Profile Photo
Tom Bebout
142 articles

AMT 1/48 P-40F 'Short Tail"

April 6, 2020 · in Aviation · · 15 · 2.3K

Thought it was time for Tommy's / factory to gear up production again. Also because we all seem to have plenty of time here in Ohio for building kits. Took this old AMT kit and added an aftermarket seat, exhause stacks and wheels to jazz her up a bit. Did some modifications by adding some detail to the carb intake and radiator to more accurately depict a Merlin engine . A fatal flaw of this kit.

Paints were a combination of acrylics and Model Master enamels of Azure Blue, Middle Stone and Dark Earth. I also used for the first time a mask for the camofluge pattern from Top Notch. I really liked the way they worked. Antenna is nylon thread and panel lines are outlined using a Pitt Pen. The decals were from previous AMT kits and represent a P-40F flown by 2LT Erwin Silsbee from the 86th FS, 79th FG in North Africa markings. Stay safe everyone.

Reader reactions:
9  Awesome

9 additional images. Click to enlarge.


15 responses

  1. Beautiful and quite colourful...Especially nice looking cockpit!
    Keep those hawks coming!

  2. Nice P-40F in a less-often seen early USAAF colors. The weathering is nicely restrained. I also like the display base. Desert subjects tend to look good in gravelly diorama scenes. What paint did you use for the Azure blue? I hear that many paint manufacturers don't get the color right, at least in acryl. Yours looks good.

  3. Excellent job, Tom! This bird looks simply amazing, especially wearing the desert camo.
    Gorgeous cockpit.
    All the best!

  4. Nice as always, Tom. You're "love" of P-40's shows each and every time.

  5. Nice work, Tom. I love seeing these AMT kits being built.

  6. Hey Tom ! @tom-bebout

    This is another excellent P-40 from "Tom's Curtiss Factory". You did a wonderful job with it, which is how all of your builds are done. The signature base that it's sitting on also looks fantastic, and since this one is finished in desert colors, it looks right at home there. These AMT kits build up nicely as you have shown.

    Two thumbs up buddy, and a great big "liked"...

    Stay safe my friend.

  7. Fantastic P-40 as ever, Tom. Love the African scheme. Louis, is right definitely a style of your own! And fantastic for it! Very striking!

  8. Love desert warhawks! Nicely done!

  9. Always good to see a quality P-40

  10. Building a long tail P-40F right now myself - has provided a few buidling challenges to get a good fit everywhere - my chosen scheme is natural metal and the micromesh stocks have been well used on this one!
    Your model looks great - excellent effort!

  11. Gentlemen thanks for all the nice comments. One of the reasons I enjoy building P-40's is the number of counties that flew them in WWII with lots of colorful paint schemes and markings. Not to mention nose art.

  12. A great Tom terrific Tomahawk, looks great, and another nice display base!

Leave a Reply