1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

[Second Air Force]

I recently picked up a three-kit package deal of the AMtech P-40E kit, three complete kits and three decal sheets for a very good price. I've always wanted to try one of these so this opportunity was too good to pass up. Here are a couple of photos of one set of trees and the nice decal sheet with two RAF Kittyhawks and two U.S. P-40Es:

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

The build-up goes pretty quickly as the kit is fairly simple. The cockpit is detailed enough for a "shelf model" with only the addition of seatbelts and a couple of small bits added. I'm building this one pretty much from the box as a sort of practice kit.

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

Fit of the main elements is not too bad with the exception of the wing root area and the center section/fuselage joint on the bottom. It isn't anything that a bit of filler can't fix, though.

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

The last main components to install were the side cowling panels. The manufacturer was nice enough to include two complete sets of cowlings and both round exhausts and the fishtail type. The exhaust stacks determine which cowl panels you will use.

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

Finally the lower surfaces received their Azure paint:

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

More camouflage and an update later.......

[Nico Braas]

Is this the same as the old OTAKI kit? Looks very familiar to me!

[No.1]

Cockpit look so good

[Second Air Force]

Is this the same as the old OTAKI kit? Looks very familiar to me!

Nico,

I'm told this was originally an AMT/ERTL product from here in the U.S. AMtech then was able to use the AMT molds and modified them to come up with the E model. They also did the F and (I think) an L. As for the Otaki kit, I will one day build one of those, too. I've always liked most of their kits, especially the Corsair and Spitfire.

No.1, the cockpit is completely out-of-box except for some masking tape seatbelts. There is really a nice amount of detail on the cockpit parts but not super-detailed. The main drawback on the cockpit assembly is that the floor should really be curved to match the wing contour. For a shelf model this isn't really that noticeable, though.

[No.1]

Thank you for additional info

[draken35]

[Second Air Force]

Time for more desert colors:

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

I especially enjoy these desert schemes since my father was in North Africa around the same time!

[Sall]

Cockpit is great! And camouflage also!
Very good job so far!! Go forward!

[No.1]

This look great!

[draken35]

[Second Air Force]

This practice Kittyhawk is finished. I've used one of the kit decal options to depict an Australian machine of 450 Squadron that was stationed in the Western Desert in 1942, not long after the airplane arrived in the theatre.

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

I was actually amazed at the similarity of the Azure blue undersides of the Kittyhawk and the blue of the Oklahoma sky today! I see now why this color was effective in the clear sky of North Africa:

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

Also, this was an enjoyable model to construct with just a few small problems so I decided to purchase another "three-pack" of kits from the same seller. This time I got three long fuselage, Merlin-powered, P-40F/P-40L kits. Again they are from Amtech but lack the updated resin nose that was included in some of their kits. I'll be modifying the kit parts to make them more accurate. First I started by trimming out the cowl flaps and doing some other work in that area. Then an old drop tank was used to make the internal fairing of the radiator duct. I'll post some photos later of the original kit parts alongside the modified pieces.

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk

[No.1]

I like it much!!!

[draken35]

[Sall]

One more great kit in your showcase!!

[Second Air Force]

I imagine y'all think I forgot about this project........but I simply haven't had time to work on it! Tonight the painting was started.

1/48 AMtech Kittyhawk