WGS North Africa - 1/200 AIM P-40B's, No.3 Squadron RAAF in the Western Desert

[Carl_Brisgamer]

This flight of P-40B's have been finished in the colours of No.3 Squadron RAAF during later 1941. No.3 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force were re-equipped with the Curtiss P-40 in May 1941. Previously equipped with out-dated aircraft like Gloster Gauntlets, Gloster Gladiators and Westland Lysanders, and Hawker Hurricanes from February 1941, the No.3 Squadron's pilots soon learned to appreciate the speed and performance closer to that of the 109. Its two 0.5 inch Browning machine guns mounted above the engine, plus four wing-mounted .30s, gave the Squadron a better chance of matching the enemy's firepower. The Australian pilots flew them on operations in Syria against the Vichy French and in North Africa against the Regia Aeronautica and the Luftwaffe until December 1941, when they were re-equipped with the newer P-40E model.

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These resin aircraft are produced as part of David Schmid's Armaments in Miniature 1/200mm line available here http://www.angelfire.com/nj4/armamentsinminiature/aircraftinminiature/9mm/resin09mm.htm

The roundels and fin flashes are from Shed Decals here http://www.helmet-aircraft-200.co.uk/epages/BT4224.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BT4224/Categories/Kits_for_the_Modeller/Shed_Combo_Decals_ and the letters from www.microscale here http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=90101&Category_Code=ALPHA&Product_Count=36

These are the first AIM products I have completed, and I would recommend them.

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Cheers,

Carl.

[Rat of Vengence]

Love those Tomahawks mate, you have done a fantastic job on them! I just noticed the different colour you use for the canopy and the cutout behind the pilot; very nice thinking there Carl. The molding on those looks reasonably sharp too.

Dave

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Thanks Dave. The cutouts behind the canopy are US 'cockpit green'. These fellas will be coming down to Cancon in the new year.

The sculpts are good. I did not sand some of the flash as close as I should have, not a mistake I will make working with resin in the future.

I reckon I will buy another four P-40E's from AIM to finish them as 75 Sqn RAAF over Port Moresby. After I finish off the 30 or so other aircraft lined up for their turn on the bench.

[Baldrick62]

Carl,
Your 3 Sqn Tomahawks look great, but for 75 you'll need P40E Kittyhawks instead.
BofB

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Thanks Baldrick, of course you are correct.

[Nightbomber]

A perfect painting. Colour lines and shades are fantastic. Truly, wonderful models:thumbsup:

[Stormkahn]

Bravo Carl, is that a little satin varnish on the cockpit or camera flash?

[somaliavet]

I'm not a WW2er, but these look great! Very nice job!

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Bravo Carl, is that a little satin varnish on the cockpit or camera flash?

No flash, I used my iPhone. I use a metallic gloss blue with a little white mixed in for the canopies.

I used to use a light grey but after seeing 'miscmini's' efforts I changed to the blue/white and re-painted all my miniatures' canopies.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

I'm not a WW2er, but these look great! Very nice job!

Thanks Brian, you should come over to the 'Dark Side', you won't regret it!

I started out with WW1 in 2008 and only started buying WW2 in 2010. Now I have 72 x 1/144 WW1 and 130 x 1/200 WW2.

[Stormkahn]

No flash, I used my iPhone. I use a metallic gloss blue with a little white mixed in for the canopies.

I used to use a light grey but after seeing 'miscmini's' efforts I changed to the blue/white and re-painted all my miniatures' canopies.

Interesting, I might try a little satin varnish just for a trial after all if it doesn't work it's easily reversed. I'll also get some metallic blue when I next go shopping :)

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Humbrol Enamel MET 52, or whatever equivalent you may use.

I am old school when it comes to paints, one day I'll try some of the new-fangled brands.

[Stormkahn]

I tried Humbrol and Tamiya acrylics and haven't been impressed, since then I've moved on to Vallejo with some GW, a little aluminium + sky blue might be a place to start..mmmmm you've got me thinking now!

[Carl_Brisgamer]

I tried Humbrol and Tamiya acrylics and haven't been impressed, since then I've moved on to Vallejo with some GW, a little aluminium + sky blue might be a place to start..mmmmm you've got me thinking now!

When I run out of the old stuff I'll try Vallejo, I have heard good things.

[Stormkahn]

When I run out of the old stuff I'll try Vallejo, I have heard good things.

I'd recommend them, they're brilliant, the only downside is that they don't have some exact matches for standard a/c colours so some research is required. ;)

[Baldrick62]

I'll second the vote for Vallejo; about the only acrylic that I've found will go over a previously enamel-painted surface without needing multiple coats.

[Jager]

Very nice work; I have some P-40s in the re-paint hanger myself.
Karl

[ptownhiker]

Those are excellent paint jobs. Well done!

[Doug]

Niceley done Karl:thumbsup:

[Boney10]

Have you chaps tried the Revell, series of paints, they have a nice range, acrylic so the house don't smell of turps :)
Love the paint jobs look forward to seeing more .
Well done that man :)

[somaliavet]

I tried the Revell acryllics when they first came out and wasn't impressed. I think they have since done some reformulation, and I might have to try them again at some point.

[Grey Knight]

Very nice job indeed:thumbsup:

[FrankJamison]

Sweet paint jobs. :thumbsup:

[smitty_au]

These look brilliant. Then you take the scale into condsideration.... now they are even more brilliant!

[Carl_Brisgamer]

These look brilliant. Then you take the scale into condsideration.... now they are even more brilliant!

Thanks Sean, I really enjoyed painting these miniatures :thumbsup:

[Doug]

Thanks for the pictures Carl they will be a usefull reference when I paint one.:thumbsup:

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Thanks for the pictures Carl they will be a usefull reference when I paint one.:thumbsup:

No worries Alastair, I have a few more photos including this one I captured from some newsreel footage. It gives a good view of the upper wing surfaces.

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Cheers,

Carl.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I had not looked at this thread previously Carl, with it being WWII. It did not pop up on my Radar until I saw the later remarks. I must agree with the other subscribers to this thread. The work is excellent for the scale, very crisp and well defined details too. 10/10.
Rob.

[Doug]

Again Carl what colours did you use for the upper camo scheme?

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Again Carl what colours did you use for the upper camo scheme?

Hi Alastair,

I used Humbrol Matt 29 Dark Earth and Matt 94 Brown Yellow for the upper surfaces, Matt 89 Mid Blue for the undersides.

Cheers,

Carl.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

I had not looked at this thread previously Carl, with it being WWII. It did not pop up on my Radar until I saw the later remarks. I must agree with the other subscribers to this thread. The work is excellent for the scale, very crisp and well defined details too. 10/10.
Rob.

Thanks Rob.

[BobP]

Those are outstanding paint jobs. Again I envey your paint jobs.

[skyking20]

Nice planes!