royce Merlin powerplant (similar to the wartime P-40F and –40L models) and clipped wings. Registered NX1240P, the aircraft took to the skies at Reno-Stead in March 1970. Assigned the race number 54 and named "Blue Lady", the machine qualified for the Unlimited Gold race that year but blew its engine on the first lap. Melton landed safely but was devastated, as the aircraft had shown major potential during the test flying phase and would have been a real contender.

1971 race season dawned with "Blue Lady" ready for another shot at pole. This time Melton's Merlin came through and the aircraft came in third in the Gold. Over the next fifteen years the Lady would not again attain such heights, constantly coming in third or second in the Silver but never quite bettering her competition. Twice her engine saw a Mayday call and the aircraft not being able to finish the race.

In 1986 "Blue Lady" was conspicuously absent. Kyle Melton did participate, however – in the T-6 class. A well deserved Silver victory saw him instantly qualify for a spot in the Gold, but Melton chose to retire with his winnings. Many speculated that after his failure to qualify in the Unlimited Gold for so long, Melton had simply given up racing in that class. But this was not the case. Following a seventh place finish in the 1985 Gold, Melton and the team seat about an essentially new "Blue Lady".

May 8 1987 saw a crisp Reno day, and the reappearance of NX1240P. However, besides the FAA registration and race number the aircraft that emerged from Melton's hangar bore little resemblance to the underdog of years past. The aircraft's Merlin engine had been removed and replaced by a Griffon engine, driving a six-bladed contrarotating propeller. The sleek new cowl also saw the radiators relocated from the distinctive chin mounting to along the wing leading edge, reducing drag. The cowl served to give the aircraft a menacing look, added to by the new canopy and low turtledeck. No issues arose during the testing phase, and "Blue Lady" – now registered as an "RP-40" - was soon confirmed as an entry into the 1987 NCAR (Unlimited Class).

The aircraft flew under Melton's own hands until 1999 – constantly attaining high placings in the Unlimited Gold class (winning the trophy four times) and blistering speeds. 2000 saw a new pilot, Chip Chisholm, take the hot seat and "Blue Lady" continued her run of podium finishes.

In 2006 it was announced that "Blue Lady" was up for sale. Some feared that the new owner would return the aircraft to a stock condition, signifying the end of a unique campaign of races by this very famous and much loved racer. However these fears were unfounded: new owner Hank Riley pledged to keep the aircraft on the circuit. Chip Chisholm remains the pilot, and this year is optimistic that the RP-40 – with a new paint scheme – has what it takes to take Unlimited Gold for a seventh time.

[K5054NZ]

Hi all!

After waiting a fair amount of time for the u/c doors (read: filler) to dry, I've now applied the second coat of Tamiya Blue. Thing is, I still don't actually have any scheme in mind. A three tone mix of blues would be good, but I'm lost on the design. Pics of current state tomorrow.

As a personal aside, I'm a tad disappointed this radical machine hasn't garnered much interest here! I'd have thought a semi-lowback Griffon clipped racing P-40 would've been a hot topic!

[Weaver]

Can't speak for others, but I find there's so much going on here of late that I can't possibly read all the threads, let alone comment on them all.

It's a good project and it'll be good to see it finished: ANY non-cammo, non-NMF scheme is to be encouraged! 

Don't know how ambitious you're feeling, but what occured to me for "Blue Lady" was those elegant Mucha-style Art Nouveau ladies. Maybe a stylised, three-tone blue profile on the tail, with the hair becoming stripes?

[K5054NZ]

Thanks! I may just have to try that........


Spraying is underway, and luckily the sun's out 

I'll give you some better shots of the whole machine later on - I'm really very pleased with the RP-40's lines.

[sotoolslinger]

Your crazier than me

[K5054NZ]

Not possible. 



Then again, Barracuda...........

[K5054NZ]

Procrastinating on paint scheme, but here's the RP-40 as she currently stands. Sits. Is held. Whatever.









Taking a leaf out of Tophe's book - and also due to the total lack of an interior - the ex-Fw190 canopy is silver. The Griffon is, I think, ex-Mk.XII Spitfire, and was resin from a bag of bits sent a while back by Wooksta. The carb intake is cut down from some sort of 1:144 weapon/ECM thingie. You can't see it at all in these shots, but I used filler to create the impression of covers for the wheels. The intention is to paint the leading edges black to represent the Stiletto-style radiator setup. I have sanded down the leading edges a bit to show this.

Apologies for the poor quality, lighting etc. My lighting team are on their eternity off 

[Weaver]

Looking Good 

Bit late now, but my tip would have been to paint the canopy on the inside, like RC car modellers do with their polycarbonate bodies. The clear plastic then forms a kind of "solid gloss cote", and the overall effect is of glass that you can't see through due to reflections/lighting, rather than a solid surface.

[Brian da Basher]

I like your "Air Racing Cocktail" or P-40 in a glass there Zacster!

Brian da Basher