In hopes of finishing in time for NIMO, I am building this kit to represent the number 21 Hawk 81 A-2 (P-40B intended for British delivery) flown by Gregory Boyington in the A.V.G.  I will be using decals from EagleCal for Boyington's plane.

The main problem with the kit, besides really difficult ejector pin marks inside the flaps, is the cockpit.  The cockpit assembles separately with its own floorboard which installs in the cockpit about 2 scale feet or so (I didn't measure it just eyed it) above the wing.  The problem with this is the P-40, like most early U.S. fighters, had the cockpit mounted on the wing.  I am attempting to correct this problem as best as I can without major reconstruction.  Measuring with dividers, I cut a piece of thin styrene for a piece of the wing for inside the fuselage.  With the rear bulkhead and front firewall glued in place, I gentle curved the wing part with my fingers and glued it in place along the shape of the wing.  More divider work determined the rear bulkhead extension which I added.  All I have to do now is measure the lengths of the sidewall ribs and the seat supports to be added .

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Pics of the engine coming along

Pics of the wing in progress.