Great P40 kit you got there.

Paint Chipping, there are several ways to do this effect.

1. Paint model in a Silver Finish - Let cure for a couple of days.
2. Use a Masking Agent eg Humbrol Maskol and apply to area of model to show chipped paint. {or the Salt Flake Method}
3. Paint cammo scheme - Under surfaces and Fuselage side
4. Paint cammo scheme - Upper surfaces and Fuselage side
5. Remove Masking agent

Clean up excess masking with a modelling tape of some kind.


This model was painted in Humbrol 191 Silver and left for a week before applying the cammo scheme to it using the Xtra Color enamels.
Then with a fine emery board the entire model was rubbed down expossing the silver base.
{This model is featured in this forum from a couple of years ago}



Hope this helps a little

Tuomas,
I'm sorry I can't help with the proper locations of chipping; hopefully, someone will come along and give some advice on that.

As for the methods, on my frank I tried 3 methods: masking liquid then paint and pull up masking liquid, paint then rip up some chips with masking tape, and finally make small chips with toothpick or x-acto knife.

In the end the method that I liked best was to have the base of silver, paint on the camoflage, then make some small chips with a toothpick or x-acto knife. Then when I had an area where I wanted some more agressive chipping, I would rip at the small chips (previously made) with some masking tape. This would cause some bigger chips. This is a method that you can't completely control so I was careful to try to chip a little less than I actuaaly wanted. Then to finish the chips to the point I wanted and to give them the shape on the edges that I wanted, I would attack the edges of the chips a little with a toothpick. I hope I am explaining well, but in this way I was able to mostly control the chipping. Before going at my frank though, I practiced this on a cheap model that I had no plans of ever really building to try out the different techniques.

Good luck and let us know how it goes and what you learn from the experience.
Thanks,
Leon

Tuomas:

As we all know chipping of paint on a WWII combat model would fall
under the general heading of "weathering an aircraft" so we can give
the impression that this bird actually flew in combat. To learn to do
weathering well, so it creates that "illusion of reality" for the viewer is
very difficult to learn. I've done it on my a/c models and still haven't
mastered it, as my models are weathered too much. Overdone! But I
don't know any other way to learn how to get good at weathering, chipping
other than diving in and doing it. So I applaud your adventureous spirit.

You mentioned and "New to the Game" reaffirmed the notion to practice
learning how to chip paint realisticly on a spare model part. This is very
sound advice. And I hope you will have the patience to do that. Learn your
lessons on something that doesn't count.

Last of all, I will mention another way to simulate chipping on an aircraft
model (along with keep in mind the direction of the air flow). And that is
to use a Silver, Prisma Color Brand Colored pencil. That would be the grease
based colored pencils, not the pastel based colored pencils. Another
quality colored pencil brand would work, but the cheap pencils don't give
good results. The beauty of using a "very sharp" pointed colored pencil for
the very small chips is that you have complete control of the size of the
chip and where it is placed. Good luck on this weathering adventure.
We will be eager to see WIP pictures of your P-40. Excellent choice and
a very good kit.