Eduard have re-released Hasegawa’s highly regarded P-40N in an “EduArt” edition, combining the standard sprues with a nice selection of resin and etched upgrade parts and specially produced collectors’ artwork.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Thanks, Rowan, we're slowly drawing you in to the 1/32nd scale hobby.

Hi Bill

Slowly drawing me in? Crikey!I didn't realise you were that much older than me! It's true - I am just a newcomer to 1:32 kits - I've only been building them since around 1968 or '69.

Together with 1:48, it's been my preferred scale since childhood. I scratch-built a 1:32 Stearman PT-17 in the '70s using the Harry Woodman technique (I know - I'm showing my age there. ).

Don't worry though - my next reviews are set to be in 1:72 and 1:144.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

OK - I said in the Review that this is a kit that just begs to be built - so... I officially got it onto the workbench today.

Instant decisions!... "Razorback" or "Clear View" canopy? I'm happy to build either, but am leaning towards the latter, because I don't think I've built one in any scale.

I'm still open to persuasion at this stage if anyone wants to convince me to build one of the other options (check the colour schemes HERE, but I think I'll be going for "Daddy Please / Milk Wagon Express".

Be quick, though, because the changes start at Stage 1.

And... as a little side project... I'm going to work on the pilot. That's probably going to be the toughest part of all because, basically... I can't paint figures!

But the pilot is so well sculpted, it's the perfect opportunity to learn to (hopefully!) not make a total pig's ear of painting it! I will be referring heavily to Doug Cohen's amazing work here on Aeroscale for inspiration - but I know in advance I can't possibly come anywhere near his standard. At my level of figure painting, "not totally embarrassing" will be a good result!

So, after all that waffle and preamble, where are we? I've started work on the "Clear View" cockpit, so shout now if you want a re-think.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

OK - for lack of "votes against", I'm officially committed to the clear-view cockpit - and surgery has been done.

Despite the dearth of updates (Sorry! ), I have actually been managing to tinker with this build when there's been time, and have got close to the initial painting stage... which leads to a question: interior colours?

I've read that Curtiss used a variant of Interior Green from a local paint supplier that was close to the norm, but a tad more brown. My way of weathering with grungy neat dirty-brown oils will probably give that effect.

That's good for the cockpit, but what about the wheel wells? Eduard simply state "zinc chromate" (no mention of whether it's zinc chromate yellow or green) and all the colour photos I have are of restored airframes sporting a variety of finishes including the underside camouflage colour.

So... any ideas on what the standard Curtiss factory finish was? Any help would be much appreciated while I've still got easy access to everything.

I hope to start painting tomorrow - and, of course, I do intend to start posting some actual build pics soon!

All the best

Rowan

Well the wheel bays had canvas covers installed in them which were painted an olive drab or khaki colour for the earlier versions (not sure about the N version though).
And as you have found differing sources on the actual wheel well colours, so have I from green zinc, to the underside colour.
Personally I would go with the green.
Andy

Cheers Andy

Eduard/Hasegawa haven't gone for the canvas covers in the mainwheel wells (the tailwheel has one) - and they were apparently often removed in the field (through wear or laziness, I don't know) - so the mainwheel wells will be open in my build. Some of the shots among my references seem to show Zinc Chromate Yellow partially overpainted - but the captions don't give a clue as to what's original. (I found the same when I was lucky enough to photograph some of the innards of the RAF Museum's Me 262 - the colours in there are a story in themselves!).

All the best

Rowan