Correcting diheadral on Academy P-40B Tomahawk - Aircraft of World War II

gijive · 01-15-2009, 08:48 AM

The Academy 1/72 scale P-40B is not a great model, but in 1/72 scale there is not much choice in early models of the P-40. In fact I think this is the only one. The later Academy model of the P-40 N is a much better example in being more accurate and true to the plane. As some of you know I recently was advised on the forum (thanks to all) that the dihedral was missing from the wings of the model and should be there. I tackled this with some success on the model I had already started making and took the wings off, shaved the wing roots on the fuselage and stuck them back on. From the front it looks ok but underneath the belly pops out and you loose the rim of the nose section.

So to counter this and having bought another model so I could replace the broken propeller ( £2.51 bargain) I started again from scratch.

The important thing was to maintain the under belly position relative to the front cowling radiator flaps( Sadly only modelled in this case as closed and just panel lines)

So I shaved the roots on the fuselage and thinned the belly section at the front, then stuck the wings on pressing firmly on the belly to get that bit right, then once that was dry and well set pulled the wings up to close the gaps on the upper surface.

Problems

The flatter underside looks a lot better with regard to the front cowling; however this puts a greater stress on the glue holding the upper joins and tends to pull the wings flatter again even after gluing is complete. Much sanding, filling and care needs to be taken to get it looking right, but it’s far better than the original models flat wings!

More to follow as model progesses.

Airframes · 01-15-2009, 11:15 PM

Good work Chris, you're getting there!

Matt308 · 01-15-2009, 11:25 PM

Well done.

Wurger · 01-16-2009, 09:01 AM

With Matt here.

gijive · 01-16-2009, 10:37 AM

Cheers

Lucky13 · 01-16-2009, 01:14 PM

Nice going mate!

gijive · 01-19-2009, 06:43 AM

Update photos

Wurger · 01-19-2009, 06:46 AM

Great.

rochie · 01-19-2009, 07:47 AM

looks good

Airframes · 01-19-2009, 05:34 PM

Coming along very nicely Chris.

109ROAMING · 01-19-2009, 05:56 PM

Looking good!

01-15-2009, 08:48 AM	#1
gijive Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Yeovil, Somerset Posts: 89	Correcting diheadral on Academy P-40B Tomahawk The Academy 1/72 scale P-40B is not a great model, but in 1/72 scale there is not much choice in early models of the P-40. In fact I think this is the only one. The later Academy model of the P-40 N is a much better example in being more accurate and true to the plane. As some of you know I recently was advised on the forum (thanks to all) that the dihedral was missing from the wings of the model and should be there. I tackled this with some success on the model I had already started making and took the wings off, shaved the wing roots on the fuselage and stuck them back on. From the front it looks ok but underneath the belly pops out and you loose the rim of the nose section. So to counter this and having bought another model so I could replace the broken propeller ( £2.51 bargain) I started again from scratch. The important thing was to maintain the under belly position relative to the front cowling radiator flaps( Sadly only modelled in this case as closed and just panel lines) So I shaved the roots on the fuselage and thinned the belly section at the front, then stuck the wings on pressing firmly on the belly to get that bit right, then once that was dry and well set pulled the wings up to close the gaps on the upper surface. Problems The flatter underside looks a lot better with regard to the front cowling; however this puts a greater stress on the glue holding the upper joins and tends to pull the wings flatter again even after gluing is complete. Much sanding, filling and care needs to be taken to get it looking right, but it’s far better than the original models flat wings! More to follow as model progesses. __________________ General warbird fan and model maker, mainly 1/72 scale. Facebook group: http://en-gb.facebook.com/group.php?gid=57402936784

01-15-2009, 11:25 PM	#3
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,386	Well done. __________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

01-16-2009, 09:01 AM	#4
Wurger Siggy Master Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Poland Posts: 13,971	With Matt here. __________________

01-16-2009, 10:37 AM	#5
gijive Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Yeovil, Somerset Posts: 89	Cheers __________________ General warbird fan and model maker, mainly 1/72 scale. Facebook group: http://en-gb.facebook.com/group.php?gid=57402936784

01-16-2009, 01:14 PM	#6
Lucky13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 15,140	Nice going mate! __________________ JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!"

01-15-2009, 11:15 PM	#2
Airframes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,062	Good work Chris, you're getting there!

01-19-2009, 06:43 AM	#7
gijive Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Yeovil, Somerset Posts: 89	Update photos __________________ General warbird fan and model maker, mainly 1/72 scale. Facebook group: http://en-gb.facebook.com/group.php?gid=57402936784

01-19-2009, 06:46 AM	#8
Wurger Siggy Master Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Poland Posts: 13,971	Great. __________________

01-19-2009, 07:47 AM	#9
rochie Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: billingham nr middlesbrough uk Posts: 3,114	looks good __________________ "We're not easily frightened. Also we know how hard it is for an army to cross the Channel — the last little corporal to try it came a cropper. So don't threaten or dictate to us until you're marching up Whitehall! ...and even then we won't listen!" quote from B.O.B movie

01-19-2009, 05:34 PM	#10
Airframes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,062	Coming along very nicely Chris.

01-19-2009, 05:56 PM	#11
109ROAMING Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 4,994	Looking good! __________________ "When all else fails read the manual"

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