P-40N "Wham Bam" 120 Squadron Netherlands East Indies Air Force
Comments
3 3 September 2017, 18:49
Erik Leijdens AuthorAbout time for me to build a piece of history from our former colony, and with a Aussie touch!
3 September 2017, 18:51
Erik Leijdens AuthorCockpit done. Hasegawa has done a fine job on the pit! No need for a resin aftermarket example or lots of PE 👍
14 September 2017, 20:39
Erik Leijdens AuthorThanks mates! These Dutch P-40 flew under Australian command from Merauke in Dutch New-Guinea, the only part of Indonesia which never was occupied by the Japanese. They did not see much action since it was a outpost and not of interest for Japan, later in the war they moved to Biak were they were active in a lot of bombing of remaining Japanese strongholds. After the war these brave boys, which all were born in the Indie(as Indonesia was called then), were seen as evil colonists by Soekarno and his followers. Backed up by the US and the UK(so they could expand there own colonies😢), the Netherlands had to give up Indonesia and al lot of planes ended up at the new Indonesian airforce..
15 September 2017, 08:32
Holger KranichNice start, Eric! What is this green in the Cockpit? A very dark shade of zinc Chromate green?
16 September 2017, 10:33
JensHello Erik, Interesting story and nice example, the history of the Netherlands in the Pacific, the missions, but also some disasters, I'm just learning more about youtube, which naturally appeals to your report and also to implement the models 🙂 👍 👍 👍
16 September 2017, 11:08
Erik Leijdens AuthorThanks Stephan, Holger and Jens!
@Holger, I used Mr Hobby aqeous 58, US cockpit green ww2.
@Jens, nice to see you are looking into the history of the Dutch East Indies! If you type "ml knil" you will find some interesting videos of our overseas airforce.
16 September 2017, 15:24
Erik Leijdens AuthorIn the following link you will find some interesting color footage of the Dutch P-40s. But offcourse the narration is completely in Dutch.
anderetijden.nl/aflevering/603/Merauke
16 September 2017, 15:40
Jenswin 10 has the translator installed, quite convenient s.PC, from the tablet, I have hardly written something 😄
16 September 2017, 15:52
Jensthe language is ok, the subject and some imagination then one understands what it is, Interesting is the scene with the bombarded P 40, which could really tolerate what
16 September 2017, 16:35
Erik Leijdens AuthorThanks Spanjaard!
As can be seen on the pictures the Dutch regularly flew with a drop tank on the centreline and 2 500lb bombs under the wings. You do not see that very often and Hasegawa offcourse does not provide in underwing bomb racks. Only one 500lb bomb is provided but luckily I have another Hasegawa P-40 in the stash. Will need to scratch some bomb racks for under the wings. It's also clearly visible that WhamBam! had the 2 outermost .50s removed, I think because of the provisions which were needed for the bomb rack.
If somebody has more pictures or information of P-40's with underwing bomb racks please inform me as I find it hard to find some more info on the internet!
18 September 2017, 20:03
Bart Goesaerthttp://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/thread/1462123808/P-40+wing+bomb+racks
s6.postimg.org/a72i6tfn5/NMF_N.jpg
[img1]
from here (modelwereld.eu/model../schaal-172/HSG00139) it seems that the version was originally equipped with 4 mg's, but the pilots complained about lack of "punch"
19 September 2017, 06:06
Erik Leijdens AuthorO wow thanks Bart. Exactly what I needed mate 👍 Especially the images of the network54 link are very usefull
19 September 2017, 08:57
Kees KleijwegtVery nice work so far Erik and a great subject. I also have "Wham Bam" in my display cabinet 🙂
27 September 2017, 09:23
Björn SvedbergReally nice blending of those areas. I'm sad to say I wasn't as successful on my build. I also like the instrument panel. /B)
27 September 2017, 20:07
Erik Leijdens AuthorTack Björn! It is a real pity Hasegawa engineerd it this way.. But some liquid putty from Gunze did the trick. Used the transparant IP gauges decal from the kit.
@Kees, like to see some pictures mate!
27 September 2017, 21:43
Michael PhillipsFantastic job on that cockpit, it looks awesome. Nice progress so far!!!
28 September 2017, 05:20
Kees KleijwegtWill do Erik!
It's quite an oldie with some silvering around the decals, but I will take a picture soon
29 September 2017, 08:35
Erik Leijdens AuthorTrying something new, at least for me. Some aluminium paint in the wing roots. Will spray a thin coat of camouflage on it so maybe it will result in a sort of used look.
8 October 2017, 20:31
Erik Leijdens AuthorTo protect the aluminium enamel paint for the gunze aqueous paint?
9 October 2017, 09:10
Bart Goesaertto protect the aluminium... If you want to apply hairspray, or scratch some paint off with another method, it's best to protect the underlaying surface.. for hairspray, it reacts to aqua-paint, so an enamel protection would be better to seal the previous step and vice versa (I don't know how enamel metalisers will react in this case but if it is the first time, make a testpiece, and try first, it can save you a lot of headache... )
9 October 2017, 09:38
Bart Goesaertsuppose you want to add another layer,to replicate an repainted and worn surface, it's also better to protect the previous layer in this way... so that you don't get an unwanted reaction on the previous step
9 October 2017, 09:39
Erik Leijdens AuthorThanks for your reply Bart, but I'm not planning to use a technique like salt or hairspray. Next step will be the olive drab camouflage which I will spray much thinner on the aluminum surface so it will look like the olive drab is faded paint. After that I will try to make some chipping with a silver pencil.
But will have to test if the Gunze aqueous olive drab will affect the enamel AK aluminum paint.
9 October 2017, 14:01
Kees KleijwegtSteady progress on the build Erik and an interesting technique.
It is new to me, so following with interest 🙂
9 October 2017, 20:14
Wim van der Luijtlooking forward to see how that experiment works out. Also wondering how the flevo decals work out...I have to start decalling my Buffalo now and have never used Flevo decals before.....
11 October 2017, 09:11
Erik Leijdens AuthorSprayed a thin layer of OD on the aluminium, the rest of the aircraft more opaque. Think it worked out. later on I will try to make some scratches and stuff with a pencil, never done that before too.
12 October 2017, 20:34
Erik Leijdens AuthorTried some weathering with spraying different mixes of OD. Think it worked out.
14 October 2017, 20:18
Erik Leijdens AuthorThanks Mates!!!
Added some darker green on some panel lines, think's it looks good enough now.
@Bernd, It says in Dutch; "the Netherlands will rise again". Occupied by 2 countries at that moment.. by Germany in the homeland and by Japan in the colony.
15 October 2017, 20:18
Erik Leijdens AuthorI like it very much. It builds very nicely and the cockpit is really nice oob. The inserts are a downside, why didn't Hasegawa made moulds for the different P-40 fuselages? But still it is the best P-40 by far in 1/48. Besides on the inserts no putty is needed and fit is very good.
15 October 2017, 20:31
Erik Leijdens AuthorThat would be the best way indeed Bernd, I just made the tail as a sub assembly and added to the fuselage. Will try your way for my next P-40 👍
16 October 2017, 09:14
Danumurthi Mahendravery interested in this one. Merauke Biak I am assuming as it was a very large US airbase during the war.
16 October 2017, 10:19
Erik Leijdens Author120 squadron moved from Merauke to Biak at the end of 1944, this particular P-40 was lost in september '44 after a mid air collision so it never made Biak unfortunately.
16 October 2017, 13:35
Kees KleijwegtJust wondering, are you adding the "jungle groen" patches on the wing leading edges?
I thought there is no conclusive evidence regarding Wham Bam, but some of the Dutch P-40's had some KNIL paint added?
16 October 2017, 20:00
Erik Leijdens AuthorThanks David!
@Kees, before I started the paintjob I did chose to add the blotches but after reading that the blotches were added at the Curtiss factory and were removed after arriving in Australia I chose not to add them since there is, as you already said, no conclusive evidence for this particular P-40. Also in Dutch Profile's book the profile drawing of WhamBam is without blotches. But theres no word about KNIL colours, only standard US ww2 colours. Guess it's up to the builder wether to add them or not🙂
16 October 2017, 20:50
Erik Leijdens AuthorAargg unfortunately the decals don't react on Sol! Think it's better to remove the flag decals and spray them.
21 October 2017, 07:32
Wim van der LuijtBummer......I have this decal set too and they look very thin.....didn't expect this behavior...other than that: it looks good
21 October 2017, 10:09
Björn SvedbergI really like the paint job, it looks great! I hate putting on decals, but when they are on it really pops. Decals and removing the masking of the canopy are my favourite parts 🙂. It makes the model come to life.
21 October 2017, 12:49
Erik Leijdens AuthorThanks mates for the reactions! Finished spraying the flags, think it quite worked out🙂.
@Wim, yeah i didn't expected it too..they look so nice. In the end I'll only use the WhamBam and serial code decals.
@Björn, I feel exactly the same as you mate!
22 October 2017, 19:53
Thomas BischoffVery nice paintwork - well done with the flags, I also prefer to airbrush the markings
23 October 2017, 08:55
Erik Leijdens AuthorThanks mates! Will spray a olive drab filter over the flags to make them less bright, if I find the time for some modeling this week..🤔
@James, thank mate, was a first timer for me. Usually I used the pre-shade method but I wanted something different. Nice to see you like it🙂
25 October 2017, 10:38
Erik Leijdens AuthorReceived another set of decals for Dutch P-40's from al fellow Scalemate, these are much nicer. There's even a decal with the text for the bomb🙂. Also the Buffalo decal is WAY nicer!
27 October 2017, 20:52
Erik Leijdens AuthorIt's called in Papua "Banteng Madjah" or angry buffalo in English. A nice emblem indeed David
27 October 2017, 20:55
Kees KleijwegtVery cool Erik, the Banteng Madjah indeed looks very sharply printed! 👍
28 October 2017, 16:47
Michael PhillipsNow that looks sooooo cool Erik! Nice save on the decal too. Looking forward to seeing this one finished!
28 October 2017, 18:04
Erik Leijdens AuthorThanks mates!!
@Michael, Looking forward to the end result too Michael!
@Wim, Dutch Profile 10, the decal sheet which belongs to the Dutch Profile booklet I use as a reference. It's a multi scale sheet so I never bought it. Got the 1/48 part of the sheet from a fellow Scalemate👍 Great set of decals, much nicer than the FlevoDecals.
@Kees, yes the angry bison decal is very good, It looks good too on the nose of a P-40!
29 October 2017, 07:21
Wim van der LuijtOK, thanks Erik, I have a couple of those sheets too.....I'll be decalling my buffalo this afternoon so I can find out for my self if the Flevo decal work for me.....looking forward to seeing your P-40 finished!
29 October 2017, 07:58
Erik Leijdens AuthorFaded the markings a bit with some thinned OD and she received a pinwash, looks like she will be ready soon 👍
1 November 2017, 21:24
JensMoin Erik, I like your progress absolutely, beautiful patina on the olive, also the attached parts look very realistic 👍
2 November 2017, 01:05
Erik Leijdens AuthorThanks mates, you are too kind! Made the plates that holds(?) the bombs from some styrene sheet, think they look good enough for me to keep them this way. Also made some scratches in the paint around the wing root area with a silver watercolor pencil.
I hoped I had finished this kit by now but there's still some work to do so it will be after the weekend when this one reaches the finish line. Tomorrow I will be traveling with fellow Scalemate Arne vd Burgh to the UK to visit the RAF museum Cosford on Friday, Saturday and Sunday we will attend Scale Model world 2017 in Telford. Will be a weekend full of searching for new models/tools/am stuff, aviation and beer🙂
8 November 2017, 07:30
Spanjaardexcellent job on that P-40, enjoy Cosford and Telford.... Cosford seem to have a pretty good collection..... enjoy!
9 November 2017, 06:15
Bernd KorteI'm not much of a WWII modeller but the P-40 is one of my favourites! Very nicely done!
9 November 2017, 07:57
Wim van der LuijtGreat result Erik! Zoals altijd bij jou eentje om trots op te zijn.....
9 November 2017, 08:06
Wim van der LuijtFinal pictures are great Erik...... This may be the best I've seen from you 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
17 November 2017, 14:43
Erik Leijdens AuthorThanks Antonio and Wim! Nice to hear that you see progress in my skills Wim 🙂
17 November 2017, 15:13
Michael MoerkensDat is een hele mooie paradijsvogel (om bij Nieuw Guinea te blijven) geworden Erik
17 November 2017, 17:45
Björn SvedbergThat's a great looking P-40 Erik! I like your attention to detail and the weathering. Nice photos too 🙂.
17 November 2017, 17:55
Kees KleijwegtWow, very nice work! Convincing paintwork and subtle weathering. And nice pictures too.
All in all a beautiful piece of Dutch aviation history. 👍👍
19 November 2017, 10:08
Album info
My favourite plane when I was a kid. Time to build a Dutch East Indies P-40!
