it has been a while since i had posted on this site.

even longer since i had posted a work in progress.

now with that being said let me state for the record i am not, in my opinion, all that great of a builder. i do however like to see how far i can push myself. this is one of those times.

several months ago i began a project that to be honest is way out of my skill level. i did it because i love the subject and wanted to really test myself. the project is a trump 1/32 p-40b but presented in a different way. i wanted to attempt a cutaway.

i will let the pictures really tell the story.

step 1. decide what i wanted to show.



step 2. the cuts.




step 3. the bulkheads. (try, try, try, try again)




step 4. internals.







step 5. tail wheel assembly.





step 6. cockpit construction begins.



well there i am. all told about two months so far. there is no paint yet. i will be waiting until i can get towards the engine before starting to paint.

figure i have a chance to make this one special so i am quite frankly going all out.

all comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.

joe

No comments. No critiques. Just my jaw hitting the floor.

yeah, that was the sound of my draw dropping too.

This may be covered in the DSM IV

What type of references are you using, photos, plans???

many thanks. glad you like it.

i am using photos, drawings, and plans. most have been shown to me by saul "sharkmouth" garcia. he has allowed a glimpse into his reference vault and i have taken advantage of it.

i did forget to share some things. i have dropped the pit floor to match the height of the top of the wings. i have also tried to scratch the radio set (scr 183) as well as the hydraulics and the fuel tank. the hydraulic lines are not 100% correct as they should be beneath the fuel tank. i went with what was the most logical of choices.



joe

That's very respecatble progress for a couple of months' work. I have a feeling that this one may well be popular to watch

thank you.

i am hoping to do it justice. that has caused me to redo the bulkheads multiple times. the innards a couple of times, and the pit framing twice.

like i said i want to do something special with it.



joe

I concur! Great work!

I was lucky enough to get an invite to inspect a private restoration of a P-40 that was recovered from the New Guinea bush a few years back, the amount of work involved was daunting and very impressive.
Your scratch building work here reminds me of that workshop, great detail.

Cheers, D

That's special

many thanks. either today or tomorow i will continue with the pit work.



joe

Joe,
let me say up front that you are a great builder. What you've already accomplished is something that guys like me could never, ever do, and wouldn't even contemplate a build to the level you're doing.

Looking closely at what you've accomplished, and you've accomplished quite a bit, it sure looks like you know what your doing, and sticking to your plan. excellent work on the bulkhead and ribbing.

Your tail wheel detailing/scratch building is just amazing.

You can count on me following your build closely. Any chance from time to time you could overlay your parts to the blueprints you're using just for reference?

Joel

joel i would love to do that. however. although i have some drawings they wouldnt give a good perspective of what i have tried to mimic.

i will try though.

inbound update.



joe

well folks it has been a while but here i am again.

pit floor and starboard side. sorry about the pics. white on white doesnt really go well. working off of a couple of drawings and photos. actually pretty happy. i have to add the map case yet but other than that......





now i also redid the control stick. mind you the stick from the kit is not bad. in fact it is decent. i just......well.......i cant help myself.



and side by side with the kit piece.



now for the port side. hopefully in the next few days.


comments, critiques, and criticism are very much encouraged.



joe

joel you are very kind. i am humbled. thank you.


joe

Joe, The pit is looking pretty good. As for the control stick, yours looks every bit as good as the kit part. I do like your connector fitting on the bottom much better then the kit part.
Joel

many thanks. i had to think on that one for a while. couldnt figure out how to get it where it looked ok but was simple to work with. answer was to cut a channel into small bits and use it. it gives a decent look and is simple.



joe

ok an update.

been playing a bit with this. just cant leave well enough alone.

worked on some of the thingymabobs and whachamajiggers that comprise the gadget type things in the pit. then i jumped ahead of myself and sprayed some paint.

i know better but i still did it.

so lets catch up shall we. first the fuel tank.

painted and some wear and tear.





too much for one post i guess. 2nd part inbound soon.



joe

part 2

and then some gadgets, paint and just a start of weathering, staining, and wear and tear.






and then some more gadgets and painting in the pit. added just a bit of wear and tear for the flooring and such as well.





dont look like much but it took a while. still a ways to go on this but progress is progress.


till next time.

comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



joe

Joe,
Really nice progress on the interior fuselage details. Just take it a little easy on the fuel tank. I'm sure that the ground crew would keep it in the best condition as they could have. A gas leak would be a disaster.
Joel

hi joe,

just caught up with this and WOW! this is just amazing work so far,

this is a massive project you've undertaken!

love the scratch work

can't wait to see more,

james.

many thanks.

joel you are right. i did get a bit carried away with that one. going to repaint it.




joe

well after a couple of productive days in the bunker i have some progress to report.

first up, redo on the painted fuel tank. made it less worn out.



notice i have also put in a couple of lines. not sure if they will be seen but i figure i better do them anyway.

next up was some of the little things that can get knocked off. cowl flap handle and assembly and the handle on the starboard floor.






now you will notice i have now started the seat frame. i have also constructed the seat. not much fun. lots of four letter words and such. that is for the next update though.


thats it for now.


all comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



joe

Joe,
Glad you decided to repaint the fuel tank, it look a million times better. The pit is looking better with every additional detail piece.

As usual, looking forward to your next update.
Joel

I think you need to speak to the Erk who installed that joystick. From the pictures I found, it's supposed to curve towards the pilot, not away.

joel many thanks. i like this version as well.

jessica after seeing your post i went back and looked at the pictures i have of the real thing and then what i did. i then went and compared what i did to the kit version as well as what the other kits of this bird have. i think the curve is close, not perfect but close. i have it much more forward than i thought, gonna have to adjust other parts to match, but the overall seems right. thank you for the heads up though. would not have been the first time i did something like that.



joe