• Ships of Scale has incorportated an extra level of security when you log In. Please follow on-screen prompts to acknowledge that you are not a robot via a "Check Box" or a "Pictorial Check Box Puzzle". This is needed due to higher level of AI Activity Security.
  • SUBSCRIBE TO SHIPS IN SCALE TODAY!

    The beloved Ships in Scale Magazine is back and charting a new course for 2026!
    Discover new skills, new techniques, and new inspirations in every issue.

    NOTE THAT OUR NEXT ISSUE WILL BE July/August 2026
  • Win a Free Custom Engraved Brass Coin!!!
    As a way to introduce our brass coins to the community, we will raffle off a free coin during the month of August. Follow link ABOVE for instructions for entering.

My 1/72 scale aircraft

The P-39 was a great plane. Our guys didn't like it because they removed the supercharger before it went into production. As a result, it's high altitude performance suffered a lot. However, the Russians loved it because they used it for ground support. It stayed at lower altitudes with them and the plane excelled ! It is the only plane that I'm aware of where more than half of them that we built were sent out on lend-lease.

Incidentally, since the the engine was not up front, it enabled 2 major changes which helped a lot. first, it was able to have a nose wheel which greatly helped ground handling. Secondly, enabled the design to have a much more streamlined design to help performance. Interestingly, P-39's won quite a few air races after the war was over. :)
 
The P-39 was a great plane. Our guys didn't like it because they removed the supercharger before it went into production. As a result, it's high altitude performance suffered a lot. However, the Russians loved it because they used it for ground support. It stayed at lower altitudes with them and the plane excelled ! It is the only plane that I'm aware of where more than half of them that we built were sent out on lend-lease.

Incidentally, since the the engine was not up front, it enabled 2 major changes which helped a lot. first, it was able to have a nose wheel which greatly helped ground handling. Secondly, enabled the design to have a much more streamlined design to help performance. Interestingly, P-39's won quite a few air races after the war was over. :)
It is a very unique aircraft…I’m enjoying the build. ;)
 
Well that concludes all of my WW2 aircraft currently built, except for the ME 262 which I will cover with the jets.

I will continue next on individual photos and brief history with my WW1 and biplanes, and finally my fighter jets.

This has been more work than I thought…lol.
 
Last edited:
P-39Q continuation…
First, let’s look at the rear mounted engine drive train and offset gearbox with the gun that shoots through the propeller nose cone.


If that isn’t unique, I don’t know what is!

Now for the painting. I decided to go with this scheme, as the lighter sand color looks better than the ugly brown in my opinion. Furthermore, I could try my hand at doing prominent panel lines. ;)



That decided, I used desert sand for the top and sides and pale blue for the bottom. I am pretty happy with the result, as I wanted a used look to it…aka weathered or worn, but not overly done with paint chips and other blemishes. I just wanted some panel color variations to be more realistic.


Also note the battery behind the seat on the upper deck area.
Next will be the landing gear. There is still a lot to go on, but happy to be this far along.

See ya next time…
 
Last edited:
Back
Top