#048 P-40B Flying Tiger in 1:72
Building the most excellent Airfix P-40B H81-A2 1:72 in Flying Tigers livery.
No electronics in this one.
Notes
The Hawk 81A-2 is an export version of the P-40B, with 110 aircraft produced for the RAF as Tomahawk Mk.IIs and Mk.IIAs. Apparently some ended up with the Flying Tigers in Kunming, China.
The aircraft depicted in this Airfix A01003 1:72 kit was flown by Flight Leader Charles H. Older, Third Squadron, American Volunteer Group, Kunming, China, 1942.
It sports the roundels of the Republic of China, and a “Flying Tiger” insignia that was created by the Walt Disney Company.
Paint Scheme
To the extent I kept track of this…
| Feature | Color | Recommended | Paint Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| cockpit | Pale Yellow | Humbrol 81 | Vallejo 70.824 German Camo Orange Ochre |
| prop tips | Matt Trainer Yellow | Humbrol 24 | 70.952 Lemon Yellow |
| lower fuselage | Matt Camouflage Grey (approx DuPont 71-021) | Humbrol 28 | 70.986 Deck Tan + 70.993 white grey ~4:1 |
| Matt Black | Humbrol 33 | ||
| upper camo | Matt US Dark Green (approx DuPont 71-013) | Humbrol 116 | 70.893 US Dark Green |
| upper camo | Matt US Light Earth (approx DuPont 71-009) | Humbrol 119 | 70.921 English Uniform w/ 70.824 German Camo Orange Ochre ~ 3:1 |
Build Log
I love the way Airfix designed the cockpit to be built up on the wing, with the fuselage fitting neatly over the top.
I seem to have not taken any more WIP shots. So straight from painting and decaling:
With an antenna aerial rigged:
Although just simple decals, the cockpit dashboard is nicely visible through the canopy
It does look quite menacing if you need to stare it down!
The Airfix 1/72 Flying Tigers P-40B joins its little brother - AFVClub 1/144.
Credits and References
- this project on scalemates
- Curtiss Hawk 81-A-2 Airfix No. A01003 1:72
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk - wikipedia
- P-40B - wikipedia
- Flying Tigers - wikipedia
- Curtiss-Wright Model 81-A2 - this day in aviation
- BUILD JOURNAL Curtiss Hawk 81-A-2 - luftraum72