Trumpeters P-40B in
1/48 has copped a fair bit of criticism on various web sites. Mainly directed at
the cockpit and rivet detail. I certainly agree that the cockpit is pretty
average. It's very shallow and just doesn't look right. You could use a resin
detail set to correct this though. I replaced the kit seat with a Ultracast one
but didn't bother with a resin cockpit as I was after a quick and in-expensive
build. I also added some Ultracast exhausts (for another P-40B kit), although it
was really a waste of money. The Kit exhausts are fine and fit without any
mucking around. The rivet detail doesn't bother me. In fact I think it kind of
adds to the effect. The kit also comes with some photo etch
A good review on the
kit detailing it's shortcomings is http://kits.kitreview.com/p40btrump48reviewbg_1.htm
Despite this I think it builds into a nice looking model. I like the RAF WW2
desert scheme and think the Shark mouth really goes well with the P-40 (all
models), it just seems to go well with the intake.
This picture
shows the shallow cockpit. Another problem is the instrument panel
arrangement. The panel is a clear piece of plastic with holes which you
paint black. There is not decal for instruments so I just used a piece of
paper behind the plastic, I drew a few small black lines on the paper. You
can't see that well in there, again I wasn't interested in going mad so I
left it at that |
Click on
image below to see larger image
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The kit builds up pretty easily.
I sanded off the panels under the tail planes and the radio bay door as
they were proud but should be flush with the airframe. I scribed around the
panels before sanding.It needed a bit of work/putty around the upper cowling
but apart from that it want together pretty well. Trumpeter certainly give you
plenty of bits to stick together which is nice. I also left the flaps down even
though I'd read they were never left like that. Still there's some nice detail
there and it's only a model after all.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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The kit was
painted with Gunze 71 Mid Stone and Tamyia XF 52 Flat Earth acrylics for the
upper surfaces and Model Master Enamel RAF Azure Blue for the underside. At
first I thought mid Stone looked to yellow and the brown, just not right. But
now I'm happy with them.
The usual coat of
Kleer was applied then the kit decals. They went on well, although the sharks
mouth gave me a few stressful moments. Plenty of Micro Sol helped these go down.
Another coat of Kleer then enamel wash for a mixture of whatever browns I
had lying around. After this was cleaned of it was sealed with a coat of Gunze
Cleat flat and some weathering with pastel chalks and a Silver artists pencil.
These were sealed with another coat of Gunze flat and the aerial of Ezy line
attached.
All in all I'm pretty happy with
the result. It's pretty good value for money and nice decal option
straight out of the box.
Well thanks for reading and enjoy
the pictures.
Calum
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