P-40F of 325th FG Checkertails, Lt.Col. Robert L. Baseler personal aircraft. 1/72 conversion.
I always wanted to model this aircraft. There was a limited run 1/72 kit with these markings but I missed the boat when they were more easily available, I found the kit recently on a site overseas, but it was cost prohibitive. There was a few ways that I could do this for a fairly economical [cheep] way. As the Black P-40F is of the Merlin engine persuasion and has the stretched tail, I could modify the Academy P-40M/N kit. eliminating the carburater top air scoop. Get The MPM P-40F/L kit, but that kit has the vacuum canopy, of which I haven't been too lucky with, besides If you can find the MPM kit there getting a bit pricey too. Just for the halibut I checked the net to see if there was a conversion kit available for the merlin. there was and I found one cheap, I had my local hobby store, one of the few left on Long Island NY {Willis Hobbies} to order The Academy P-40M/N kit. For the decals I had an old a-4 Skyhawk sheet to provide the ace of spade decals, I used lettering decals in white I know it shows yellow but that's all I had, for the Checkertail Used FCM P-40 sheet #24 which had a Checkertail Clan P-40.
I've got the long tail conversion part from the DB kit available if anyone wants it.
Stuff used.
D.B conversion- Merlin nose P-40
Academy #12465 P-40L/M kit.
Fcm #24 p-40s Galore- Checker tail, red border national insignia
Techmod decals -Stud lettering
Microscale 72-77, Navy A-4 of VA-154- ace of spades decal.
Very cool Robert. I'm almost done its 1:48 brother but I can't remember why I stalled out
Your avatar is on today on TCM 4:15 EST. Woof Woof!
Fellow Islander! From Patchogue meself. Been to 'ol Willis, it's a dandy place.
Special Hobby had a 1/72 F, but I thinks it was a short tail. Ever take a ride out to
Bayshore Hobbies? Well worth the gas, the guy has just about everything, he had to move
to bigger digs to hold all his stuff.
Your model looks very good, sure is more colorful than the average Hawk.
Thanks. I haven't been to Bayshore hobbies, I have been to Baseline on 109.
A great chosen scheme and an awesome result, Robert!
Cool 'n colorful checkertail. All good.
The scheme, as well as the entire build, turned out perfectly, Robert @roofrat
Amazing work, especially in 1/72.
Nice job, Robert. Great work!
Nice to see that Merlin modification let you work your magic, Robert!
Great choice of subjects - nice surgical work and paint work too!
Turned out great, Robert, good work.
Nicely done Robert, one can never build too many P-40's you know.
Nicely done Robert, very colourful.
@roofrat - Great job Robert. The level of kitbashing is quite impressive.
Thanks all!
ok - as cool as that one is, I really like the gray one - Jinx! What decal set did you use for that one? I HAVE to build one!
Thanks, the Jinx decals actually came from the kit. Vista, It's been boxed by a couple of companies without Jinx. I think Jinx was on a microscale sheet a while back.
I can see why you always wanted to build this Warhawk. Your dazzling paintwork shows it, Robert @roofrat.
Otaki kits are fun to build, don't you think? Minimum parts, good fit and detail and very easy to construct, chunky canopies aside. I suppose they now fall in to the category of "almost vintage" kits.
Here's a hobby shop joke that appeared in Monday's newspaper. Yes, I still read the paper news with my morning coffee. But just like hobby shops, the paper keeps getting thinner and thinner every month.
Great conversion Robert, you picked the perfect scheme for this aircraft!
That's a mean and loud looking P-40 Robert. Great conversion work 😊 Nice one 👍
Another good one, Robert! Love the scheme!
I did an RC version of this airplane a long time ago...