DONE +++ 1:72 Curtiss Tomahawk PR.Ic, RAF 46 Squadron, late 1940

[Dizzyfugu]

Well, the GB has not officially started, but I'll be in, anyway - and the first (yes... ) entry will be a rather simple "livery whif", one of the first Curtiss P-40 Tomahawks in RAF service.
The type came just too late for the Norway campaign, but it makes a great filler for the gaps the Norway expedition left among 46 Squadron's Hurricane material. As a twist, this early P-40 will become a recce bird - what actually happened.

A rather subtle whif... Basis will be the (very good) 1:72 Trumpeter P-40B/C.

More to come soon.  

[Dizzyfugu]

No pics yet, but progress is good and fast. Fuselage and wings are already put together, the landing gear is drying. The Trumpeter Tomahawk is an amazing kit - one of the VERY few kits I have built that did not need ANY putty at all.  The new Airfix Hurricane was one, but this Chinese P-40B kit is well detailed, is cleverly constructed (e .g. the upper and lower cowling parts  are separate, but just the seams all go along panle lines) and has almost perfect fit - just the wing/fuselage intersection is left with minimal gaps. But I won't fill them with putty, I think that a bit of enamel paint will conceal this. I only miss the option to build it OOB with lowered flaps - then it would IMHO be perfect.

Very cool, and makes building it even quicker and convenient. I guess that painting can already start tomorrow. 

[Mossie]

He's so fast he'll be finished before the GB's even started!!!

[Dizzyfugu]

That's the plan!  Painting already on the way, but here's an update from former work steps. Very nice kit, makes work fast and easy!

The cockpit - OOB, with some dry-brushing and black ink wash:

1:72 Curtiss P-40C 'Tomahawk' PR.Ic; aircraft 'PO-T'/AN281 of Royal Air Force 46 Squadron; Digby airfield, late 1940 (Whif/Trumpeter kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Curtiss P-40C 'Tomahawk' PR.Ic; aircraft 'PO-T'/AN281 of Royal Air Force 46 Squadron; Digby airfield, late 1940 (Whif/Trumpeter kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Curtiss P-40C 'Tomahawk' PR.Ic; aircraft 'PO-T'/AN281 of Royal Air Force 46 Squadron; Digby airfield, late 1940 (Whif/Trumpeter kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The propeller receives the standard home-brew adapter construction made from a long styrene tube, while the spinner holds a long metal axis:

1:72 Curtiss P-40C 'Tomahawk' PR.Ic; aircraft 'PO-T'/AN281 of Royal Air Force 46 Squadron; Digby airfield, late 1940 (Whif/Trumpeter kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The radiator exhaust is placed in a slightly open position, so I put some foamed plastic inside as light/sight blocker. On the wings, hard to tell, I closed the casing elector openings since this Tomahawk will become a recce bird, with the wing guns removed:

1:72 Curtiss P-40C 'Tomahawk' PR.Ic; aircraft 'PO-T'/AN281 of Royal Air Force 46 Squadron; Digby airfield, late 1940 (Whif/Trumpeter kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


And, finally, last evening's status - already on its own legs:

1:72 Curtiss P-40C 'Tomahawk' PR.Ic; aircraft 'PO-T'/AN281 of Royal Air Force 46 Squadron; Digby airfield, late 1940 (Whif/Trumpeter kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

So far I have used putty only in two tiny spots along the fuselage halves - this also speeds up work considerably! 

[rickshaw]

Dizzy, you do realise that the GB doesn't start until the 15th?   

[Dizzyfugu]

Yes. Just warming up... 

[Captain Canada]

Looking good ! Love to watch you work. The problem being, every time I do, I want to drop what I'm doing and build what you are building !

[rickshaw]

Locking thread until the 15th.

[rickshaw]

Unlocking thread, as it is now the 15th.

[Captain Canada]

Cool beans....looking forward to seeing more of this one !

[Dizzyfugu]

To come soon. Was a hard time to restrain myself from glue and putty... Cold Turkey.

[Captain Canada]

lol with the speed at which you work I'd guess so !

[PR19_Kit]

No worries, he'll have it done by lunchtime tomorrow......... 

[Dizzyfugu]

How did you know that? The NSA is everywhere... 

Well, but since things are officially going on, painting has started:

1:72 Curtiss P-40C 'Tomahawk' PR.Ic; aircraft 'PO-T'/AN281 of Royal Air Force 46 Squadron; Digby airfield, late 1940 (Whif/Trumpeter kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Note the camera opening on the flank and the fairing under the tail, the only mods to the Trumpeter kit.

[Captain Canada]

Looking good ! I knew it wouldn`t take long to see her on the bench !