Hi all.
Im coming to the end of my P40 build for "Show Your Teeth" and Ive been researching the ariel configuration. Some photos/finished models show 2 ariels each run from the tail to the tip of each wingtip.Others show a third running from the tail to just behind the cockpit. Can anyone clarify which would be correct for a Kittyhawk MK 1a in the markings of 112 Sqn,Western Desert Mid 1942?
Thanks,
Nige

These might help, but then again it might not :-) .
http://www.p40warhawk.com/index.htm
http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/375/9
Andy (++)

Andy, great URLs!

Looking through them, see the twelth & thriteenth ( plane # A29-82) pix, you can make out the wires: P-40s

Thanks guys.
3 ariels it is!
What a great website on P40's! I'll have to have a good look through it when I get the chance. You would have thought that it would have been the 1st site up on a P40 search on google but I missed it.
Similar to Mal missing B26marauder.com.
It looks as though the 3 ariels join just forward of the tail.Going to be a nice touch to finish my Kittyhawk.
Cheers guys

Oh!
That site is sweeeeeeet!
Thanks for the links Betheyn.

Hey Lampie, exactly what are you using for your ariel wire? I found some teeny tiny little bity 32 guage wire at the craft store last week that I thought would work pretty well. Does anyone know how bad out of scale this size wire will be?

Hey, it was only $1.49 for a 72ft. roll.

Hermon

All three attach at the same point on the tail, but one goes to each wingtip, and the middle aerial goes to the fuselage.

The pix I took of USAFM's P-40:

Thanks guys.
JPTRR


Great photo! I dont suppose you have any showing the fusalage/tail attachments?

Hermon.


I use invisible thread from any sewing shop.Attached with a tiny,,no,,TINY,,,drop of CA glue.

Look out for photos of the finished P40 in a couple of days.

Thanks again for you help guys

Nigel,
I don't think that British P-40s would have had the 3 wire antenna, the P-40M kittyhawk III, which is what your kit is I believe, I'm sure has an aerial mast, which would contridict the 3 wire layout. On one of the links given (1st one) there is a set of plans showing several marks, including the P-40M with 2 wires, one to the mast the other into the fuselage to the rear of the mast.
Actually I have just gone back to copy the link and there is a Kittyhawk III? with a mast and 3 wire layout but I think the mast and 2 wire would be more appropreate. It depends on the radio fit and the 2 wire seems more in keeping with british practice, but of course I could be wrong.
P-40 plans The one I'm talking about is bottom left.
Mal

The plot thickens!
My Kittyhawk is a P40 E,,MKI.
Looking at pics the ariel mast was introduced on later variants.There was no mast included in the kit and the box art shows 3 ariels but I dont know how reliable that is.
I could always put the 2 on to the wingtips and add a 3rd at a later date.

The plot thickens!
Thanks for the link to the plans Mal.That must be the definative P40 website!
The plans for the MKI show no tailplane to fusalage ariel but they do show ariels to the tip of each tailplane.
This could turn into something resembling a WW 1 biplane
Onwards,,,,,

oops, sorry for confusing the issue, forget everything I said. I should have checked, I just assumed you had a P-40M, when you said Kittyhawk At least you know alot more about P-40's
Mal

Hi.


The way its going Im going to pretty good at "rigging" in 1/72 as well :-)
Certainly not inspiring me to have a go at a WW1 biplane,but all this practice should come in very handy if/when I get round to building the Tiger Moth Im contemplating.
My stash is looking like a history of RAF warbirds and it would be nice to add the 3 types that pilots trained on.These being Tiger Moth (still a gorgeous little plane),the Stearman and the Texan/Harvard.

As my research is throwing out all manner of different ariel configurations I think I'll start with 1 to each wingtip and take it from there :-)