May 1, 2018 at 2:46 pm
I’ve been building a sizable collection of 1/72 scale models of aircraft that were used in films over the past few years, and I haven’t yet done a P-40 from the classic John Wayne film Flying Tigers.
I had a little look at the Internet Movie Plane Database, and came across the entry for the film, which has a couple of images of real P-40s that were used in some of the flying sequences….
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The caption on the page states that this is actually a P-40F version, not an E as I had been led to believe over the years.
Not being very well-versed on P-40 variants, can anyone confirm? I noticed the lack of the air scoop over the cowling, but that’s all.
By: DazDaMan - 4th May 2018 at 23:45
RAFRochford – I’ve seen the normal Buchon kits on eBay, so might be tempted.
I’ll have a look for that Special Hobby P-40 – otherwise it would need to be a conversion job.
By: Graham Boak - 4th May 2018 at 20:00
Special Hobby did a 1/72 P-40F which may still be available. I don’t recall any other, apart from engine cowling conversions which are certainly no longer available.
By: RAFRochford - 4th May 2018 at 19:22
Daz;
Slightly off topic, but if you’ve seen the film Patton, you might want one of these new releases…
Steve
By: DazDaMan - 3rd May 2018 at 21:40
I never noticed that while watching the film – although the most glaring omissions are the control surfaces!
By: FarlamAirframes - 3rd May 2018 at 13:31
The taxying replicas were a little bit shaky – the cowlings rattled/moved about a bit! Hope you can recreate that at 1:72 scale.
By: STORMBIRD262 - 3rd May 2018 at 12:56
you still crack me up dazza , live the dream go mate
By: DazDaMan - 1st May 2018 at 21:54
So it would seem the ones in the film are actually P-40Fs, not Es as I had initially thought.
Interesting!
I’ll need to find a 1/72 version somewhere.
I might also need to attempt a model of the taxiing replicas they used.
By: Graham Boak - 1st May 2018 at 16:13
The P-40E had an Allison engine, with a downdraught carburettor requiring the air intake on top of the cowling. The P-40F used a Packard Merlin wiht an updraught carburettor, requiring a low air intake. The opening at the front of the P-40F is deeper to allow for these changes, with a resulting slightly flatter line to the underside. Otherwise the two versions are similar.
By: scotavia - 1st May 2018 at 14:59
These might be of use…http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/flying-tigers-p-40-tomahawk-amazing-color-pictures-from-wwii.html