Curtiss Hawk 75 whiff

[Brian da Basher]

Here's what I'm going to start with. The base kit is the classic Monogram/Mattel Curtiss P-36A I got for a song recently off echo-bravo. The special markings and parts for the modifications are a surprise. This one's going to be very subtle.

The hooch is Gosling's Black Seal Rum. Very tasty, although I've got to admit I'm more of a Bourbon drinker (9 year old, small batch please). If you're having a drink, you might as well have a cigarette too.

Brian da Basher

[dogsbody]

Mmmmm! Dark rum, my favorite. My standard is Captain Morgan Deluxe.  Me and the Cappy have sailed many a sea over the years. Sometimes the seas were a little rough and I'd get a bit seasick.

[Brian da Basher]

I got 90% of the model built today. Fuselage is together, small mods made to the wings, wings and tailplanes are on. I'm really impressed by this kit! There's absolutely no gap at the wing root! As my car is going back in the shop on Monday, I took the day off from work and I'm hoping to have my project finished sometime Monday evening. If I can do that, I may be able to get a second entry in before the deadline.

News as it happens...

Brian da Basher

[anthonyp]

What is it with posing models with vices lately (booze, tobacco, naked women...)?

Gave me an idea on how to present my Cuban F-16C when it's done    (too bad I don't have any Cuban cigars, because that's illegal in this country, and I'd never do that (looks around nervously)). 

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with, Brian!   

[John Howling Mouse]

What is it with posing models with vices lately (booze, tobacco, naked women...)?

Well, it IS a Spring Break group build....

[Brian da Basher]

Here's the latest. Yesterday I got the paintwork done. It's an interesting camo pattern I think will work well with the markings. Now all I need to do is attach the canopy, paint the framing and apply the decals. I'm hoping to have something to show you guys on Friday or Saturday.

Brian da Basher

[John Howling Mouse]

You reeeeeeeally don't like to show in-progress pics, do ya, Meester?

Tease!   

[Brian da Basher]

You reeeeeeeally don't like to show in-progress pics, do ya, Meester?

Tease!   

Nope. If I showed them now, it would spoil the surprise!

And in all honesty, besides the small mods, paint scheme and markings, the rest is just standard Hawk 75.

Brian da Basher

[Captain Canada]

Mmmm.......booze.

Mmmm.......

[Ed S]

What is it with posing models with vices lately (booze, tobacco, naked women...)?

...naked women..?  Was I sleeping?

It's all about having fun.

Ed

[Brian da Basher]

I just finished applying the decals. I hope to post pics tomorrow.

Brian da Basher

[anthonyp]

What is it with posing models with vices lately (booze, tobacco, naked women...)?

...naked women..?  Was I sleeping?

It's all about having fun.

Ed

Oh, I don't have a problem with it at all, just the incidence of it increased exponentially with this GB.  I haven't yet been able to get to the store to buy what's going to accompany my builds...  I may have to have a Winter Defiance Party after this GB to consume...

And would you post some in progress pics, Brian!  You're such a tease!   

[Brian da Basher]

Never let it be said I ignored the vox populi.



Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

In December 1938 Phibun Songkhram took over as military dictator and set about modernizing Thailand's armed forces. The Thais were very impressed with the Curtiss Hawk 75 Export version but wanted a few changes. Notably, they wanted a more powerful engine and more streamlined undercarriage. The engineers at Curtiss eventually produced the Hawk 75.2, often referred to as the "Hawk 76". This improved version was powered by the  Pratt & Whitney R-1905 Yellowjacket engine of 1,500 h.p. and featured a pair of the sleekest spats ever seen on a Hawk. Thailand purchased three full squadrons of Hawk 76s, The Phuket Phighting Phalcons were the first unit to receive them in June of 1940. During the Chumphon Incident in December, 1941, the Thai Hawk 76s acquitted themselves well, achieving a 4.3-1 kill ratio over the Japanese. A treaty was soon signed and the Tais found themselves a nominal ally of the Japanese. However, discontentment grew and Pridi Phanomyong was able to lead a revolt against Japan during the rainy season in 1943. The Phuket Phighting Phalcons played a major role in defeating the Japanese oppressors, and old No. 8, flown by Air Major Pad Thai Khao was credited with downing a Japanese bomber carrying the heir apparent to the crysanthimum throne. This brought a quick end to Japanese aggression and old No. 8 can be seen on display at the Thalang National Museum, Phuket.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

As you may know, I have a real soft spot for the Curtiss P-36. This also extends to the Hawk 75 export versions, especially the ones with spats! I recently acquired a vintage 1/72 Monogram/Mattel P-36. As fate would have it, I also managed to get my hands on some of those cool W.W. II Thai "elephant" markings too. As I had a pair of spats left over from a P-26, it seemed fate was telling me to build a spatted Hawk 75 export version for Thailand. The build was very straightforward. All I had to do was cover up the gear bays with some sheet plastic and attach the spats. Like I said, this is a very subtle whiff, as the Thais did fly Hawk 75s, but I've never seen them in this style of markings or with the more streamlined spats from a P-26. I doubt they ever wore camo like this either, but I extrapolated a bit from the "tiger stripe" style seen on Japanese-supplied Oscars. The entire model was brush-painted by hand with acrylics. I used Testor's Tan, Model Masters U.S. Desert Tan and Testor's Olive Drab on the uppers and Testor's Light Ghost Gray on the undersides. The engine was left in the bare metallic kit plastic, but dry-brushed with Tamiya Gunmetal. The prop blades were painted in artists' acrylics, as were the tires. I had a lot of fun with this one-week group build, and I'm looking forward to the next one at the end of August.

Brian da Basher