DONE: Finished Kittyhawk IV -Curtiss P-40N RAAF 76 Sqn G-SV A29-1140 Group Build

[FlexiBull]

Great to see some new pictures, very interesting too. "Times New Roman" lettering??

[ozhawk40]

Not sure of the "font" flexibull, but they are a bit more interesting that the standard codes. I don't know why they started doing this, but 76 squadron paint jobs were always a little more "different". For example they went through a phase of having camo, but natural metal canopy frames. Probably as some sort of easy id feature.

cheers

Ozhawk40

[ccheese]

Mr CCheese, meet Mr Dremel

Mechanization..... what will they think of next ? Computers ?

Charles

[lesofprimus]

LMAO............

[ozhawk40]

I am along the way from this photo, but I thought I'd post a small update. I 'am at the assembly/sand/fill/sand/check/sand and then refill stage which gets a bit boring. But it is coming together.

The detail on this Hasegawa is great, but the way they built this model to make various versions is painfull.

I decided to assemble both halves complete with tail section before sticking them together, however this creates a join line vertically down the centre of the rear fuselage where there shouldn't be a panel line. It stumps me why they didn't add the extra bit just like Curtiss did in '42 - or was that '41. Someone will tell me for sure.

Cheers

[Wayne Little]

Keep up the good work!

[Airframes]

Yeah, looks like an awkward joint to cope with, but it seems you've cracked it. Good work mate.

[muller]

I'm at the same stage with the A-20, lots of sanding! Keep it up!

[b21ft]

Thanks Wildcat!

Well that means it was flown by more than a few pilots and includes the Squadron Leader Wilson if I read that right. Very interesting.

I've found another profile in the "In Action" series, showing A29-1193 the recipient of the artwork. Don't think I can trust the colour description. These were all Olive Drab were they not?

Gratuitous inclusion of John Waddy's kite for Wayne.

Cheers

Hi Ozhawk! Following is an image of a P-40 which by repair records at the ADF serials website has the Id,
tenatively, as P-40N, 76 sqn A29-1196, 44-47824. The question is, have you or any of your friends
familiar with 76sqn birds recognize the art on the rudder? It's got a few of us stumped! Thanks in advance!

[ozhawk40]

Hard to say b21ft.

Looks like it could be a depiction of Garuda or a Phoenix. Either way they only person who may be able to say would be the pilot or the erk that painted it.

Off hand I would have said that is not a 76 squadron aircraft by lack of lightning bolt across tail and (guessing) style of codes, which don't appear to be the distinctive font, but smaller block. Can't read them though - that would be a give away.

If you have the date pinned down, it is possible to tell the pilot who flew her. Wildcat may be able to assist, but the records, unit histories are available at the National Archives for all to see.

Cheers, and thanks for posting this interesting picture.

[b21ft]

Hard to say b21ft.
Off hand I would have said that is not a 76 squadron aircraft by lack of lightning bolt across tail and (guessing) style of codes, which don't appear to be the distinctive font, but smaller block.

Thanks for your reply. The lack of the lightning bolt is obvious, but I'm not very familiaer with RAAF
squadrons. Is the light-coloured flash at the top of the rudder any help?

No date, location or any ID accompanies the photo.

I'll google for National Archives and dig around a bit. Thanks!

[Wildcat]

G'day b21f. From the line up of what looks to be Mustangs in the background, I'd say the location would be Labuan, Borneo. It's the only location I can think of off the top of my head were RAAF P-40's would have come into contact with P-51's.
Now IF the Mustangs are RAAF aircraft, they would most likely be 82 sqn planes, which was based at Labuan just after the war ended. 76 was based there at the same time and still equipped with P-40's. The only other possibility is that the a/c belongs to 77 sqn, which was also at Labaun converting to P-51's. This might explain the lack of lightning flash.

[ozhawk40]

b21ft

I think this Kittyhawk is getting ready for it's last flight off the back of a barge. Please note the damage to wing which I have highlighted. I think they are giving it a severe clip.




Note this following picture of another Kittyhawk prepared in a similar fashion (AWM pic). Note the lack of a canopy on both. Note date of this photo, which is just prior to the move of the now mustang equipped 81 Wing to Japan. This may give you some more clues.

AWM ref is "LABUAN, 1946-01-15. DAMAGED KITTYHAWK FIGHTER AND SPITFIRES AWAITING DISPOSAL BY DUMPING IN THE SEA. DONOR: N.M. WALKER"



If this was the case , I don't think it could be 1196 as this aircraft was issued to the Navy in 1948.

What do you think?

cheers

Peter

P.S. Welcome to the forum!

[A4K]

The detail on this Hasegawa is great, but the way they built this model to make various versions is painfull.

I decided to assemble both halves complete with tail section before sticking them together, however this creates a join line vertically down the centre of the rear fuselage where there shouldn't be a panel line. It stumps me why they didn't add the extra bit just like Curtiss did in '42 - or was that '41. Someone will tell me for sure.

Cheers

G'day mate!

I reckon it's due to the different positions of the tail fin. On early models it was positioned with base of leading edge almost in line with the leading edge of the tailplanes - later repositioned 5 1/2" (if I remember right) aft on P-40K-15s and-20s, Ms, and Ns.

Maybe Hasegawa made the break off point a little more forward to avoid awkward sanding at the tailplane leading edge?

Evan

[b21ft]

I think this Kittyhawk is getting ready for it's last flight off the back of a barge.

If this was the case , I don't think it could be 1196 as this aircraft was issued to the Navy in 1948.

What do you think?

Sorry for the slow reply..my second try today. I lost the first reply to the ether earlier today.

I think I agree with the barge trip, but according to ADF serials 1196 served earlier than 1948. Given her
being a latecomer to the squadron, spending much of her time in various depots, the end of the war, and
the possibility 76 sqn knowing P-51's were coming for change...might account for the lack of the "lightning
bolt" insignia. Why bother? The difference in the font? Perhaps since it was a replacement bird it never
gained some of the details the veterans posessed. Or none of the above..I wouldn't attempt to force the
photo to fit the ADF serials info. I also would not toss out the possibility while trying to find the originator
of the "rudder art".

Thanks for the welcome OZhawk!

Welcome to ADF Serials
A29-1196 P-40N-40 44-47824 1/45 served with 76 Sqn; on 7/6/45 received by 76 Sqn from 11 RSURP; on 16/9/45 allocated to 4 Sqn, but this was cancelled 4 days later; on 18/9/45 during t/o it tipped onto its nose at the end of Labuan strip due to engine failure; on 28/9/45 returned to 76 Sqn from 1 RSU after repairs; on 10/10/45 received by 1 RSU from 76 Sqn; on 21/11/45 received by 6 AD from 1 RSU for storage; on 29/11/45 received by CFS from 6 AD; on 9/5/46 received at Pt Cook storage from CFS; on 3/12/48 approval to convert to components.

Apologies for sidetracking your build page, but I figured the subject matter you chose and your references
would give me a chance to catch several folks "with books opened to the page".