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Arii/Otaki
1/48 scale
Curtiss P-40E Warhawk
by Eddie "Grunticus" Wilson
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Curtiss P-40E Warhawk |
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Here is my Otaki 1/48 scale P-40E that I built a few years ago.
The model was built pretty much stock but I had to
replace the landing gear because I misplaced a strut and wheel. Thanks
to a kindly knowledgeable soul here on HyperScale I was able to fashion
some new struts that ended up looking better than the original kit
parts.
There is nothing really remarkable about this model but with all the
talk of the new Trumpeter kit and the debate over the rivets, I thought
it might be useful for anybody interested in how dimpled divots look
after a coat of paint!
Fit was about average for a P-40 with some filler
needed at both wing root fillets.
The worst part of this kit is the wing which is swept to the rear on the
leading edge. No P-40 ever had a airfoil shape like this and to
fix it would probably require a whole new wing. The model's side view
elevation seems correct for the most part but I would not chose this kit
again if i were building a proper P-40E.
The interior is pretty much straight from the box though I did add some
masking tape seat belts and a set of photo etch gun sights at the front
of the windshield. The rear quarter windows fit was really poor. At some
stage I should go back and replace them with some clear styrene or
acetate. So many models, so little time.
 I
used Testor's Model Master paints on this model (enamels) and replaced
the kit decals with a markings from a Microscale sheet that was actually
intended for P-40B and P-40C.
The markings represent the 55th Pursuit Squadron,
20th Pursuit Group based at Selfridge Field in Michigan before the start
of WWII.
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