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Playing in the Sandbox Group Build Sept 1, 2024 - Jn 1, 2025

GWH Curtiss P-40B; The Flying Tigers


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Thanks Rob

You're right on the money and I'm hoping I've finally over the hump of all the corrections, redo's and fixes. I know the P-40 looks still pretty dirty from the black primer but my plans are to finish her as always. All the paints are sitting on the work bench ready to go.

    

 

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Peter,

     glad to see you making progress on finish and trouble areas.  You didn't miss out on anything by not building the Trumpeter p-40.  Junk.  As always...   looking forward to your next update.

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Peter,  I saw that problem with the nose and really felt for you.  I also had NO idea how you were going to fix that but, wow, you really did a terrific job putting that back together.  Just amazing my friend!  Don't doubt the amazing you are doing these days - really something to see.

Congrats on the fix!

Chris

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Thanks Gaz

The repairs and fix at times were a bit 'shaky' but they are done. Early this morning, I scribed the panel line into the Milliput and it seemed to work. Scribing is my least favorite part of any build, as my skills in that area are close to terrible. But it's done now and as good as I can get.  Guess I won't know how I did until after priming later this week.

 

 

 

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Much appreciated Chris

Hard to believe I kept on going when I saw the alignment issues - I'm taking a senior moment and a mulligan all rolled into one on it. The repairs are done and even with the missing/lost left hand side teardrop window, I'm pushing onto the priming and painting. I'm finishing the P-40 no matter what, as it's now a test of wills.

 

   

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Peter I think you mentioned that you lost a the rear teardrop piece?I work retail and alot of retail places use clear flexible plastic we have .005" and some .010/.012" stuff maybe a HobbyLobby if you was here I give it to ya or I could mail some.The .005 stuff is excellent for gunsights PM if want to mail some no more than a stamp.;)

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READY FOR PRIMING PT 1

Still finding some a few seams that needed additional work and I thought I would give Ammo by Migs’ Arming Putty Classic a try, as it’s been in the ‘filler’ draw for a good while. It was a little on the wet side when I removed some from the tube and applied it as per the instructions, letting it dry for 24 hours. Still a bit sticky to the touch on the test strip I had on had on the bench and any semi thicker areas on the model, I could press a line in with my finger nail. Not sure why it still hadn’t dried rock hard and I decided to completely remove it, as I needed to keep moving forward with the build. A good hour was needed to remove and clean up the seams again. Now back to my normal gap/seam filler: Tamiya White Putty, allowed to dry and sanded smooth. No idea why the Mig Putty never dried, possibly it was too old, as there was a sticker on the box with a date: 7/16/2019.

First up was scribing the major panel line back in on the nose, wing fillets, the fuselage and the leading edges of the wings. Hope I got it right, as scribing is my least favorite and weakest part of modeling; if I’m close, I’ll be happy.

I decided to go with the cowl flaps open as most aircraft do have them that way on the ramp. Part fit is good and no issues.

PE parts 28 & 29 were folded into shape and installed into slots on either side of the bottom fuel line housing, step 22 and I have no idea what they are. They are not shown in step 24 as the instructions do seem to skip around a bit and in a number of steps, parts are shown and then disappear for a few steps and then reappear again. 

Next up was the clear glass Step 29 and I have to compliment GWH as the glass is magnificent. Masks are provided for both the inside and the outside of the glass and care has to be taken. Right off the bat for the outside of the windscreen, masks #1 and #2 are incorrect and reversed, all the rest of the masks are marked correctly. The armor plate and frame, sits inside the windscreen, nicely detailed and no masks are provided, requiring Tamiya tape and were cut out in the traditional manor.   

I wanted the windscreen glued into place before priming and painting the P-40 with the inside frames already painted as well. My solution was to air brush the inside canopy framing, then remove all the interior masks. The armor plate will be added at the very end of the build.  

Low and behold, I found under the clear glass fret in its separate little white box, a set of 3D printed 50 cal MG barrels and they look beautiful. Now I think I understand why there were PE covers over the MG breeches on the wing. You could cut off the MG barrels, drill out a mounting hole for the 3D barrels and insert them after all the prep and sanding. With those opening in the wings, it would be a snap, as you could see what you are doing. I didn’t see anything in the instructions about this and missed the 3D parts, as I never opened up the box with the clear parts until now. The instructions are printed on the top of the clear fret box. All this should have been clearly pointed out in the instructions and not a peep.

All the parts ready for priming. You can see the painted interior framing on the front windscreen and canopy. The spinner has been glued up and the seam sanded out as well.

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Access door still needs to be masked out. The rudder has not been glued in place and will be removed for painting, so that the visible interior of the vertical stabilizer interior and be completely painted

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PRIMING PT2

Priming went smooth as silk and zero issues. As always there were a few small areas that showed up, a spot or two of dust and no sanding marks. Later today, I’ll take care of those small cleanup and Monday I should be ready to actually start shooting on the color cotes.

I nearly fell out of my socks when I took a look at the scribing and really didn’t find any that required repairs, touchups or redo’s with CCA. Talk about Lady Luck hanging out with me at the bench the past few days.

At this point, I can’t see having the P-40 finished by January 1st, the kickoff date for the GB. The plan is to keep going until 1/1/23 then put the P-40 aside while I take part in the GB and once done, pick her back up and continue onto the finish.

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Thanks Rob. much appreciated. I was more then pleased with all the repairs and corrections came out looking pretty good but what really amazed me, was for the first time, the scribing looked good - now for me, that was an accomplishment for sure.

I know I should finish the P-40 before starting the GB but joining in at the beginning is part of the fun. Maybe I'll work on both at the same time -just see how it goes

 

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Thanks Phil

There were more then a few times I had that sinking feeling that the gremlins from the SH build were still lurking and planning their revenge, but I got lucky and with Lady Luck flying co-pilot. all seems to be finally going smoothly for a change. Of course, as Carl said, maybe we shouldn't be saying this 😉

 

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