Post by ams888 on Oct 30, 2018 19:54:06 GMT 12
Hi All,
I have been building up a collection of 1/72 P40's. I have 46 completed ones so far and I have 16 unbuilt ones. I don't think that will be the end of the collection, it's just all the ones i have
. I thought I might start posting a couple of pictures up of each completed one over the next wee while, partly to show the collection off, and partly to motivate me to finish the last 16.
The first two are Whatifs.I have 6 whatifs completed and one to go. I try to think of realistic situations that P40's might have been used in for my whatifs.
The first is an Israeli P40. Here is it's back story: When Israel was declared an independent state in 1948 their government appealed for aid in setting up their armed forces. Arms embargoes made this very difficult. Many South Africans saw the plight of the Israeli's, and many volunteered in the Israeli army to fight. Back home in South Africa a group of wealthy business men bought 6 surplus SAAF P40E Warhawks. These aircraft were quickly crated up and shipped to the island of Crete. Once on Crete the local authorities turned a blind eye as the P40s were put together. The six aircraft took off and made their way to Tel Aviv, arriving in mid June. Together with the Avia 199s, these aircraft made up the bulk of the early air force. The P40s were especially effective as ground attack aircraft. They were retired in the early 1950s as the mustangs and spitfires took over the main fighter role. My 1/72 model is painted as white 13, the most successful P40 in the IAF, and was responsible for shooting down 2 Egyptian spitfires and a DC3.
IAF P40 by Andrew Sutton, on Flickr
IAF P40 by Andrew Sutton, on Flickr
Next I have a Spanish P40. Here is it's back story: Early in 1942 a US transport ship laden with 14 brand new P40f's bound for North Africa was blown off course during a storm. Straying into Spanish waters the ship was boarded by the Spanish navy and sailed to Barcelona. The crew were interned until the end of the war. The P40s were un-crated, given camouflage and Spanish markings and used as front line fighters alongside the BF109e. Three were lost in training incidents and 4 others relegated to spare parts during the war years. The Spanish P40s were relegated to a fighter and ground attack training role in 1946. They were finally retired in 1953. My 1/72 model is painted in its Spanish fighter camouflage that it retained throughout the war.
Spanish P40 by Andrew Sutton, on Flickr
Spanish P40 by Andrew Sutton, on Flickr
I will follow with more pictures over the next wee while
I have been building up a collection of 1/72 P40's. I have 46 completed ones so far and I have 16 unbuilt ones. I don't think that will be the end of the collection, it's just all the ones i have
. I thought I might start posting a couple of pictures up of each completed one over the next wee while, partly to show the collection off, and partly to motivate me to finish the last 16. The first two are Whatifs.I have 6 whatifs completed and one to go. I try to think of realistic situations that P40's might have been used in for my whatifs.
The first is an Israeli P40. Here is it's back story: When Israel was declared an independent state in 1948 their government appealed for aid in setting up their armed forces. Arms embargoes made this very difficult. Many South Africans saw the plight of the Israeli's, and many volunteered in the Israeli army to fight. Back home in South Africa a group of wealthy business men bought 6 surplus SAAF P40E Warhawks. These aircraft were quickly crated up and shipped to the island of Crete. Once on Crete the local authorities turned a blind eye as the P40s were put together. The six aircraft took off and made their way to Tel Aviv, arriving in mid June. Together with the Avia 199s, these aircraft made up the bulk of the early air force. The P40s were especially effective as ground attack aircraft. They were retired in the early 1950s as the mustangs and spitfires took over the main fighter role. My 1/72 model is painted as white 13, the most successful P40 in the IAF, and was responsible for shooting down 2 Egyptian spitfires and a DC3.
IAF P40 by Andrew Sutton, on FlickrIAF P40 by Andrew Sutton, on FlickrNext I have a Spanish P40. Here is it's back story: Early in 1942 a US transport ship laden with 14 brand new P40f's bound for North Africa was blown off course during a storm. Straying into Spanish waters the ship was boarded by the Spanish navy and sailed to Barcelona. The crew were interned until the end of the war. The P40s were un-crated, given camouflage and Spanish markings and used as front line fighters alongside the BF109e. Three were lost in training incidents and 4 others relegated to spare parts during the war years. The Spanish P40s were relegated to a fighter and ground attack training role in 1946. They were finally retired in 1953. My 1/72 model is painted in its Spanish fighter camouflage that it retained throughout the war.
Spanish P40 by Andrew Sutton, on FlickrSpanish P40 by Andrew Sutton, on FlickrI will follow with more pictures over the next wee while
