NZ3072(19) Wairarapa Wildcat - 1/48 Hasegawa

[dewobz]

;D Well, following all that information transfer in the 'Fisken's Cat' thread, as it happens I have a commission to build Wairarapa Wildcat in 1/48 (more-or-less) based on my own 'considered opinion', using Hasegawa's P-40M South Pacific kitset - meaning I am not in possession of Hasegawa's NZ3072 decals. I have Italeri white stripes and artwork. Someone has to have a go ... might as well be me ...
A few manditory build shots and I will cut to the chase -


NZ3072 3 + TM Kits 004 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


NZ3072 3 + TM Kits 009 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


NZ3072 3 + TM Kits 011 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Based on the 'Fisken's Cat' information and all the photographs I have available - especially the port & starboard views on Pg 1 of the abovementioned thread - I have made the following assumptions 1] The camouflage scheme was Olive Drab 41 over Neutral Grey with Green(?) blotches. (In this case type availability and my desire to use AeroMaster acrylics makes in US Green 42)
2] The OD is fresher on the lower cowlings, the port aileron and, from my observation of these photos, on the mid-section of the tailplane (but not the rudder). There may be other repaint areas but I conclude the aircraft does not have a disrupted camouflage scheme. I conclude, in fact, that the port-side photo later in Kerry's build thread is somewhat abberant due to the extremely low and extremely direct-frontal sunlight angle. 3] For a brief period in early-mid August 1943 NZ3072 probably looked something like this


NZ3072 4 Blotches 1 011 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

in that the fuselage roundel centres have been enlarged and painted blue (though her tail ID stripe was intact). My desire to depict her like this stems from not wanting to build just another Wairarapa Wildcat but also my discovery that Ventura Decals new PV-1 Venturas decal sheet (with darker roundels) can also service both RNZAF P-40s and TBF-1c Avengers


NZ3072 5 DECALS 012 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Self-evident hopefully. The 'Home Based' PV-1 upper wing & fuselage roundels are a close enough match for me (and hopefully my client?). Right & Above is RNZAF P-40Ns Pacific & NZ, Left & Below is PV-1 Venturas.
The only reference I had to 'blotching' was on Eaglestrike's 'SkyTrains at War' decal sheet (citing a colour called Jungle Green 46?)


NZ3072 4 Blotches 1 010 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

So off I went, reciting my mantras, "I am as much an artist as a modeller" and "Art is exaggeration in the direction of truth"


NZ3072 5 DECALS 007 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


NZ3072 5 DECALS 011 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

And after decaling with Italeri stripes, artwork and serials plus the Ventura (PV-1) roundels but before gloss coat and more weathering this is what my NZ3072(19) Wairarapa Wildcat looks like


NZ3072 5 DECALS 014 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Italeri's 'Cat' has a way-too-thick white outline but the popular Fisken photo in front of the cowl does show a thin white outline (to me). There's lots more work to do yet on the model.
I am not attempting to offend anyone here. This is my 'best shot' based on my synthesis of all the information (I can take in) and my analysis of photos. Hopefully if a debate follows it won't be about the roundel colour!
I look forward to showing you my finished Cat.
Cheers
Wally.

[alanw]

Hi Walley

Looks just fine, with the added Medium Green, I would
just stay with the old maxim "less is more" .

Thanks for sharing your build

Regards

Alan

[dewobz]

Cheers Alan, a timely reminder of another important artist's mantra, "Less is more".
That one has never been a particular strong point of mine, I tend to over-dramatize.
Finished pictures tomorrow I reckon. I haven't been able to leave this build alone over Easter.
Wally.

[Calum]

Wally

Looks good to me. How were the Ventura Decals I've had trouble with the last 2 sets I've used (Corsair and P-51). Both were very fragile and didn't slide easily.

I know you didn't want a debate on the Roundel colours But I do think the colour in these new ones is excellent

[dewobz]

Hi Calum, I too previously had trouble with the (really positive) thinness but hence fragility of Ventura decals until I started doing 2 things - 1] BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT - I started using KM Klear or VECTRA (acrylic floor polish) as my pre-decal gloss coat. I don't know if Future will work the same but mine used to stick badly to Humbrol Glosscote. 2] Putting a tiny drop of dishwash liquid in my decal water [fresh cold water each model of course]. In fact what I do is flush the container with drop of dishwash liquid so there are some bubbles in it. The dishwash liquid is very dilute. (Malcolm actually informed me some modeller's had recommended this). I don't use any decal solution on the model or decals but I do use the liquid from on top of the decal (available in the few seconds) before it releases, the "decal juice". I spread this liberally on the area and use it in the brush to position the decal. I have been amazed. Thanks mostly to KM Klear I can usually move Ventura decals around at will (believe it or not) though I still do so as little as possible. The new PV-1 decals seem to be of the same quality, perhaps fractionally thicker, and I also noticed the white density is significantly improved. This was formerly a problem with, for instance, white stripes underneath blue-white-blue roundels or roundels & bars.
Yes, I agree the new colour is excellent although I do see photos of RNZAF aircraft which, if I were modelling them, I would probably still use the current Ventura P-40 decals to represent faded roundels.
Cheers
Wally.

[dewobz]

PS - One time only some years ago I purchased 1/48 Corsair decals from Ventura which seemed ridiculously fragile and 'brittle'. They were impossible to apply. I communicated with Malcolm about it and it transpired they were from a bad batch. The manufacturer replaced them.

[dewobz]

I have probably not achieved "less is more" in my finishing of this aircraft, depicted later than usual in it's operational career, perhaps around mid-August 1943. I've gone heavy on exhaust staining, which seems to me to be evidenced in numerous photos. So here is my Wairarapa Wildcat -
NZ3072 P-40M-5 21793 43-5505 - Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BoC at Hobsonville on 13 March 1943. Coded "19". To No.16 Squadron. Damaged when collided with water tanker while landing at Segi on 31 August 1943. Sergeant M. Willis suffered minor injuries. To No.4 OTU, Ohakea by September 1944. To No.14 Squadron. Ferried to Espiritu Santo in April 1943. Named "WAIRARAPA WILDCAT". To No.4 OTU, Ardmore. Mid air collision with NZ3112 during low level formation flying over Papakura on 05 June 1944. Sergeant H. Walker was able to retain control of the aircraft and land safely back at Ardmore. Sold to J. Larsen from Rukuhia on 02 March 1948.


48th NZ3072 FINISHED 012 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


48th NZ3072 FINISHED 018 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


48th NZ3072 FINISHED 023 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


48th NZ3072 FINISHED 027 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


48th NZ3072 FINISHED 022 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


48th NZ3072 FINISHED 036 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


48th NZ3072 FINISHED 008 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


48th NZ3072 FINISHED 003 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


48th NZ3072 FINISHED 033 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


48th NZ3072 FINISHED 034 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

You can look at all the photos on Flickr or others on www.kiwimodeller.com RNZAF 75th Anniversary GB & BUILD GALLERY
Cheers
Wally.

[baz62]

Wow. That's a great looking representation of this famous P40. I think you've nailed it.

[Calum]

Apr 2, 2013 9:37:53 GMT 12 dewobz said:

Hi Calum, I too previously had trouble with the (really positive) thinness but hence fragility of Ventura decals until I started doing 2 things - 1] BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT - I started using KM Klear or VECTRA (acrylic floor polish) as my pre-decal gloss coat. I don't know if Future will work the same but mine used to stick badly to Humbrol Glosscote. 2] Putting a tiny drop of dishwash liquid in my decal water [fresh cold water each model of course]. In fact what I do is flush the container with drop of dishwash liquid so there are some bubbles in it. The dishwash liquid is very dilute. (Malcolm actually informed me some modeller's had recommended this). I don't use any decal solution on the model or decals but I do use the liquid from on top of the decal (available in the few seconds) before it releases, the "decal juice". I spread this liberally on the area and use it in the brush to position the decal. I have been amazed. Thanks mostly to KM Klear I can usually move Ventura decals around at will (believe it or not) though I still do so as little as possible. The new PV-1 decals seem to be of the same quality, perhaps fractionally thicker, and I also noticed the white density is significantly improved. This was formerly a problem with, for instance, white stripes underneath blue-white-blue roundels or roundels & bars.
Yes, I agree the new colour is excellent although I do see photos of RNZAF aircraft which, if I were modelling them, I would probably still use the current Ventura P-40 decals to represent faded roundels.
Cheers
Wally.

Thanks Wally, funnily I thought about dishwashing liquid as a lubricant. I should have tried it on my Mustang, might have saved a bit of heartache.. The white density is also an issue on the P-51 decals.

I do love how thin his decals are though and that the carrier film is non existent