1/72 Airfix P-40B Warhawk

[Lamb72]

First time sharing photos of a completed model.

Enjoyed the build, but made a bit of a mess of the wing / fuselage seams.

Pretty happy with how the paint went down, but I just can't seem to get the hang of canopy painting.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looks good to me Joe. Nice job
Canopy painting is a bit of an art form though. Two ways that I know of….mask with tape and spray them (fiddly, but doable with patience) and hand painting. Hand painting is not that hard, just needs practice, a steady hand, a decent brush and properly thinned paint. You can clean up overpainting by scraping it off with a cocktail stick sharpened to a chisel edge. Don’t use anything harder or you run the risk of scratching the canopy…..

 

[Valeron]

Looks really good Joe.

I made this model last year.

I struggle big time with with seams and wings in Aircraft and so do other people from what I read.

You wouldn't know from your model though. It's a great finish.

 

[Valeron]

Valerons Warhawk

The above link is to my build. I did the canopy free hand with no masking and brush painted (like the whole model).

The canopy isn't great tbh. I've tried masking using stencils which seem pricey compared to the cost of the model, homemade masks which are a nightmare, freehand with cleanup etc. I'm sure one day l'll settle on the best solution.

 

[Lamb72]

Looks good to me Joe. Nice job
Canopy painting is a bit of an art form though. Two ways that I know of….mask with tape and spray them (fiddly, but doable with patience) and hand painting. Hand painting is not that hard, just needs practice, a steady hand, a decent brush and properly thinned paint. You can clean up overpainting by scraping it off with a cocktail stick sharpened to a chisel edge. Don’t use anything harder or you run the risk of scratching the canopy…..

Thank you.

I tried using Humbrol Maskol but I think next time I'll just go free hand, and be more patient with building up those thin paint layers on the unprimed surface.

 

[boatman]

looks ok to me very nice model indeed sir
chrisb

 

[Lamb72]

Looks really good Joe.

I made this model last year.

I struggle big time with with seams and wings in Aircraft and so do other people from what I read.

You wouldn't know from your model though. It's a great finish.

Thank you.

This was my first go with Humbrol Model Filler - I've got a better idea of how it handles now, so hopefully the next time it'll go on a bit better.

I've tried Vallejo Plastic Putty before, but found that it shrank a lot, although initial application is way easier compared to the Humbrol.

 

[Lamb72]

looks ok to me very nice model indeed sir
chrisb

Thank you.

Next up is a Hawker Tempest Mk 5, but I'm a slow builder, so it might be while before I get to post the results.

 

[Valeron]

Thank you.

Next up is a Hawker Tempest Mk 5, but I'm a slow builder, so it might be while before I get to post the results.

You should try blogging your build as you go in the relevant section.

I've done this a few times since I joined this forum as a newbie last year and people are very supportable and I've been given loads of advice and encouragement.

 

[scottie3158]

Joe,
That's a great result.

 

[stillp]

That looks good Joe.
Pete

 

[The Smythe Meister]

Yep, gotta agree, that looks very nice indeed ,
As far as canopy painting is concerned,one word to say.....
..... MASKS
(Just my personal preference of course!)

 

[Lamb72]

Yep, gotta agree, that looks very nice indeed ,
As far as canopy painting is concerned,one word to say.....
..... MASKS
(Just my personal preference of course!)

I'll give everything a go... do you hand-cut your masks or use specialist pre-prepared ones?

And do they works as well with hand brushing as airbrush?

 

[Valeron]

I'll give everything a go... do you hand-cut your masks or use specialist pre-prepared ones?

And do they works as well with hand brushing as airbrush?

I've done both. The handcuttibg is difficult for me so I've only done it on simple canopies.

And yes they work with brush painting. I only brush paint and don't have an airbrush.

 

[The Smythe Meister]

I'll give everything a go... do you hand-cut your masks or use specialist pre-prepared ones?

And do they works as well with hand brushing as airbrush?

I usually use Eduard,pre cut,mask sets. They're not that pricey
Can be airbrushed or brush painted.... personally I do neither anymore,I found,a short while ago,that by using a dry sponge and lightly dabbing the paint on,I can avoid the paint bleeding under the mask pretty much completely .

 

[papa 695]

Very nice work Joe.

 

[Valeron]

I usually use Eduard,pre cut,mask sets. They're not that pricey
Can be airbrushed or brush painted.... personally I do neither anymore,I found,a short while ago,that by using a dry sponge and lightly dabbing the paint on,I can avoid the paint bleeding under the mask pretty much completely .

Never heard of the sponge technique. I might give it a go.

 

[The Smythe Meister]

Give it go, it's not for everyone, however,it works for me.... As long as you don't overload the sponge with paint .

 

[Mini Me]

Nice result Joe.....almost didn't recognize it as a Warhawk without the usual "Shark Teeth"!

 

[flyjoe180]

A great result Joe, very clean and tidy build. Canopies get easier the more you do

Cheers,
Joe