JohnB

My set of Thundercals showed up this past Saturday. I too think they are 1st class decals and very colorful. My next build will be a Hasegawa P-47 razorback and I plan to do one of the "Burma Banshees". Your P-47 is coming right along Peter!

Down hill now! LOL Seams all filled, puttied, sanded, and primed. I need to attach the seat, gun sight and canopy next and all get that done before painting can start. I'll leave off the gear until all that is done.

Nearly so Peter. Needs a bit of scribing for the lost panel lines. Thanks!

Just about got the fuselage plug done except for a bit of touchup.

Looks good so far Peter.

Indeed! Lots of prior experience in puttying and sanding. LOL

I got the plug area puttied up and am waiting for that to dry so I can sand it. In the meantime I'm getting the wings sorted out and seams cleaned up. Still a long way to go.

Making good progress. Fuselage plug in place and ready for puttying and sanding. So far so good.

I don't think we need those type comments here.

LOL That was before I was born anyway!

Being the same age as I am Peter I figured you'd know for certain. Yes, it was a very far-out goofy looking outfit with BIG baggy pants, etc. The name on the P-39 was a play on words evidently.

Thanks Peter. I think it'll make a interesting model with that name! LOL I wonder how many of the LSM guys have ever heard of a "Zoot Suit".

When I found this photo I decided it was time for another SH P-39 build. 15th Fighter Group, 6th Fighter Squadron, Makin Island. Sand 26 over lightened Azure Blue. This will go well with my previous build of "Devastating Devil" from the same outfit. Since, as far as I know, there are no decals for this particular a/c I made some using my computer and printer. I'm not sure if the name was in red or black so I made both and will decide later as to which one to use. As always on SH P-39's the fuselage is slightly too short and needs a "plug" about 3/16th thick to correct that. More later as the build progresses.

Indeed Peter. I found that out the hard way! LOL

Thank you Peter. Being able to make my own decals does help but there are limitations. I've found they can print a bit opaque when printed on clear decal paper and therefore don't do well on dark surfaces such as Dark Sea Blue and Olive Drab. Printing on white decal paper works good but then you have to do some very close trimming so there's no white outline, etc. Still, it's nice to be able to print stuff that wouldn't be available otherwise.

Completed this one. OOB except for FineMolds seat belts. Painted with Xtracolor Desert Sand 26 and Model Master Azure Blue lightened with some white. I used my computer and printer to do the nose art. National insignia and serial number are from Aeromaster. I hope you like it.

Thanks Peter.

I've been working on this model for a week or so and really hadn't planned to post anything about it here but I decided to go on a do it any way. As you can see it was well along when I took the last photo which was Friday. I wanted to do a a/c that no one else had done in view of the available decals for the 15th Fighter Group P-40Ns. All for "Geronimo" (which I did do in 1/32 a while back). I found one on line I liked and made my own decals for the name, etc. I just finished applying the nose art of "Miss Cappy" and thought I'd share a photo. I should have the model completed tomorrow and will post some RFI photos then.

Thanks Martin for moving this thread to the right spot.

Thank you Peter.

I started this build a number of weeks ago and set it aside to go to something else. Since I'm between builds right now I decided to drag it out and see about finishing it. So, today it's done and ready for inspection. I didn't try to go all out on it, just finish it. Not too bad a 1/48 kit but some of the parts are a bit "thick" such as the lower landing gear doors which I replaced with sheet styrene. At any rate it's finished. There are some "warts" on the build but I'll live with it.

Looks good Peter. Real nice IP!

Answer? I wasn't looking for answers, just trying to provide some modeling information for anyone building a P-39 or P-63. I'm very familiar with what you said in your post and was trying to provide a color "mix" for Bell Green. Maybe I should have said "I usually use Testor's but it would probably work okay with others." 🙄

Looking at color photos in publications such as the "P-39 Airacobra in Detail and Scale" and on-line photos of both restored a/c and original color photos of P-39's you will see a green that is not the usual Interior Green and seems to only be used on Bell a/c. In the D&S book it is called "Bell Green" so, for want of a better description, that is what I call it. I thought I'd post some info here to shed a little light on that color since, as far as I know, there isn't a reference anywhere as to it's FS595 shade. Since I've built several P-39's and P-63's I decided I needed to find a "mix" that would approximate Bell Green. Here is my interpretation of the paints needed to make your own Bell Green. I expect some of you might disagree as to what the color actually is but bear in mind this is only MY take on it. You might want to go a different route.

I just ordered a Tamiya Spit IX from Japan. Pretty good deal @ $79.96 for the kit with free shipping. Kit to arrive the week of April 29. I agree that RoG is a step or two ahead of Trumpeter. As a example, some Trumpeter kits, such as their P-40F, are pretty poor. And some are great ala their TBM's and SBD's. As they say, it's like a box of chocolates, etc. LOL In my estimation Tamiya and Hasegawa are two of the best model companies. I just wish they would resume their 1/32 a/c lines.