Hobby Boss Easykit P-40B/C "Hawk"-81

[Stevehnz]

As mentioned in my Trainers build, I'm slow to get going & not sure if I'll get done. Thus one should be a doddle, I'm doing it in the Clive Caldwell Desert Air Force colours but I've decided the codes are the wrong colour, they should be white, so I've ordered some from Hannants. They should be here in time, & hopefully that'll be all there is left to do at the time. The tail fin stripes are the wrong way around, luckily I think they also too tall so I can trim to correct that.
Sprue/box shot.

Some interior green on, not much interior to use on it & for a bit I was tempted to ream out everything in front of the pilots seat but not now, not this build, you'll just have to imaging.

Steve.

[TobyC]

It's a nice kit. I did another of their versions of the P40 a while back.

[Stevehnz]

I'm hoping its going to go without any hassles, I haven't got time for hiccups.
Steve

[Stevehnz]

Something that looks like a plane, cockpit done, tail feathers on & ready for some paint. The lower fuselage was reluctant to fit so I lost the rearmost locating pegs & was able to glue it straight. I think it suffers from the same malaise in this respect as Lancfan's Hurricane though I'm not aware of any problems with the overall shape.

Steve

[TobyC]

One thing I've learnt with HB kits is that the locating pegs can be more of a nuisance than a help. I usually cut them right down.
What did you use for the seat belts?

[Stevehnz]

The seat belts are simply Tamiya tape with a coat of khaki(ish) paint cut into strips & put roughly into pace, no special effort to make them too accurate but they do go along way to making a cockpit look a bit functional, the cockpit on this one sure needed it.
Steve.

[Stevehnz]

As things do with these kits, it's moved along a bit to quickly for my shutter finger.
As of tonight I have this.

I used Hu225 rather than my favoured Hu 94 for the Middlestone which had dried out. I know 225 is a better match for the real thing but its just SOOOO Mustardy. I've drilled out the carb intake between the cowl guns. I've added these with some little bits of stretched sprue but there I've stopped. I'm just letting the paint dry thoroughly before I decal it tomorrow night & although it may not have its final matt coat then, I'll call it done in time for the cut off. Off course, if anyone wants to allow me an extra 24 hours or so to get that done (hint ) it would take some pressure off, I'm back at work on 12 hour days tomorrow & time in the evening, not to say motivation will be a bit short.
Steve.

[TobyC]

Steve you can have extra time to finish. It'll probably extend if you need it to the end of the week as there's not many other GBs on at present so hopefully John will be ok with that.

[Stevehnz]

Thanks Toby, hopefully won't need it but then again....?
Steve.

[Stevehnz]

Well, for better of for worse, 'tis done. I used some white Xtradecal codes to replace the grey Hobby Boss ones & the roundels & fin flashes from an Airfix Tomahawk kit 'cause I though the HB ones were a bit bright. I matched the size of the HB code letters but think they're maybe too small, they are scale 18" & I think 24" would look better, its what the Xtradecal Tomahawk sheet seems to use so I might replace them. Topside shots a bit blurry, I'll try to reload some fresh ones later in the week when I've days off. Paints used were Hu 29, 225. 157 (new) & 100 for spinner



Steve.

[TobyC]

Very nice work Steve. Glad you finished it off.

[iggie]

That looks very neat and tidy indeed!

[gbrwn56]

I'm now thinking about building one, thanks for sharing.

[TobyC]

I'm now thinking about building one, thanks for sharing.

It is a very good kit despite it's simplicity

[Stevehnz]

I agree with you on that Toby, I was impressed with the detail & panel lines. The cockpit is a bit ordinary, it really needs the front cutting out & remodelling but with a canopy on it's not too visible. As to mine, I'm unhappy with the size of the codes & fuselage roundel spacing, I used the Xtradecal placing guide but I've not been able to find any photos of this, come the day it may well get some changes made.
Steve.