Very nice and comprehensive thread George. I am planning to build the desert version (Tomahawk Mk.II), which I’m guessing is similar, if not equal, to the plastic you’re building here so I’m following with keen interest

I continue to really like this kit. The engineers put a lot of thought into how this model fits together. Everything fits, and everything locks together or has positive location points. Yesterday I glued the cockpit into the fuselage, and then glued the fuselage halves together. I discovered that I needed to do a little filler and sanding work. The fuselage fit together perfectly when I did a test fit, so I think the need for putty was a self-inflicted wound.

Today I added the nose panels and machine guns, followed by the large wing fillets.

Once the fillets were dry, I added the lower wing. Time to stop and let everything get solid. More tomorrow. Stay safe and dodge the Delta. Cheers

6 additional images. Click to enlarge.

Great progress George @gblair
This kit is indeed a well thought design by Airfix.

These kits are addictive, George. I’m glad your enjoying this one. Airfix has had seperete wing fillets and used spacers on a few kits now and they’ve all fit/worked as advertised.

I got a lot of the major stuff done today. I started with adding the top of each wing. The first wing fit perfectly, but I had some problems getting the second wing-top to fit. The wing was a little too long at the wingtip, and the small locating pins were out of alignment. The only thing I can think of is that the bottom of the wing was out of alignment when I glued it to the fuselage. It doesn't look crooked, but it is the the only thing I can think would cause this. I probably could have prevented this by adding the wing tops at the same time I glued the bottom of the wing to the fuselage.

The ends of the pods that house the gear were added next. They fit on to a pin that extends just forward of the wing. Neither piece fit correctly. One seemed to fit too deeply into the wing, while the other required major surgery to fit. Both required some put to make it look right.

I added the horizontal stabilizers without problem. They fit securely into the fuselage without any putty needed.

The last thing I did was add the landing gear to the plane. The main landing gear fit securely in the wing and looks really good installed. The tail wheel was also installed. I was impressed that this kit has two sets of gear struts and two sets of wheels. One set of struts is for a gear-down version and is compressed as if there was weight on them. The other set of struts is slightly longer and is used if you are building a gear-up version. Similarly, there is a round set of tires for a gear up version, and a set of tires with a flat bottom for gear down. There is a separate hub for the main gear that had a large sink mark in the center of each hub. I used putty to fill the depression, followed by a little sanding.

That was it for today. Hopefully more tomorrow. Stay safe.

10 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Here are the pictures showing the canvas covers. You can also see some of the lower fuselage, and the Port side flap in this photo.

The main wheel / tires are still spinning as the landing gear is retracted. As they come into contact with the canvas liner, they leave rubber marks. You can see the tire marks very good here. There's also a small wooden "chafing block" inside the landing gear well to stop the tire from spinning once the gear is fully retracted.

Here’s what the tail wheel canvas looks like. It appears to be dark OD green color. You can also see the inner details / rivet patterns, and retraction linkage for the tail wheel door in this picture.

Here are some pictures of the landing gear.


I have an identical P-40 model on the work bench and I hope that it is completed and photographed by December 7th. I am building a model of the Collings plane as a Pearl Harbor tribute model.
Airfix has molded in some tiny tubes that are located on the lower center of the fuselage, in between the main landing gear. These are the drains and should be there. Here’s a picture showing them on the real plane.
They are located just aft of the radiator and oil cooler, just behind the cowling flaps.

Here’s a picture of another P-40 that is on my building wish list. Someday I will definitely make a model of this plane and I’ll cover it with Bare Metal Foil. Every since I have seen a picture of it I have wanted a miniature version in the display case.

Here is a very good description based with a lot of color pictures from the AVG planes. Rato Marczak has done a great job with his analysis. If you follow this link, it might help you with your color choices. I also have a Federal Standards color chip book, and will gladly offer you assistance if needed.

http://www.ratomodeling.com.br/articles/AVG_cammo/

I know that the FS system wasn't around during WW2, but using it along with the information that Rato has posted, it just might get you in the ballpark.

Hope this helps you my friend. Stay safe and avoid the Delta.

Some major steps done, George @gblair
Just a bit more filler and all will be looking fine.
The fantastic pictures provided by Louis @lgardner, will definitely be of help.
Looking forward to the next progress.