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The Great LSP Twins Group Build Starts Jan 24, 2024 - End July 3, 2024 ×

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I cracked this open mid summer '16 with hopes to finish by 7 Dec for 75 anniversary.  Pearl Harbor P36, P40B, A6M2b.  As usual, life, family and another wrecked knee kept my bench-time to a minimum.  My bench is configured as a standing bench and the wrecked knee dictated my time to something like 30 minute sessions.

 

P40_Box.jpg

Trumpy's P40B with all it's known short comings.  Will address cockpit, wheel well, fabric and rivet issues.

 

P40B_White300.jpg

P40B "White 300" based at Bellows Field 7 Dec, 1941.

 

P40B_Bellowsfield..jpg

This Bellows Field post 7 Dec P40B has seen better days.

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The cockpit is short so I secured Lone Star resin correction set.

 

TRU_P40PitRebuild.03.jpg

Lone Star's resin sidewall correction (left) and kit.  Depth difference is markable.

 

TRU_P40PitRebuild.01.jpg

 

 

TRU_P40PitRebuild.02.jpg

 

TRU_P40PitRebuild.07.jpg

The casting of Lone Star's correction is showing it's age.  Soft detail and lots of bubbles/imperfections.  That said I have decided to scratch build the deeper cockpit.  Using Lone Star parts as template I draw on styrene card stock.

 

TRU_P40PitRebuild.08.jpg

Apologizes for the photo quality.

 

TRU_P40PitRebuild.06.jpg

Will be enhancing cockpit detail with Eduards PE interior set.

 

TRU_P40PitFloor.04.jpg

Kit floor is cut at ammo tray.  Save ammo tray mount as will be used.

TRU_P40PitFloor.03.jpg

Prototype cut kit floor in position.

 

TRU_P40PitFloor.06.jpg

 

TRU_P40PitFloor.05.jpg

Kit floor taped to prototype and final size is drawn.   Mounting holes for seat frame, control stick are matched from kit floor and drilled out.

 

TRU_P40PitFloor.10.jpg

Floor test fit.

 

TRU_P40PitFloor.08.jpg

 

TRU_P40PitFloor.01.jpg

 

TRU_P40PitFloor.02.jpg

 

Seat bulkhead modified after the Lone Star part.

TRU_P40PitRebuild.09.jpg

 

TRU_P40PitRebuild.05.jpg

Eduard PE parts added.  Will paint and begin detail work such as wiring, hoses, etc.

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Rick,

Very cool kit and build up!

I built this a few years back and opened all the hatches and engine bays,and used CMK's refinery interior!

It was the Flying Tigers version looks a great project and nice scheme!

I saw the CMK correction after I secured the Lone Star correction.  Clearly the CMK is superior.

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Great call Jan.

 

Not sure where I saw this method, it was online somewhere.  Worked quite well.  Kudos to the unknown modeller.

 

TRU_P40BWheelWell.02.jpg

All dry, time for some cutting.

 

TRU_P40BWheelWell.03.jpg

Gentle pressure slight twist, lift and remove.

 

TRU_P40BWheelWell.04.jpg

This just might work.

 

TRU_P40BWheelWell.05.jpg

Fit good.

 

TRU_P40BWheelWell.06.jpg

Carefully draw cut line.

 

TRU_P40BWheelWell.07.jpg

A little work required.  Will punch styrene dots for fasteners.

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More work on the wheel wells.

TRU_P40WheelWell.11.jpg

Using .25mm (.010") styrene card I punch out 1.9 dia and 1.25 hex for canvas wheel well attach points.

 

TRU_P40WheelWell.09.jpg

 

TRU_P40WheelWell.10.jpg

I secured the discs with white glue then the hex nuts secured with thin cement.

 

There will be plenty of debate regarding the arrangement of the canvas secure points.  I've seen photos of the canvas boot secured tight as a drum head with multiple fasteners and canvas boot secured with no apparent fasteners and the canvas boot looks like the roof liner of my VW draping on my head.

 

This is how I will represent the canvas wheel well boot liner.

 

TRU_P40WheelWell.08.jpg

Test fit looks good.  After I button up the wings I will do a final trim and paint the canvas covers (boot).

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Looking good, Rick!  I screwed up the upper cowl section on mine where the port MG exits which has pretty much stalled the project until I figure out how to fix it.

Had same issue with my UCS.  The MG exits were a mess, one was completely closed up.  I drilled out the exits, got lucky!

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