Found. Flt. Sgt. Dennis Copping's missing WW2 P-40 aircraft. - Egypt 2012

[papa 695]

Coming along nicely Ron, I’ve always wanted to build this diorama since I saw the photos of it. Your doing a cracking job so far.

[Gary MacKenzie]

Now you've got me wondering 570......did these early "Warbirds" have aluminum or wooden ribs in their flight control surfaces? Just curious, not being critical. At any rate that is a first class job of skeletonizing the control surfaces. Perhaps some crusty bits of rotting fabric here and there to give it a "tattered" look? Tissue paper comes to mind....
Rick H.

https://www.flyboyzblog.com/p-40-restoration-update/

some pictures of the control surfaces.

[spanner570]

Thanks for the input chaps.

I daresay some members will be comparing my effort with the 'Real Thing' and perhaps expecting to see a go at a copy of Copping's crashed P-40.

Such a feat is way beyond me. I'm just trying to get as close as I can to capturing the essence of his long lost desert wreck, using images as excellent references.

Here's the cockpit area. I hacked out some missing bits of 'perspex', then brush painted the frame work, before applying a light grey/brown to the inside surfaces.









Cheers.
Ron

[Jim R]

Hi Ron
I don't know what is the most impressive - your ideas or the execution. It really looks like it has spent decades in the desert.
Jim

[Gary MacKenzie]

Thanks for the input chaps.

I daresay some members will be comparing my effort with the 'Real Thing' and observing 'This and that are not right.' and expecting an exact copy of Copping's crashed P-40.

Such a feat is way beyond me. I'm just trying to get as close as I can to capturing the essence of his long lost desert wreck, using images as excellent references.

Here's the cockpit area. I hacked out some missing bits of 'perspex', then brush painted the frame work, before applying a light grey/brown to the inside surfaces.

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Cheers.
Ron

I am impressed with what you are doing, anything I have posted is info only.
I don't count rivets, I aim for something close that a human eye would see at 10 metres plus.
Mainly due to my deteriorating sight.

[spanner570]

Thanks Jim... :thumb2:

Gary, I hope I haven't ruffled a couple of feathers of yours. It was never my intention to do so, and I apologize if I did. I appreciate yours, or any other info posted. As a bonus, it shows folks are looking in too!

My last post wasn't aimed at you, but, indirectly at those who possibly might go comparing like for like where this build is concerned.

I'm just using the great pictures of the wreck to get some sense of what I'm aiming for with my model.

Again, sorry for any misunderstanding.

Ron

[Gary MacKenzie]

Thanks Jim... :thumb2:

Gary, I hope I haven't ruffled a couple of feathers of yours. It was never my intention to do so, and I apologize if I did. I appreciate yours, or any other info posted. As a bonus, it shows folks are looking in too!

My last post wasn't aimed at you, but, indirectly at those who possibly might go comparing like for like where this build is concerned, and there just might be.....

I'm just using the great pictures of the wreck to get some sense of what I'm aiming for with my model.

Again, sorry for any misunderstanding.

Ron

You didn't.
As I said, I am impressed with what you are doing.

[Mini Me]

Well 570 looks like I've done it again...Sorry if I mucked up your build with my Rhetorical questions and musings, but I did learn that the flight controls are definitely made of aluminum. So curiosity killed the cat,so to speak. As Gary stated, your efforts so far are impressive
and I am looking forward to more of the same. :thumb2: Rick H.

[spanner570]

Hi Rick - Sorry, I seem to have rocked the boat a bit.
My post was not aimed at you or Gary. Both your inputs were more than welcome, and your 'Musings' were sound. I knew the ribs were alyoominiumm, I just forgot to reply to your post, sorry.

I just wanted to make it clear to would be 'Compare'zees that I wasn't trying to make an exact copy - I couldn't if I tried!

Ron

[Mini Me]

Thanks Ron, for a time there I sort of felt like I was the one that kicked the crust off the proverbialoop: pile and had attracted a load of flies. At any rate, I'm glad that is sorted so you can move on with this terrific piece of historic modeling. On a different note, I shared your Anniversary pics with the Missus and she noticed on your avatar, spanner 570 and being the cryptic person she is, wondered if the 570 stood for May 1970...........:thinking: Cheers, Rick H.

[spanner570]

Thanks Ron, .........and she noticed on your avatar, spanner 570 and being the cryptic person she is, wondered if the 570 stood for May 1970...........:thinking: Cheers, Rick H.

Nothing as clever as that Rick, it's simply three digits of my phone number. Spanner was the name of my first dog!

[spanner570]

When the P-40 crash landed, the prop etc. became detached from the aircraft.

To beef the assembly up a bit, I added two 1/72 wheels and a bit from a Tiger tank. I chopped the nose cone about and bent the three blades in warm water.

Here is my go at modelling it.




Cheers.
Ron

[spanner570]

I've been wandering around the aircraft, bending, denting and snipping as I went. - great fun!

I've also added a few thingies, and some wire here and there, to liven up the wreck.



Leading edge damage.


Cheers.
Ron

[spanner570]

...after wandering around the model for the umteenth time, I spotted an unforgivable omission. The decals I used didn't have the yellow outer circle to the roundels. For this aircraft they are a 'Must Have', so I've brushed on the colour using a very well diluted pale yellow.


....... close call, what?

Ron

[papa 695]

Looking very good Ron, ( for a wreck anyway ).