Kiwi Kittyhawk
Mentioned in my Mosquito build the other day that a Kittyhawk build was following-on, and here t’is !
The 1:48 AMT /Ertl kit came out around twenty years ago and was ‘top of the tree’ for a couple of years before Hasegawa came along and peed all over their bonfire with their superb P-40 series of kits. No matter, I still like the AMT offering and in-fact this is the third I’ve built.
This one is mostly straight from the box with two exceptions, an Ultracast resin seat (superb addition) and some Hasegawa wheels. Paint is all Tamiya acrylics on top of the usual pre-shading (no post shading this time), decals are Ventura and weathering is Flory Washes for the panel lines and the oil-dot method for all the leaks & stains below. Exhaust plumes are Tamiya ‘Smoke’.
Not much else to say, as ever, feel free to hurl abuse, ask a question or make a comment… A break for a while now because I’m off to sunny Florida on Friday, see you in a couple of weeks.
Ian.
9 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Paulo Castro said on April 10, 2018
Very nice mate. Well done
Craig Abrahamson said on April 10, 2018
Sharp lookin’ build, my friend…..I like that!.
Michel Verschuere said on April 10, 2018
Very nice and crisp build mister, enjoy the Sunshine State, well deserved! 🙂
david leigh-smith said on April 10, 2018
That’s a fine Kittyhawk, Ian. It’s great to see these aircraft in more unusual colours and far from ‘hurling abuse’ I think she’s very well turned out. I hope you enjoy your stay in the sunshine state!
paul teixeira said on April 10, 2018
No abuse deserved, this is a really great build of one of my favorite fighters. I love that you did a NZ scheme. Really sharp looking. Thanx for the info provided, its helpful.
Greg Kittinger said on April 10, 2018
Excellent – and I love the scheme! I just looked around on ebay for some similar decals for a 1/72 version (or similar) and couldn’t find any yet, but I may try harder to find something similar – really like it.
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on April 10, 2018
Ian, lovely Warhawk! Where did you get the RNZAF decals? Ventura or the Aeromaster special? I have the latter, against a rainy day, and stuff…
IAN JACKSON said on April 10, 2018
Ventura sheet, from Hannants in the UK.
Tom Cleaver said on April 10, 2018
Not a fan of the kit, but sure am a fan of what you did with it here. Very nice result.
FWIW, here’s some information on the P-40N many are unaware of: like the plexiglass turrets, there is no “framing” in the aft clear section. These were separate pieces of plexiglass, glued together with a plexiglass strip for reinforcement. The “crazing” of the plexiglass by the MEK used for glue reflects sunlight differently from the surrounding glass, and has been mistaken by the “hex-spurtz” as metal framing. I found this out being around the Planes of Fame 1:1 P-40N.
Jeff Bailey said on April 10, 2018
Outstanding Warhawk, Ian! I love the paint scheme … and all of the others sometimes found that depart from the usual subjects. I always thought the P-40 to be what a fighter should look like – until the Mustang appeared. I STILL like the whole P-40 series. Well done and enjoy Florida!!
IAN JACKSON said on April 10, 2018
Thanks everyone, as ever really appreciate the comments and feedback. Hurricane will be taking a ‘holiday’ too – for a couple of weeks anyway !!
AFN
Ian.
3 attached images. Click to enlarge.
David A. Thomas said on April 10, 2018
Is this ever a pretty bird. This is why we build–for results like this!
Robert Royes said on April 10, 2018
A great P-40 build! Nice to see it in this scheme.
Matt Minnichsoffer said on April 10, 2018
The p-40 is such an awesome looking war bird. It just looks like a pursuit fighter. You did a great job on this one. Unique for sure.
George Henderson said on April 11, 2018
One of my favorite schemes, well done
Tom Bebout said on April 12, 2018
Well done Ian that’s a good looking Kiwi bird. But what’s not to like about P-40’s. And like you I’ve build several AMT kits and with the addition of some after market additions they build up to some great looking models. Your’s is no exception.
Tony Prince said on April 16, 2018
Hi Ian. The AMT kit was a good one in its day & still is in my opinion. Just takes a bit more effort & skill to do the great job you have done. Thanks for posting.