P-40 Warhawk Forums

P-40 Warhawk Forums => P-40 Models => Topic started by: xray4277 on September 03, 2019, 05:25:37 AM



Title: Paint for RAAF P-40E (Kittyhawk 1a)
Post by: xray4277 on September 03, 2019, 05:25:37 AM
OK, anyone who has read my other posts will already know that (a) I'm not a stickler for absolute accuracy and (b) I like to use Tamiya paints. So does anyone have any suggestions for foliage green, earth brown and sky to do an RAAF P-40? I believe that foliage green was darker than RAF dark green for example? And the sky undersides were more of a grey than RAF sky, which was quite a greeny-grey?

For RAF I use XF81 (dark green), XF52 (dark earth) and XF21 (sky). I'm thinking XF26 deep green for the foliage green. As I say, I'm not a fanatic about colours, if they look about right on the model that'll do for me. I just finished a 1/72 Wildcat using XF18 and XF19 for the standard two-colour US Navy scheme and to my eyes it looks good. Purists would no doubt say otherwise!!!


Title: Re: Paint for RAAF P-40E (Kittyhawk 1a)
Post by: Vince_M on September 04, 2019, 04:07:55 AM
Weren't the camo versions that the Aussies used in the standard dark earth, dark green, sky grey?
By standard I mean using US DuPont equivalents.  Look at what Mark used in the next thread for his Special Hobby kit and those colors look pretty good.


Title: Re: Paint for RAAF P-40E (Kittyhawk 1a)
Post by: Mark Joyce on September 04, 2019, 06:52:12 AM
As Vince said, I believe that the RAAF P-40E-1/Kittyhawk Mk.1As were painted in the DuPont equivalents of dark earth and dark green over some color with the word "sky" in it.  There's a lot of heated debate on the underside color but the general consensus is that it was "sky grey," although I'm not saying that it's the correct color...whatever color it actually was.

I don't use Tamiya paints, and unfortunately the FineScale Modeler article from 1995 written by Dana Bell that I've used as a reference doesn't have equivalents for the DuPont dark earth or dark green in Tamiya. He does list Tamiya XF21 for RAF sky, although my understanding that he no longer believes this is the appropriate color. 

For what it's worth, here's a link to one article about foliage green, which appears to have come into play a bit later.  It has some other useful information as well so might be of help:

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/hyperscale/viewtopic.php?f=149674&t=227552&p=2254203&hilit=raaf+foliage+green#p2254203




Title: Re: Paint for RAAF P-40E (Kittyhawk 1a)
Post by: xray4277 on April 04, 2020, 11:20:37 PM
Well after a long spell away from the modelling bench I have started on this kit. It goes together very nicely, hardly any gaps to fill. I found some very nice acrylics for the top colours which I think will look good, and will be using Tamiya sky grey for the underside.


Title: Re: Paint for RAAF P-40E (Kittyhawk 1a)
Post by: Mark Joyce on April 15, 2020, 07:37:11 AM
Hope you'll post some photos!


Title: Re: Paint for RAAF P-40E (Kittyhawk 1a)
Post by: xray4277 on April 19, 2020, 11:03:01 PM
I sure will. I'm putting the decals on just now but the ones that come with the kit are a bit rubbish! Fortunately I have a few Xtradecals spare which I can use to replace most of the Academy ones.


Title: Re: Paint for RAAF P-40E (Kittyhawk 1a)
Post by: Mark Joyce on April 21, 2020, 10:49:24 PM
I sure will. I'm putting the decals on just now but the ones that come with the kit are a bit rubbish! Fortunately I have a few Xtradecals spare which I can use to replace most of the Academy ones.

Academy decals are notoriously horrible.  I don't understand why it can't produce decent ones.


Title: Re: Paint for RAAF P-40E (Kittyhawk 1a)
Post by: xray4277 on April 29, 2020, 11:16:40 PM
I can't seem to get any photos to upload - getting a message telling me the upload folder is full. Any ideas anyone?


Title: Re: Paint for RAAF P-40E (Kittyhawk 1a)
Post by: Mark Joyce on April 30, 2020, 09:18:26 AM
I can't seem to get any photos to upload - getting a message telling me the upload folder is full. Any ideas anyone?
Have you tried a photo-hosting site, like Imgur (which I use for these forums)?  I've tried but never had any success in trying to load images directly here.


Title: Re: Paint for RAAF P-40E (Kittyhawk 1a)
Post by: xray4277 on April 30, 2020, 11:36:25 PM
Trying smaller files this time...

I built the kit pretty much out of the box - added brake pipes to the undercarriage legs and made my own radio aerial. It's not a bad little kit really, but the next one I build...I'm painting the canopy parts first, I hate doing them!!!


Title: Re: Paint for RAAF P-40E (Kittyhawk 1a)
Post by: Mark Joyce on May 01, 2020, 09:00:12 AM
Looks good! Any chance of posting more photos of it?

I might have missed it, but which kit is it?

I don't care for dealing with canopies too, and will almost always use pre-cut masks when painting them if available.