My first diorama - Crash landed P-40B Warhawk

[Jonesy]

This started off because I wanted a model plane where I could practice doing bullet and overall damage as preparation for a future project.After I started I decided to turn it into a diorama and give that a try too. The original model is an Airfix 1/72 Curtiss P-40B WarHawk. I did some bullet damage and a couple of pieces of the wings shot off too, so now it is supposed to look like a plane that was shot and then crash landed. I also had to saw the canopy into 2 parts because the model only had the option to be a closed cockpit. I also tried to do some puddle effects, but the base I used for the diorama absorbed most of the 'water' material, but it still gives the impression of a drying puddle I think.

https://i.ibb.co/1v7FG66/20230430-175119.jpg


https://i.ibb.co/4ZJ1McM/20230430-175327.jpg




Rest of the pictures:
https://i.ibb.co/48z2SqQ/20230430-175141.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/xL14P3k/20230430-175201.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/H2BDDnz/20230430-175213.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/1fXKMLj/20230430-175230.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/RbdPYY4/20230430-175245.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/593wcDH/20230430-175254.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/WvGSdp3/20230430-175309.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/RgKVgR6/20230430-175342.jpg

[Onkel Neal]

Wow, very nice. Good job, Jonesy :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

[mapuc]

A+ from me. You have done a great job in creating this Diorama.

Markus

[August]

Very nice. The muddy ground effect really comes together in the oblique picture.

[cuhnkedrik]

How lovely. The muddy ground impression really comes together in the oblique picture.

[Kapt Z]

Great start! If you are looking for tips make sure to look online for anything from the late Shep Paine. He was a master and wrote great and easy to understand books on dioramas, battle damage, weathering... etc.

Have not built a model in 30 years, but still have some kits in a box in the basement. Just waiting for my retirement!

Good luck!

[Aktungbby]

...nice but a P-40 propellor turns clockwise; in which case, the top prop blade in the diorama should be bending in the opposite direction...unless of course it was a 'deadstick' landing: in which case, one or more blades should.... be bent back from airflow rotation.:shucks: This one still flys out of a small private airfield near my home>https://www.incredible-adventures.com/warbirds/p40-warhawk-560.jpg...along with it's occasional P-51 Mustang hangermate: https://www.incredible-adventures.com/warbirds/p40-warhawk-002-560.jpg:yeah:In another life, our San Francisco-area P-40 was assigned to the Pacific Theater in World War II. The combat fighter was flown by Captain Ray Melikianhttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c2/Melikian-uniform.jpg of the 7th Fighter Squadron, a Fresno native who took down three Japanese Zeros. Melikian allowed a friend to borrow his plane in order to conduct a mission. The plane was never returned.
In 1969 the wreckage of the plane was discovered in a jungle in New Guinea with skeletal remains in it. The plane still contained Melikian's signature on the side of it. After the war, the P-40 spent time in a junkyard in Australia before eventually making its way to the US, where North Bay Aisonomar Museum Chief Pilot Chris Prevost spent nine years carefully rebuilding and restoring the warbird to mint condition. Now based in the heart of California’s wine country, the fighter is one of few P-40 Warhawks still flying today. It has a full cockpit added for a passenger and is capable of flying more than 350 mph and performing the same fighting maneuvers that conquered enemy aircraft long ago. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Melikian

[ET2SN]

Oh no, another expert at the model show.. :har:

[Aktungbby]

...nah! I quit being a rabid model builder after building a 3' Cutty Sark model in the late '60's of the previous century. The plastic assemblage (sniiff the glue phase) was easy...doing all the rigging (both 'standing' and 'running') with the full sails,:o proved more than I was interested in. Fortunately a nephew of mine found it in its storage carton in mom's basement, and it resides on his mantel in the mountains of Utah. I'm gazing at an unopened Monogram B-29 bomber and a Revell VII U-boat kit amidst the mancave's detritus as I post this...wishing my old enthusiasm would rejuvenate...:oops:

[ET2SN]

My point being, look at the pictures and think about the time and effort it took to create the diorama. Know what I'm sayin'? :03:

You might want to check out Tamiya Extra Thin glue. :yeah:

https://www.tamiyausa.com/media/CACHE/images/products/extra-thin-cement-40ml-quick-setting-7-08fe/65219ededd7f37a238235f2eabac6136.jpg


It comes in a square glass bottle with a bright green label and cap. This is a "touch-and-flow" glue that dries quickly and chemically welds the parts together. Extra Thin is a game changer for plastic kits, especially small detail parts, you just need to get used to a new way of doing things. Notice the applicator brush under the cap, this is what changed Extra Thin from a home run into a grand slam. Also make sure you have some ventilation for the man cave, Tamiya chemicals (glues and paints) tend to be aromatic. :o :doh:

With the B-29, if you don't build it don't throw it away. You should be able to sell it for a nice profit. The kit goes into and out of production but is always considered "rare". :03: