Comet P-40 Build

scigs30 · Oct 03, 2009, 10:25 PM

On to my next project, the Comet P-40. I have a couple of these kits and I don't recall ever building one, looks like it will be a great flyer. I will build per plans with minor mods. I spent one night cutting out the parts, not quite laser cut

scigs30 · Oct 03, 2009, 11:56 PM

Simple enough, just build the second over the first. Here are some of my favorite building books........

tune by tito · Oct 04, 2009, 01:12 AM

I do realy want See this one Fly, with you extraordinary Skill Covering this one will be one for the record books, do you going to use plain colors or will you cover the frame as shown in the box.
Waiting>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Best Regards Tito

kevin matthews · Oct 04, 2009, 01:13 AM

Is that the same as a Warhawk? Good job on the parts cutting and if they're diecut good job anyway!

Kev

salat · Oct 04, 2009, 04:46 PM

scigs30, please make pictures of covering process in different stages. PLEASE.
Thanks,
Kostya

scigs30 · Oct 04, 2009, 10:56 PM

I will do my best to take pictures of my covering. The finished bird will be nothing special, Esaki green with home made decals.

mlbco · Oct 05, 2009, 12:47 AM

scigs30,

I have always liked the Comet P-40 because it builds into a nice looking scale model and doesn't rely on a keel and formers. It's one of the more complicated Comet kits and it's small size doesn't make it any easy to fit all those little pieces together. It was quite a challenge for me to build before the days of superglue.

I built an RC version 2 years ago from a kit I got on Ebay:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=606298

It flies beautifully with aileron and elevator control, although mine is a bit overpowered and is a very fast flier. I can't wait to see how yours will look when done up properly for rubber power.

Steve

scigs30 · Oct 05, 2009, 12:26 PM

Steve, Your build looks great. Comet Kits have never been known for their ease of construction, especially with the lack of detailed instructions. There are some mods that have to be made for a successful freeflight:
1. Functional nose block, don't know how these builders did it back in the day with just a nose button.
2. Replace L.E of wing with 1/8 sq.
3. Sheet the nose area for the extra weight and somewhere for my clay to go so I don't mess up the tissue.
4. Add a motor peg mount, go figure.
5. Add the intake detail to the top of the nose, that is what makes a P-40.
6. Some gussets here and there. And beef up the landing gear.

scigs30 · Oct 05, 2009, 05:41 PM

I had a couple of hours today, so I sanded both fuselage sides and began adding formers. This plane goes together fast even with Elmers white glue. The hard thing so far is keeping the fuselage straight. The key for me is to use white glue so I can make adjustments before the glue dries. So far the weight is 3.4 grams. I am going to sheet the nose and make a nose block. So far a real fun build.

kevin matthews · Oct 05, 2009, 06:19 PM

I almost bought another Warhawk kit today but I'm already working on two builds, but waiting for more good wood.

Kev

scigs30 · Oct 05, 2009, 06:58 PM

I for one am glad these kits are still available for a good price. Most of these kits are 10 to 15 bucks. The bigger kits can run for 35.00, still not bad for a vintage build.

kevin matthews · Oct 06, 2009, 12:19 AM

There was a Comet Hellcat at EBay but I was outbid.

Kev

mlbco · Oct 06, 2009, 12:34 AM

Here is a site with plans for many Comet kits:

http://academodel.nsunet.ru/plans/Comet/

Not all the print wood patterns are available, but this is still a good resource.

Steve

Mooney · Oct 06, 2009, 09:18 PM

Stew Myers did a write up of building the Comet kits and offers advice in each article for improving them for better flight performance. You can get in touch with the Maxecuters and possibly get a back issue of Max Fax that includes the plan(s). In the case of the P40, there are two versions in the newsletter.

The Maxecuters site is: http://www.dcmaxecuter.org/

scigs30 · Oct 07, 2009, 12:11 AM

I think it is funny that the box art shows a P40E or later and the plans show P40C or earlier. I am guessing that is why Comet did not add the nose details to the plan. The P40E or F did not have the cowl detail on top.

Oct 03, 2009, 10:25 PM	#1
scigs30 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 135	Comet P-40 Build On to my next project, the Comet P-40. I have a couple of these kits and I don't recall ever building one, looks like it will be a great flyer. I will build per plans with minor mods. I spent one night cutting out the parts, not quite laser cut

Oct 05, 2009, 12:47 AM	#7
mlbco Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palo Alto, California, United States Posts: 586	scigs30, I have always liked the Comet P-40 because it builds into a nice looking scale model and doesn't rely on a keel and formers. It's one of the more complicated Comet kits and it's small size doesn't make it any easy to fit all those little pieces together. It was quite a challenge for me to build before the days of superglue. I built an RC version 2 years ago from a kit I got on Ebay: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=606298 It flies beautifully with aileron and elevator control, although mine is a bit overpowered and is a very fast flier. I can't wait to see how yours will look when done up properly for rubber power. Steve Attached Thumbnails 73.2 KB · Views: 182 132.8 KB · Views: 147 62.7 KB · Views: 111

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Oct 03, 2009, 11:56 PM	#2
scigs30 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 135	Simple enough, just build the second over the first. Here are some of my favorite building books........

Oct 04, 2009, 01:12 AM	#3
tune by tito Inventor&Genius Extraordinary Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rowland Heights Posts: 280	I do realy want See this one Fly, with you extraordinary Skill Covering this one will be one for the record books, do you going to use plain colors or will you cover the frame as shown in the box. Waiting>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Best Regards Tito

Oct 04, 2009, 01:13 AM	#4
kevin matthews Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: carbondale il Posts: 1,467	Is that the same as a Warhawk? Good job on the parts cutting and if they're diecut good job anyway! Kev

Oct 04, 2009, 04:46 PM	#5
salat Trying To Takeoff Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Novosibirsk, Siberia Posts: 2,398	scigs30, please make pictures of covering process in different stages. PLEASE. Thanks, Kostya

Oct 04, 2009, 10:56 PM	#6
scigs30 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 135	I will do my best to take pictures of my covering. The finished bird will be nothing special, Esaki green with home made decals.

Oct 05, 2009, 12:26 PM	#8
scigs30 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 135	Steve, Your build looks great. Comet Kits have never been known for their ease of construction, especially with the lack of detailed instructions. There are some mods that have to be made for a successful freeflight: 1. Functional nose block, don't know how these builders did it back in the day with just a nose button. 2. Replace L.E of wing with 1/8 sq. 3. Sheet the nose area for the extra weight and somewhere for my clay to go so I don't mess up the tissue. 4. Add a motor peg mount, go figure. 5. Add the intake detail to the top of the nose, that is what makes a P-40. 6. Some gussets here and there. And beef up the landing gear.

Oct 05, 2009, 05:41 PM	#9
scigs30 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 135	I had a couple of hours today, so I sanded both fuselage sides and began adding formers. This plane goes together fast even with Elmers white glue. The hard thing so far is keeping the fuselage straight. The key for me is to use white glue so I can make adjustments before the glue dries. So far the weight is 3.4 grams. I am going to sheet the nose and make a nose block. So far a real fun build.

Oct 05, 2009, 06:19 PM	#10
kevin matthews Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: carbondale il Posts: 1,467	I almost bought another Warhawk kit today but I'm already working on two builds, but waiting for more good wood. Kev

Oct 05, 2009, 06:58 PM	#11
scigs30 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 135	I for one am glad these kits are still available for a good price. Most of these kits are 10 to 15 bucks. The bigger kits can run for 35.00, still not bad for a vintage build.

Oct 06, 2009, 12:19 AM	#12
kevin matthews Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: carbondale il Posts: 1,467	There was a Comet Hellcat at EBay but I was outbid. Kev

Oct 06, 2009, 12:34 AM	#13
mlbco Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palo Alto, California, United States Posts: 586	Here is a site with plans for many Comet kits: http://academodel.nsunet.ru/plans/Comet/ Not all the print wood patterns are available, but this is still a good resource. Steve

Oct 06, 2009, 09:18 PM	#14
Mooney Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Troy, NY Posts: 96	Stew Myers did a write up of building the Comet kits and offers advice in each article for improving them for better flight performance. You can get in touch with the Maxecuters and possibly get a back issue of Max Fax that includes the plan(s). In the case of the P40, there are two versions in the newsletter. The Maxecuters site is: http://www.dcmaxecuter.org/

Oct 07, 2009, 12:11 AM	#15
scigs30 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 135	I think it is funny that the box art shows a P40E or later and the plans show P40C or earlier. I am guessing that is why Comet did not add the nose details to the plan. The P40E or F did not have the cowl detail on top.