A few years ago I had acquired a number of vintage cast models from a collector in Australia. All were period cast in either aluminum or brass. A P-38, T-6, B-17, Spitfire and a rough looking P-40. BTW, this P-40 is dead-on to others from Australia except it was left as unfinished brass and not chromed. It may have been considered a "second" and not ever cleaned or plated. Instead it was all but forgotten. It had its share of voids and, typical of the style of that caster, was missing the impressions for the main landing gear under the wings. Lots to deal with but potentially a solid 1/72 scale model. Over the past few months I carefully updated the model by filling the voids, recontouring outlines and adding the landing gear in their raised position. I then building a prop assembly using a brass fishing sinker for the spinner with cast metal prop blades from the parts box. It just so happened that I also located a vintage a cast iron ashtray from the Curtiss shops in N.Y. Though not the high-brow type model with a pentagon metal base, this workman's ashtray was clearly pedestrian and well-used. That would be just the type my friend would want, a momento of the builders out on the floor fitting and riveting the P-40's together. The model was then finished in the manner that a work crew in 1943 would have wanted. It has just enough markings to give it some pizazz.
I let my friend see the model as I was finishing it then let him know that the P-40 was for him. Thrilled as he was, it would have to wait a few weeks until he was back home again. I have it packed and ready for his return. Attached are some pictures of the project.
Regards,
Tom Sanders
Sandman Overhaul
