HISTORICAL MINIATURES BY GEORGE GRASSE
CLASSIC AIRCRAFT BETWEEN THE WARS


CURTISS P-36A, 77th PURSUIT SQUADRON, 1940

by George Grasse

HOBBYCRAFT HC1555 1:48 SCALE INJECTION KIT OF THE CURTISS P-36A

HOBBYCRAFT CURTISS P-36A BOX ART

 

 CURTISS P-36 THREE-VIEW PLAN
Image credit:  Curtiss Aircraft, 1907-1947 by Peter M. Bowers (see also bibliography).  This three-view drawing shows the P-36C model which is similar to the P-36A.

 

MODEL TO BE BUILT -  Curtiss P-36A, 77th Pursuit Squadron, 20th Pursuit Group, Moffett Field, California 1940
Although the image above is correct for the 77th Pursuit Squadron, I decided to add a single red stripe around the rear fuselage denoting leader of the squadron's 1st Flight and "PT 62" for the aircraft's identity number.  The contract for the P-36A was issued serial numbers 38-1 to 38-210.  Photo credit:  Wings of Stars, page 65 (see also bibliography).

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #1


FUSELAGE GETTING STARTED: First photo showing build up and painting of the interior.  I mixed the interior green with 2/5th Vallejo VC0857, 2/5th Vallejo VC0967, and 1/5th Vallejo VC0997 Brown Violet.
 

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #2



FUSELAGE GETTING STARTED: Another view of the interior.
 

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #3
FUSELAGE JOINED, WINGS ATTACHED: Hi-tech rubber banding.
 

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #4
ENGINE TO COWLING: One problem with my kit was the tight fit of the engine by way of the rear of the cowling.  In fact, it didn't fit at all at first.  Another problem was making sure the top cylinder was the one in which the molded square was correctly oriented as a "square" when viewed from the front and not a "diamond".  I did not glue the engine to the inside of the cowling because of my concern for the engine's lug protruding exactly out from the rear to fit into the hole in the fuselage front.  
 

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #5
COWLING AND HORIZTONAL TAIL: The cowling with engine was attached without a hitch.  The two horizontal tail surfaces went on easily.

 
CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #6
LANDING GEAR: The instructions were not clear on the placement of the landing gear parts and I reverted to photos of a friend's model of the P-36A for clarification.  Now, with this photo, 90% of the model's construction is complete and ready for painting.

 
CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #7
PAINTING AND DECALS: The model was oversprayed, top and bottom, with Tamiya TM85083 Metallic Silver.  Decals were applied but note that the rudder decals overlap and will be trimmed with light sandpaper and have a thin coat of white glue applied to the edges to insure adhesion.  More than likely red, white, and blue paint will be used for touchup.  The model will then be over-sprayed with semi-gloss polyurethane. 

 
CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #8
FINISHED - LEFT REAR

 
CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #9
FINISHED - RIGHT REAR

 
CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #10
FINISHED - RIGHT FRONT



--------------------------------------------   FINIS  --------------------------------------------

MODELING REFERENCES

Bowers, Peter M.  Curtiss Aircraft 1907 - 1947.  Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1987.

Freeman, Peter and Mike Starmer.  Wings of Stars, US Army Air Corps 1919-1941 (On Target Special).  Oxfordshire, UK: The Aviation Workshop Publications Ltd, 2009.

 

  

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