Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

A single type GB, the Bell P-39 (or P-400) Airacobra in any scale, boxing, etc.
Runs June 18th to July 15th.
GB Leader is Brews.
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Dirkpitt289
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Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

User Name: Dirkpitt289
First Name: Dirk
Manufacture: Heller
Scale: 1/72
Model Type: P-39Q Airacobra
After Market Items: OOB

Sorry but I have no catchy title to go with this build :oops:

Box Art

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The Parts

There are 4 parts trees with this kit. 3 large trees as you can see here for the main parts and one small (not shown) for the canopy. I'n not sure of the year of this kit but the parts are unimpressive. Raised panel lines and some flash. At first glance there seems to be no injector marks that could be seen if left unattended to. I just realized this kit comes with both the 3 and 4 blade props. To be honest I know little of this aircraft so I'm not sure what the difference is. I'll have to do some digging to see which to use on this kit.

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Having built one of these (Airfix) last year I know absolutely nothing will be seen in the cockpit so this won't be an issue.

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The Decals

The decals seem fine

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The Directions

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I'm going out of town tomorrow morning and won't be back for a few days. So my goal is to get some work done today if possible. My goal will be to the aircraft pictured on the box top but Olive Drab over Neutral Gray. Also thinking I may put this one "In-Flight"

Thanks for looking
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
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Old_Tonto
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Old_Tonto »

That still looks like a decent kit for its age Dirk.

The 4 blade prop was only used on the P-39Q-21 & 25 varients but tests indicated that it worsened directional stability - copied from Yellow series 'Bell P-39 Airacobra' by Juszczak & Peczkowski. A very good information source. Later versions reverted back to the 3 blade prop.

From the box art I would guess it is a P-39Q-20 or earlier so go with the three blade prop.

In flight is a good option as it avoids a lot of nose weight. The Academy instructions indicate a 7 gram weight - not sure I have that much!
2023 - A:0 B:0 C:0
Current Projects:
East German Air Force (1956-90)
South African Air Force (1958-93)
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Dirkpitt289
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

Thanks for that info OT. Also going in flight will take away the need to decide on which prop to use. :ha:
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
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Old_Tonto
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Old_Tonto »

Actually Dirk if I have read the serial number correctly it is a P-39Q-1 model.
2023 - A:0 B:0 C:0
Current Projects:
East German Air Force (1956-90)
South African Air Force (1958-93)
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

Old_Tonto wrote:Actually Dirk if I have read the serial number correctly it is a P-39Q-1 model.
Sorry OT but I know just about nothing if the P-39 so you'll need to explain to the the significance of the comment. ;-)
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
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Dirkpitt289
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

Thanks Bruce
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
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Dirkpitt289
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

And we are underway

Interior green applied. Like I said in an earlier post it isn't worth detailing the interior because once the pilot in in place nothing will be seen. Lesson learned from the Airfix Airacobra I built last year.

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The sparse interior is assembled

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Cockpit in place

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Lower wing in place

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Upper wings installed

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Some filler was needed

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The Heller kit does not come with a pilot so I need to choose one from the pilots bin

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That's about all for now. Thanks for looking
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Titan »

Nice so far Dirk, looks a good little kit.
I see what you mean now about the radio shelf Bruce with the curved back although I would imagine it would not be too noticeable once the canopy was attached.

Regards
Mark
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Mark
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My models are never perfect, but I kinda like them.
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

after some time away due to a business trip and lots and lots of baseball games for my son I was able to get a few minutes at the bench.

I started to scratch out the radio for the rear shelf.

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The rear deck was painted and the rear canopy was masked and applied

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Next we'll turn our attention to the pilot
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
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Dirkpitt289
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

My team is the Boston Red Sox. Went to Boston last week for a game, but the big thing right now is my son's little league. He was on three teams earlier this year but now we are down to one. This weekend we played 5 games in two days. Sunday alone we played three games each one in a different town. AUGH!!! It's tiring but fun. You gotta enjoy these things while they last
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
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Dirkpitt289
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

Next I turned to the landing gear. Because I am going to make this "In-Flight" I will need to close up the landing gear.

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The kit doors just don't cut it. Using a two part putty I filled the landing gear bays

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Next I worked on the mount for the stand

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Inserted the Evergreen tube

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Time for some trimming and clean-up

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.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
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Dirkpitt289
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

After about three days of trial and error I got the front canopy masked. :oops:

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If you remember from a few posts back this was the pilot I choose for this mission. Some modifications had to be made to make him fit

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The modifications included removing his legs from just above the knee down. I had to remove %60 of the pilots bottom and an aggressive vasectomy in order to get him to fit properly. Just goes to show being a pilot isn't for everyone. :ha:

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Once I made sure he fit I mounted the front canopy.

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Thanks for looking
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

Brews wrote:That's a good, solid stand attachment you have there. I pity your poor pilot, but your description of his surgery made me laugh :)
That was the point. :mrgreen:
.... Dirk

Beware of the DOG's of WAR

My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by ShaunW »

Great work. I'll bet the pilot has no problem singing soprano now :ha:
Doing - Tamiya 1/35th Universal Carrier.

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Re: Dirk's 1/72 Heller P-39 Airacobra

Post by Old_Tonto »

Good work going on here Dirk. The Heller kit seems to have a good shape to it.

I like what you did to the pilot (although I wouldn't want it happening to me!) :lol:

I found the canopy very hard to mask too - I got fed up in the end so it may need some clean up once masking is removed. :???:
2023 - A:0 B:0 C:0
Current Projects:
East German Air Force (1956-90)
South African Air Force (1958-93)
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