1/48 Academy P-40C - WIP

[hrtpaul]

Yep me again. This is the Academy 1/48 P-40C Tomahawk done in the colours of Pilot Officer Jack Bartle of 112Sqn in Egypt, Oct '41. Since these pics were taken the guns have been added and the whole thing flat coated. It's been a pretty good kit (my 2nd Academy kit) with nothing too bad that wasn't my own doing. I tried to free hand the camo but that was never gonna work so a repaint and some Blu-tack later and it was much better. This is one I started in TSV and it should be finished by tomorrow arvo. That'll make 3 finished for this time home which I'm pretty pleased with. I was also hoping to have a 1/72 RF-4E done as well but I'm not gonna have enough time and I don't wanna rush the NMF arse end of it. I've used a mix of Humbrol enamels, Model Master, Gunze and Revell paints. I used the Humbrol enamel wash and I was very please with how it worked. I also tried some dot filtering but I was a little scared about putting too much on. What's left is the prop and pitot tube to stick on, pull off the masks from the windscreen and attach the canopy and finish painting the wheels then put them on. I'm still not sure where I'm gonna put this as space is becoming a problem. This is also not helped by a 1/48 Spitfire FR.IX that will be coming home with me when I come home from TSV next time. Onto the pics

[Adam the Akrodude]

Excellent work Paul. Great inspiration to do a Desert Hawk! Have you ever tried any of the "dust" products like MiG pigments? You can brush them on dry or make a thin wash. Another thing I do to represent dust is add a tiny bit of light grey (say two drops) into your final matt/satin finish - test this on some dummy model first. This gives the model a slight dust/fade finish - very subtle. Otherwise the decals are just too bright and vivid. Masters of these filtering techniques are guys like James "Haggis" Haggo and Chris Wauchop. Wauchop is my modelling hero - when it comes to WW2 stuff. I have tried the oil dot technique and think it's brilliant as well.

http://chriswauchop.com/

Practice on some old crap model. I have a Trimaster 262 which I have used over the years as my technique "tester".

Man, you are pumping them out - Bravo!

Cheers

Adam

[hrtpaul]

Ta mate. I haven't tried the Mig pigments as yet. I normally use Tamiya Buff (XF-57) heavily thinned and spray that over everything to simulate dust. Oh and I'm only pumping them out (I've never been accused of pumping models out LOL) because I build some in TSV and finish them off here at home. I'm hoping to have the RF-4E, Argie T-34C, Starfighters F-104 and the pink Spitfire finished the next time I'm home. I really should find another display cabinet shortly

[hrtpaul]

She's done. I used some pastels on it and also the Humbrol Gloss oil strain wash at the end which looks pretty cool I reckon. This makes the 3rd one finished for this trip. Anyways here's the not so glamour shots

[Adam the Akrodude]

Very nice work Paul - you flyin' man!

Keep pumping 'em out! Looking forward to seeing that Starfighter too!

[hrtpaul]

Thanks mate. This'll be the last one finished before I go to TSV this Sunday. I hope to have a few finished (F-104, RF-4E, pink Spitfire) next trip home in 4 weeks. There's no modelling tomorrow cos I've got my little man all day and I'm gonna make the most of that time with him