Ian Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 (edited) Inspired by Nicks' recent Airacobra project here, and two beautiful models by my good friend Hector, I finally decided to take a run at the superlative Eduard P-39/P-400. As I couldn't decide which one to build, I decided to build the two I had in the stash..... namely these two:- The original idea was to build both completely OoB, but as I haven't got any Sutton Harnesses for the P-400, I have ordered a resin one with the appropriate British pattern belts from Ultracast. The P-400 will be Russian, from the first batch that went out, the P-39 will be a 'Q' flown by the 100th FS 'Tuskegee Airmen' - markings from the apparently very rare Aeromaster sheet AN48-798. So far all I have done is to spray the insides Xtracolour X806 (RAL 6003 Olivegrun) then drybrushed with a slightly lighter tone of the same, then added a weak Paynes Grey oil wash. Next will be a little more dry-brushing and a wash of some light yellowish-green oils. Really enjoying this/these build(s) already and I haven't taken anything off the sprue yet ! Thanks for looking. As ever any comment, question or (constructive) criticism welcomed. Ian Edited February 6, 2012 by Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousFO98 Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 What a lot of Cobras! (well someone was gonna say it - it may as well be me!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnerdad Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Nice start Ian, looking good already. I'm keen to get back onto mine, but have got too many other things to do, boo hoo...so you can inspire me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted August 4, 2009 Author Share Posted August 4, 2009 Some progress:- Wait a minute, don't go just yet, there's more ! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted August 4, 2009 Author Share Posted August 4, 2009 As you can see I really thinned down the wing trailing edges..... so thin, they managed to draw blood yesterday ! Thanks for looking, any questions, etc, welcome. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Looks good so far Ian... and get well soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxidad Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Hey, so where are the finished kits?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AAbshier Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Looks good so far! Let me give you a tip from my Eduard build: you need to glue a section of thick plastic card underneath the deck behind the cockpit. The Eduard fuselage bows out a little bit here, and unless you FIRMLY glue both sides of the back deck to both sides of the fuselage, you'll end up having a bad time fitting the rear section of the canopy. I know because I didn't do that, and had one hell of time getting the canopy installed! Also: the infamous cockpit doors are not as bad as advertised--sort of. I got one installed closed with no trouble, the other wouldn't do that at all--no big deal, since I had planned one open door anyway: Have fun with it! It's a real nice kit, as you're finding out. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 I had some serious distraction going-on. Two Hasegawa Bf109's and a Ju87 to be precise, not to mention the Hasegawa 1:32 Ki61 and some really important/difficult/serious exams in January to prepare for. But be assured, they are still on the to-do pile and will both be finished, hopefully for the Cosford show in the spring - if there is one - Thanks for the interest, chaps. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain De Loor Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Beautiful paint Andy, very realistic interior -Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxidad Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 But be assured, they are still on the to-do pile and will both be finished, hopefully for the Cosford show in the spring - if there is one - Thanks for the interest, chaps.Ian I have had the Eduard kit on the go for ages. It's a lovely kit, so I cannot imagine why I have dragged my feet over it. Should be finished tonight . Just gotta do a little exhaust staining and it's done (after about a year footling about). Hope to get some pics up, providing I can get enough light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 23, 2011 Author Share Posted November 23, 2011 (edited) Where did that time go ?? - When I started these two, my little boy wasn't even a year old, now he's three-and-a-half (nearly !). Finally dragged these two out of the depths of the 'Must get around to finishing that' pile (come-on we all have one of those !) and onto the desk. Took some new photo's of the parts spread but didn't get time to upload them yesterday, then I re-commenced work. I'll focus on one kit at a time; As I now have the Ultracast seat with a Sutton Harness, as mentioned in the first post, I'll probably focus on building the Soviet P-400 first, before the 'Tuskagee' Q. It's really odd, but as I'm typing this I can feel that same rush of admiration for such a marvellous kit, but that didn't stop me detailing the radio box with a couple of wires from 5amp fuse wires !! (I found the perfect photo for this in the Detail & Scale book). So hopefully I can maintain the build this time, as they are sharing my workbench with a (stalled) 1:32 P-40, a 90% finished Huckebein, a 50% finished 1:48 Hunter and two yet to be started 1:48 P-51's for the STGB, space is a premium - but just this moment, enthusiasm is not !! More soon. Ian Edited November 23, 2011 by Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 23, 2011 Author Share Posted November 23, 2011 Had a couple of hours this afternoon, so got the seat finished for the P-400 and got the cockpit elements together - probably cannot see as I do not have a macro lens, but there's shed load of Eduard placards in there aswell. Hopefully more progress tomorrow. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 This is a real zombie project - back from the dead. I'm really glad you are back with it as you will be my Airacobra trailblazer. p.s. I don't have one of those piles of half built kits (unless you count the Warhawks!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moofles Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Must say your cockpit is looking rather nice, love the weathering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 Really got my teeth into these two now - Here's the results of another two-and-a-half hours work: Cockpit all together And then 'cemented' into place: May be able to get a wee bit more done this evening, as Mrs. Ian is working (more) overtime. AFN Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Gibson Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 That's nice work Ian. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 28, 2011 Author Share Posted November 28, 2011 Here's a couple of general and close-in shots of the upper surfaces. Was really surprised and delighted that there are no gaps to speak of. Seen other on-line builds with some major fit issues... Lucky I s'pose Same with the undersides, no big problems: Next-up, the sanding and filling. As ever thanks for taking the time to look. Happy to answer any questions, comments or criticism. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark 64 Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 Looking good.. Wait a second you are building two planes at once....thats talent right there in my book. Is this part of a dio then. Oliver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 Looking good.. Wait a second you are building two planes at once....thats talent right there in my book. Is this part of a dio then.Oliver Well coming from you, Oliver, I will take that as a h*ll of a compliment - Not part of a diorama just two stand alone but related builds. I simply wanted to build two 'extremes' of the Airacobra: A 'British' P-400, in this case one of the very few ex RAF machines flown by the Soviets, and a late USAAF P-39Q, I was simply lucky to find a decal-sheet for a Tuskagee machine that is quite colourful. Emphasising the differences will extend to the weathering and finish - The P-400 will be 'typically Russian' whilst the 'Q' will be relatively pristine. Thanks for the interest. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 (edited) These are the sections where the Russian markings were painted-over the RAF ones: Hopefully it will end-up looking something like these by Gaetan Marie Used Xtracolour enamels - RLM65 and the lighter of the two Vietnam greens. More later this week. Ian Edited December 7, 2011 by Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Nice work, Ian. What's exactly your plan, concerning the hidden Brits markings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moofles Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 now thats looking good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted December 8, 2011 Author Share Posted December 8, 2011 Nice work, Ian.What's exactly your plan, concerning the hidden Brits markings? Antioine: In 1941 when the RAF passed-on their P-400's to the Soviets, they arrived, not surprisingly, in full RAF colours. The Russians simply painted over the roundels, 'sky' band and fin flashes with whatever they had handy - the standard light blue for the undersides and 'green' for the topsides. I'm simply replicating that, but putting the Russian colours on first - always easier to mask a circle from the inside than try to do it from the outside. I promise it will all make sense as it progresses... maybe More soon. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Ok, I see, but you'll still use decals for the roundels and stars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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