I've picked up a used CMP, P-40 ARF and intend on doing something, different. I've always wanted to model the Curtiss A-75 Hawk or the P-36 variant.
Since the CMP ARF features a fiberglass fuselage, this will necessitate slicing the forward fuselage off just forward of where the sharkmouth is seen. Installing a new firewall fiberglassed to the inside
of the cutoff and installing radial cowling mount tabs shouldn't prove too difficult.

I considered doing away with the 90 degree Jet Hanger retracts and fixing the gear to make the export version as sold to India and Thailand in the late 30's. This would simplify things and reduce the space needed for pneumatic plumbing. However, at this point I'm still undecided. If I were to go this route, I would have to fabricate wheel pants and spats.

Eliminating so much fuselage length would naturally change the weight distribution, probably making the plane tail heavy. A radial cowling would enable amply space for additional ballast or choosing a heavier powerplant, perhaps.

Any thoughts?

Looks like a good idea to me. It seems that there's a fixed gear version that doesn't have the full spats as shown in your photo. Need to do a little research. Don't know how the cg will be affected. Good luck. Let us know the final outcome.

Bill

Brought the P-40 home this weekend and started the process...

That appears to be a P-40E fuse. A P-40B/C would be closer to the P-36 as that's what the 'B/C' was developed from. The 'E' came later and there are some differences in the cockpit/canopy area and the rear fuselage between the canopy and the tail. I don't mean to be critical of your project. I just don't know if you're aware of these differences.

Bill

Excellent Idea!

Anything you do to the CMP P-40 will only improve how hideous they look.

Mike

LOL....fellas, I'm not a purist in the sense of "scale". I build for fun and I fly for fun. 300 ft. in the air and no one knows the difference. We used to call this "stand-off" scale....general outline, general look, general markings, etc. Perhaps my attempt here is to simply have a nice plane at our local grass field that is different and resembles a warbird.
I've done the Sukhoi's, Yak's, and a host of others.

If I were to truly want a "P-36", I certainly wouldn't start with an ARF. I'd build it AS a P-36, not a spin-off. So, yeah, I'm aware of the "E" variant and the nuances between the "B's and C's". I do however, APPRECIATE feedback, input and any other comments on my posts. Living in WV kinda isolates my contact with other modelers.
Thanks for taking your time to read my stuff. I'll continue posting as things progress.

:-)

PonitMagu, go for it. I alway thought a P-36 was a great looking airplane. I converted a 65" ws BH P-40C to a P-36 (Hawk 75) in Finnish colors. Unfortunately I lost it getting too low and slow, snap rolled on delayed go around, cart wheeled down runway and totally destroyed. However, P-36 cowling survived and I was going to get he Top Flite 60 size P-40 and convert. Since I have decided to do that the ARF has been "temporarily unavailable" for the last 8 months. Here are some photos of the P-36. Used CJ retracts and RCGF 20cc gas engine.