Swamp Thing: The Drabest P-40

[Devil 505]

P-40E of 20 GIAP flown by Jr. Lt. A. V. Pshenev on June 1, 1942. On this day, Pshenev's P-40 was critically damaged in a dogfight and he ditched in Lake Kod Ozero, a small lake west of Murmansk. Pshenev swam to shore with some injuries and the P-40 mostly sank, only it's tail remained above the surface. Pshenev was injured further on June 12th when his hospital was bombed. He lost a foot in the attack. The P-40 was recovered from the lake in 1997.

White 51 was painted in U.S. standard OD Green over Neutral Gray. It was not given any insignia at the factory. Red stars were applied only to the tail and lower wings.

[lyric1]

 

[Vraciu]

Very cool.

[Greebo]

I think the arty term is "minimalist". Great skin Devil.

[puller]

 

[bustr]

Do you have one of your war time photos you can post for 51? Weathering is fascinating in it's own natural artistic way. Kind of like appreciating old restored industrial buildings where the structural elements are left exposed as part of the ambiance.

[Devil 505]

Do you have one of your war time photos you can post for 51? Weathering is fascinating in it's own natural artistic way. Kind of like appreciating old restored industrial buildings where the structural elements are left exposed as part of the ambiance.

I doubt that there are any wartime photos of this plane. It was not in service long before being lost. All of my reference came from this page with several photos from the recovery.

http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/english/articles/sheppard/p40recovery/

[bustr]

Your expertise with weathering then has increased measurably.

[swareiam]

Nice Devil 

[DaddyAce]

 

[Nefarious]

Good work! 

[White 51]

I spent several years restoring this particular P-40 and saw the project to well over 50% completion before it was sold to a gentleman in Italy. it is currently being completed at Pioneer Aero in New Zealand if anyone is interested in checking it out. It is I believe going together with either AVG or Pre War markings which is unfortunate in my opinion, but hey, it's not my project any more. Nice Skins , very accurate. P-40E, Construction number is 41-13570 with a lot number of 814 painted on many parts throughout the aircraft. Hope this helps in anyone's search

[Devil 505]

Thanks for the info, White.

[Vraciu]

I spent several years restoring this particular P-40 and saw the project to well over 50% completion before it was sold to a gentleman in Italy. it is currently being completed at Pioneer Aero in New Zealand if anyone is interested in checking it out. It is I believe going together with either AVG or Pre War markings which is unfortunate in my opinion, but hey, it's not my project any more. Nice Skins , very accurate. P-40E, Construction number is 41-13570 with a lot number of 814 painted on many parts throughout the aircraft. Hope this helps in anyone's search

Good stuff!   

[oboe]

Great looking skin Devil505.  It takes someone with a lot of talent to pull off such a minimally marked skin.