oxford diecast info and discussion

[nooker21]

Hey Epap, sorry to deviate about the Flying TIgers P-40E, but are there any pictures out there showing them in Chinese markings? I'd like to make or get a P-40E that looks like the old 1/32 Revell box art, but have never seen proof of that combination of E model and FT markings. I know a lot of toys and models do it incorrectly, so it would be great to see actual proof of this combo.

[aferguson]

no pictures but i was doing some research and much as Epap said the AVG was re-equipping with P-40E's in the first half of 1942. I can't remember exactly when the FT switched from Chinese AF markings to USAAF markings but i would suspect that at least some P-40E's were seen in Chinese markings.

However, the E was clearly not the typical Flying Tiger plane........for that you need a B in Chinese markings. And to my surprise Easy Model makes a decent looking B and with full Chinese AF markings.......so we don't need no stinkin' Oxford Flying Tigers P-40.

[Epap]

There are a few pictures of P-40Es in Chinese colors before the switch to USAAF markings and jurisdiction, AF. Here's an example:

[Epap]

Another picture:

[Epap]

If you can find one, the Matchbox diecast FT rendition isn't half bad----though it's only a "wheels-up" bird:

[Dauntless]

I have one of those Matchbox P-40's, it's ok, but not as nice as your custom.

The text says " They had the standard Army Air Corps Dark Olive Drab (#41) on top and Neutral Grey (#43) on the bottom."
The top pic looks like faint look of olive with tan or brown, while the bottom pic looks solid OD on top surfaces, but can't really tell.

Corgi has the Flying Tiger P-40E both ways. The Flying Mule exclusive is OD and tan w/ Chinese markings, while the Robert Scott P-40E is a solid OD, though it's US Army. Both of them look kind of wrong with the tan too light on one and the OD on the other a pea green. I managed to get both.

Which one is more correct, or are both because they are from slightly different times in the AVG, solid OD or OD and tan/ brown?

[nooker21]

Thanks for the info, Epap. That was exactly what I was looking for. What book is that from?

[aferguson]

the Corgi FT is also a P-40E and somewhat expensive to buy these days so i had dismissed it when i heard of the Oxford coming out. Now that i've found the Easy Model P-40B i'm happy.

Dauntless: the original planes used by the FT's were P-40B's and came direct from the US in the USAAF camouflage of the day, which was olive and brown. Sometime in 1942 the USAAF switched to just olive upper surfaces, probably to save time in aircraft production (many nations did this at various times, including Australia, who switched to overall green for their planes in early 1945 rather than the green and brown splinter scheme they used most of the war).

So depending when the picture was taken you could probably see FT P-40E's in either the two colour or just olive drab paint. I wouldn't be overly guided by what Corgi does however; they often make goofs. All P-40B's used by the FT were in the two colour, olive and brown, upper scheme.

[Epap]

Thanks for the info, Epap. That was exactly what I was looking for. What book is that from?

I'm not sure where the text and photos came from, AF. I had this in my Photobucket library from some old research and I failed to note the source. I'll see if I can find it.



Found it. Here's a link:

http://waihobbies.wkhc.net/models/P40E_ ... lAVG4.html