My First Model

[Red October1984]

Today, I saw a 1:72 P-40B Tomahawk at Hobby Lobby for $7.49

https://imageshack.com/a/img441/8972/givu.jpg

There's the box. It's sideways...but that's what it looks like.

I bought it, a little bottle of US Army Dark Green Paint and some paintbrushes.

I'll put pictures up when I have something to show. All I've done so far is put the pilot into his seat and sit it to dry. I'm popping the pieces out with nailclippers since I don't have an X-acto knife. This is an Academy Models kit. The only complaint I have is that the plane did not come with USAAF markings. It came with markings for like the Chinese Air Force or something weird. It's a model that's manufactured in Korea....so...we'll see about the Markings.

I'm really really excited. :arrgh!:

Thank you Steve and Nikimcbee for introducing me to modeling. :) I shall do my best.

[Sailor Steve]

The markings are almost certainly for the American Volunteer Group, AKA the Flying Tigers. They weren't part of the US Army Air Forces until later in the war. They were part of the Chinese Air Force.
http://www.flyingtigersavg.com/

Before you build any model it's always a good idea to do some research.
http://www.google.com./search?q=avg+flying+tigers&lr=&as_qdr=all&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=doLUUZ7mKcmxiQKv64DoBw&ved=0CHUQsAQ&biw=1440&bih=699

[Red October1984]

The markings are almost certainly for the American Volunteer Group, AKA the Flying Tigers. They weren't part of the US Army Air Forces until later in the war. They were part of the Chinese Air Force.

The Flying Tigers is what the markings are for. Yes. :up:

That was my guess.

Still really cool. If this goes well, I'll go back for the TBF Avenger and the BF-109 in 1:48 Scale

[Sailor Steve]

Great. There are much worse ways to waste time. :sunny:

[Red October1984]

Great. There are much worse ways to waste time. :sunny:

Right you are.

I'm looking at all the pieces right now and this will be no easy task. I'm up for it though. :smug:

This baby even comes with a bomb and a drop tank. :woot:

[Sailor Steve]

This baby even comes with a bomb and a drop tank. :woot:
A large number of WW2 fighter kits do. It adds variety and options. The most important thing is to take your time and have fun.

[ajrimmer42]

Good luck mate, can't wait to see how it goes. Just be warned, this could be the start of a long slippery slope ;) haha. Have fun! :up:

[Red October1984]

A large number of WW2 fighter kits do. It adds variety and options. The most important thing is to take your time and have fun.

Oh I will...This'll be fun. I've run into a tricky part where you install the instrument panel. :hmmm:

Good luck mate, can't wait to see how it goes. Just be warned, this could be the start of a long slippery slope ;) haha. Have fun! :up:

Right. Thanks! Slippery Slopes are pretty fun if you have a sled. :03:

----

Here is what I've got so far...I'm going to paint when I'm done so all the pieces fit together correctly.

https://imageshack.com/a/img818/7219/hcn9.jpg

and this is what I'm currently trying to do....

https://imageshack.com/a/img534/3893/f6bu.jpg

[Cybermat47]

Good job Red!


I've done a P40 before, in Australian markings:

http://imageshack.us/a/img5/1778/gzn1.jpg

The first one was British, but the decals kept falling off :/\\!!

I'd put some gloss paint on the areas where your going to put the decals, if I were you.

[Red October1984]

@ Cybermat Nice! What scale is that? 1:48?


Right now, I have it all put together and for the most part painted. I need to do some detailing.

https://imageshack.com/a/img89/1288/yhel.jpg

https://imageshack.com/a/img818/9783/3n2z.jpg

I'm having trouble putting the decals on.

The only directions I have is this


Cut Each Design From Decal Sheet As Needed
Dip in Water
Use a Small Brush to Wet Your Model
Slide Decal From Paper Face Up Into Position On Model
Do NOT Touch Decal With Fingers
Press Down With Blotter



I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do. :/\\!! I cut out the brand label on the decal sheet and tested it.

They aren't kidding when they say don't touch it. I barely touched it and it all came off. Am I supposed to press it onto the model or something? :hmmm:

[Cybermat47]

Just gently slide it onto the model, and wait for it to dry. The water should be pretty hot, I usually have it at 60 degrees celcius.

To make sure that the decals stay on, you might want to get some tamiya X22 paint, and put it on the areas the decals will go.b

Also, this is vital: don't do them all at once. Just do the top of the wings, wait for them to dry, then the sides, wait for that to dry, then under the wings.

Applying the decals can be tricky. Caused me more headaches than losing a vital part of an Albatros D.Va!

[Red October1984]

Just gently slide it onto the model, and wait for it to dry. The water should be pretty hot, I usually have it at 60 degrees celcius.

To make sure that the decals stay on, you might want to get some tamiya X22 paint, and put it on the areas the decals will go.b

Also, this is vital: don't do them all at once. Just do the top of the wings, wait for them to dry, then the sides, wait for that to dry, then under the wings.

Should I slide it on paper-side up or decal-side up? :hmmm:

I'm about to head off to read in bed so I'll handle it tomorrow.

I don't have any special paint. I put Acrylic all over it because that's what I had. :hmm2:


----

I'm thinking for the next one I should get a 1:48... 1:72 is awesome...but 1:48 is better. :)

I saw a 1:48 B-17 and a 1:48 B-29 at Hobby Lobby. They want like 50$ for the -29 and 40$ for the -17! It's crazy! :doh:

[Herr-Berbunch]

Paper side down, decal uppermost.

It's not easy but as with most things it gets a bit easier the more you do.

[ajrimmer42]

yep, what HB said. Also, don't panic when the decal is on the surface and think it's permanent, as long as you keep it wet you'll have no problem moving it around till it's in the right place, just be a little gentle so as to not tear it, then just grab a bit of soft paper towel and soak up the excess water.

Looks like you got a great finish with the green too! I'd be very happy if my first model had come out so good! :up:

[Jimbuna]

I've always used decal solution...a guide here:

http://www.scalemodelguide.com/painting-weathering/decals/apply-waterslide-decals/

[Sailor Steve]

I need to do some detailing.
What you need to do is find a better picture-hosting service.

Just teasing. Others seem to see it just fine, so it's probably yet another problem with my crappy old computer.

[Sailor Steve]

I'm thinking for the next one I should get a 1:48... 1:72 is awesome...but 1:48 is better. :)

I saw a 1:48 B-17 and a 1:48 B-29 at Hobby Lobby. They want like 50$ for the -29 and 40$ for the -17! It's crazy! :doh:
They make 1/24 scale models of certain fighters.

On the other hand I disagree. I've always thought 1/72 was just about perfect, kind of like H-O for trains. You get something small enough for storage but big enough for fine detailing. Of course the fact that nobody makes a 1/48 scale B-36 or B-52 has some influence.

[Herr-Berbunch]

I'd built various 1:72 and 1:48 aircraft up until I was about 18, haven't built one since even though sitting in the cupboard at my mum's in my old bedroom is an unbuilt Harrier. I think the most fun I had though was with a 1:48 SR-71. It'd been completed about five years previously but had suffered some knocks in moving, a friend and I decided to insert some firework rockets in the engines. Light the blue touch paper and retire to a safe distance (and aim along an empty path in the park). Woooooof, off it went straight along the path, hit a bump and seemingly went vertical for a second or two before exploding in the traditional firework fashion. We ran over and stomped on the flaming plastic.

Don't play with fireworks, kids.

[Red October1984]

They make 1/24 scale models of certain fighters.

On the other hand I disagree. I've always thought 1/72 was just about perfect, kind of like H-O for trains. You get something small enough for storage but big enough for fine detailing. Of course the fact that nobody makes a 1/48 scale B-36 or B-52 has some influence.

1:72 is great....but... I think the model of the TBM Avenger is 1:48...and so is the Mustang and the P-47 at the store.

1:48 would be cool. :arrgh!:

I'd built various 1:72 and 1:48 aircraft up until I was about 18, haven't built one since even though sitting in the cupboard at my mum's in my old bedroom is an unbuilt Harrier. I think the most fun I had though was with a 1:48 SR-71. It'd been completed about five years previously but had suffered some knocks in moving, a friend and I decided to insert some firework rockets in the engines. Light the blue touch paper and retire to a safe distance (and aim along an empty path in the park). Woooooof, off it went straight along the path, hit a bump and seemingly went vertical for a second or two before exploding in the traditional firework fashion. We ran over and stomped on the flaming plastic.

Don't play with fireworks, kids.


But it's 4th of July! :woot:

I won't be doing THAT with my P-40 but I will be playing SAFELY with fireworks. :cool:

[nikimcbee]

Congrats. Have fun building you kit:salute::up:. Good choice of kit. I think my P-40 is the same kit. My only recommendation is, if you're really happy with how it turns out, get a small display case for it to keep the dust off it, so it looks nice.

[Red October1984]

Congrats. Have fun building you kit:salute::up:. Good choice of kit. I think my P-40 is the same kit. My only recommendation is, if you're really happy with how it turns out, get a small display case for it to keep the dust off it, so it looks nice.

It's put together and basically done. My bare bones P-40B... :D

I just need to get some Decal Solution and some more paint. :rock:

I've been converted to modeller. I will definitely do this again soon.


Only complaint I have so far is the weak tail wheel. It's not strong enough to support the model...so I stuck it a bit further up into the tail than it should just so it will sit straight.


EDIT: It was either this or the F4F Wildcat. I spent like 15 minutes trying to decide before I went with the P-40. I've always liked the P-40 and the USAAF planes. The F4F can wait. :D