P-40B Tiger Shark - In Primer - 4/21/15

[atomicholiday]

How messed up is this. My first WIP on modelcarsmag.com and it's a plane?!

Anyway... I said I wasn't going to do one for this project, but I just finished the instrument panel and it came out pretty cool, so I thought I'd share and hopefully get some tips/feedback.

There will be ALOT of first on this project for me. First plane model for starters. I'm going with the full on "Flying Tigers" paint scheme. Lieutenant General Claire Chennault was one of my childhood heros. Another first: camo paint.

Here's the kit: (swiped this pic from the web, but that's the box I have.)

Ok, so here's yet another first for me. To do the inst. panel, I put matte aluminum BMF over the whole thing, painted it all flat black, then lightly scuffed the raised surfaces to relieve the foil (a tip I learned on here for doing scripts, thank you very much!). This is the first time I've ever tried this technique on anything and it worked pretty good. Although I did get a little heavy handed on the right edge, but it'll never show once assembled. Check it out!

This pic shows WAY more detail than you can see with the naked eye. The actual size is closer to 5/8" or so.

So... While I am pretty pleased with this, I'd like some input on how I could make it even better on the next kit. Tell me what you would have done different. I want to get this right and keep improving. I'll probably be asking for alot of advice on this project. I know it won't show when finished, but I like things to be as good as I can get them and still keep it OOB.

Thanks for looking!

Edited April 21, 2015 by atomicholiday

[cobraman]

Not bad. You could see if there is a decal set for the panel. Another option is to drill out the instruments and place decals or paper gauges from the rear and coat with Krystal Klear. BTW one of my favorite war birds.

[Snake45]

Here's a couple build reviews of that kit, which might or might not be helpful to you.

http://www.modelingmadness.com/review/allies/us/cleaverp40b.htm

http://www.modelingmadness.com/review/allies/us/jacksonp40b.htm

[Ace-Garageguy]

Nice looking panel. In 1/48, you really don't need anything any better.

[atomicholiday]

Thank you gentlemen!

@Snake: thanks for the links. A couple of nice looking builds there and some good info too.

... In 1/48, you really don't need anything any better.

That's what I was kinda wondering about. In that pic it looks huge and shows every imperfect detail. But with the naked eye, it looks pretty good. Not perfect, but... I may look around for some pics and add a bit of color here and there to replicate whatever is there in the 1:1. Also thought about putting some Future in the gage bezels possibly, but I don't want to over-do it.

I'm hoping to get some primer and start the rest of the cockpit this weekend.

[atomicholiday]

Just a small update. Scuffed a little more of the black off the gage bezels. I also added a little color to a few of the knobs and some Future to the bezels. Can't see the Future very well in the pic (or the color for that matter), but it looks decent enough in person. Also did a bit of dry brushing on the side controls.

Yeah I know, I'm obsessing over details you won't even see in the finished product. lol! But I'm gaining some experience and having fun doing it. Can't beat that! That being said, these babies are done. If I keep messing with them I'll screw 'em up & have to start over.

[mustang1989]

Much better Jeremy! I'll be watchin' this one....................close!

[atomicholiday]

I'll be watchin' this one....................close!

Oh great, now I have pressure! haha!

But seriously, thanks. I'm much happier with it now too. The detail on that panel is so light coming straight out of the box. I'm just glad the BMF trick worked. Don't think I could have dry-brushed that one. And I'm to cheap to go with aftermarket parts.

Gonna move on to priming and painting the rest of the cockpit, wheelwells, and other surfaces that get zinc chromate today.

[Snake45]

You don't want zinc chromate, you want Interior Green FS 34151. Model Master "Zinc Chromate Green" is MUCH too bright for an interior color.

I'm not sure about the gear wells on an AVG P-40B. They might be silver, or ZC yellow, or interior green, or possibly even the underside gray. I'll ask at Hyperscale and see what the experts say.

ETA: I posted the question. You can check for yourself the answers. I expect that "debate will ensue."

http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/thread/1420992290/AVG+P-40+Gearwell+Color-

Edited January 11, 2015 by Snake45

[mustang1989]

You can go MM Zinc Chromate but like Rich said you gotta watch tha brightness. Prime the cockpit area a black color first and then spray the Zinc Chromate in layers until you get the shade you want.

Or you could shoot the MM Zinc Chromate and apply light coats of dark wash until you get the shade you want. With either method its 6 in one 1/2 a dozen in the other.

No worries on the pressure. I just enjoy watching WWII warbird builds that's all.

Edited January 11, 2015 by mustang1989

[atomicholiday]

Interesting. I'm glad I held off on any painting today. I'm gonna wait and see what develops at Hyper Scale. Some really good info coming in so far. I have a bit of filling and sanding to do while I wait anyway.

Hey Joe, I'm joking about pressure. I'm actually looking for you guys to steer me in the right direction and keep me from screwing this thing up.

[Aaronw]

You can also make cockpit green by mixing some black to the Zinc Chromate Green until it is more of a grey green.

My understanding is that is what most of these colors were anyway, ZC Yellow was basically un-tinted zinc chromate, ZC green had some black added, and the various cockpit greens had even more black added to increase UV protection and tone it down to a less eye catching color.

I've not built that particular kit, but I have done an AVG P-40B in 1/72. The tricky thing with P-40s and AVG aircraft in general is they are often a hodgepodge, frequently having been ordered for a service different than where they ultimately ended up serving.

The AVG aircraft were built for a British order using British specs and US equivalent British colors (that don't exactly match US or British colors) so you can end up with a lot of debate as to what colors are "right". When I did mine I just used the standard British Dark Green / Dark Earth / Sky Grey and British Cockpit green which was close enough for me.

[DanielG]

You will get lots of opinions on the 'correct colours'. Try and find colour photos or video and use them as your 'best guess'. I harken back to a pic of a B-17 fresh off the assembly line with three shades of Olive Drab, depending on whether it was a dope or paint or laquer.

[Snake45]

As I suspected, much discussion ensued at Hyperscale. Someone posted a lot of good pics. If you haven't checked my link above today, check it again.

[mustang1989]

You will get lots of opinions on the 'correct colours'. Try and find colour photos or video and use them as your 'best guess'.

You couldn't be any more on target than with this statement right there Daniel. I do a lot of Luftwaffe stuff and what's correct in one color reference manual is totally off base from what another one says. In the end it is in fact largely about the "best guess" I have found. A person can drive themselves crazy trying to find the "correct" shade of paints to use.

You have a great build in the works so far Jeremy so keep up the good work man!

[atomicholiday]

Thank you all, gentlemen! Think I have a pretty good idea of what I need now.

One thing that's becoming clear to me: I'm gonna need more military paints if I'm gonna pursue building more planes. I only have a couple. I'd have no problem if I were doing this in car colors. Have tons of that stuff. Hmm... A candy red or british racing green P-40B? haha!

Snake: Thanks for posting that on hyperscale. Those pics are fantastic!

[Roadrunner]

As it turns out, I have a fair amount of references on the P-40. If you need any specific photos, please let me know.

[atomicholiday]

Cool. Thanks Kevin.

No real updates to speak of yet. I've done a (very) little bit of filling and sanding of a couple pieces. The seat has a big notch molded into it for the pilot that needed filling. Filled in the hole for the belly tank. And filled the seam on the prop assy. That was a bit of a pain. Gonna check out the finger-nail files at wally-world tonight to see if I can find some better sanding tools for tight spaces.

I also bought a ton of military paint. Can't wait for that to show up.

So it's not stalled, but it's going pretty slow right now. Couple minutes each night. I'm cool with that.

[Roadrunner]

Cool. Thanks Kevin.

No real updates to speak of yet. I've done a (very) little bit of filling and sanding of a couple pieces. The seat has a big notch molded into it for the pilot that needed filling. Filled in the hole for the belly tank. And filled the seam on the prop assy. That was a bit of a pain. Gonna check out the finger-nail files at wally-world tonight to see if I can find some better sanding tools for tight spaces.

I also bought a ton of military paint. Can't wait for that to show up.

So it's not stalled, but it's going pretty slow right now. Couple minutes each night. I'm cool with that.

Same here. I figure that whatever I do today on a kit, no matter how small, is something I don't have to do tomorrow.

[atomicholiday]

No pics yet, but I did make a little progress on this one today. Got the cockpit and a few other pieces primed and ready for color coat. Paint should be here in a day or two.

I tried using Mr. Surfacer 1500 thru the airbrush. Thinned it with lacquer thinner per suggestion. Not sure if I had the mix ratio wrong or what, but that was a pain. First off, it sprayed very grainy. I couldn't get it to go on wet at all. I had the airbrush about 4-6 inches away and still seemed like it was drying straight out of the brush. Pressure was set at around 16psi. give or take. And it was definitely drying in the airbrush and on the tip. But coverage was good and it sanded down nicely. I think before I try using Mr. Surfacer thru the airbrush again I'll pick up some Mr. Color leveling thinner. Anybody else ever tried this stuff?

I'll get pics up once I get the cockpit done.

[mustang1989]

Jeremy, yes I have tried it. Pick up the leveling thinner and get this stuff thin and what I do is shoot it at about 30 psi. Most folks arent comforable with the higher pressures but it does work for me.

[Roadrunner]

30 psi? Wow, I've never heard of such a thing. Why do you use such a high pressure?

To the OP,... so far, so good. I just recently received (4) 1:48 P-40 kits; hopefully at least one will be an AVG scheme.

[mustang1989]

I used to run between 10-15 psi all the time and wasn't happy with the results. I found that with cranking the pressure up and thinning my paint down and not opening the needle any further than I just have to it gives me the results I'm after every time. Like I said though , it works for me.

[atomicholiday]

Sometimes I swear airbrushing is just voodoo. Seems like everybody does it different. That's cool though. Wouldn't be much of a challenge if the same thing worked for everyone.

[mustang1989]

Sometimes I swear airbrushing is just voodoo. Seems like everybody does it different. That's cool though.

Man you are right about that. You'll hear a hundred different ways but in the end you'll develop your own techniques and styles that work best for you.