I'm very interested In the Giant Scale Planes P-40 Warhawk..

http://www.giantscaleplanes.com/arf_warhawk.htm

I realize that most people or some people say say that GSP is miles behind WM as far as quality goes, however I'm not looking for the Highest quality ARF ever I just want a warbird For My Super Tigre 51.. I do have a few question's about this plane though..

1. Does it include retracts?
2. Would the .51 be a good engine for this plane? It hauls my 5 pound trainer Straight up as long as I want and the Warhawk is only 5.5 pounds.
3. Is the Gel-Coat paintable? If so how hard would It be for an experienced airbrusher to paint it (i was thinking of flat olive drab for a flying tiger scheme)?
4. Is the covering paintable or will that need to be re-covered in olive drab instead? (any links to Olive drab covering appreciated)
5. If no retracts are included what would be a cheap set of mechanical retracts for it?

Please any one who owns and/or fly's this plane please Chime in on quality, building, and flight aspects... THANKS

Hi Ice,
When it comnes to the P40, GSP is MILES ahead of WM.
I had the WM version and really was not that impressed.
Weak mechanical retracts (I eventually junked them for Hobbico units) and although the balsa and fibreglass build quality was really good, as was the painted finish, frankly, I have flown better handling models.
I sold my WM P40 on and looked at both the (in my opinion, overpriced,) Kyosho version and the GSP one.
The GSP example is now in my possesion.
Only trouble is that it is finished in a silver color scheme.
I will paint the model up in either WW2 RAF Desert scheme in the markings of 112 Squadron RAF, who also used the "Shark Mouth" on the cowl, or 76th FS, 23 FG USAAF (the descendents of the AVG.)
Both versions used a similar tan & brown camouflage scheme with light blue underside and red spinner.
Paint? Probably just an enamel, like Humbrol, or maybe Lustrekote if they make the correct brown to go over the tan. Lustrekote does come in Olive Drab if you want to do one from a different WW2 theatre.
I won't bother with retracts on this one. I fly off grass and found from my last P40 that they were nothing but trouble.
If you want to fit them, (the kit is designed to have them fitted) try a good quality brand like Century Jet.
Don't waste your money on el cheapo's. It's not worth it.
Power will either be an ST GT51 2S or a Saito 65 4S. Both will be fine.

Thanks Woody for the post! So, I to Fly off grass but really like the look of a warbid on a fast flyby With no gear showing.... I may try the Hobbico Units as our field is very smooth and If i dont like them I can put the fixed gear back In... Thanks again woody!

Does any one else have anything to say? How about a flight review?

Hi Ice.

My field isn't exactly smooth. We share it with farm stock so it does get lumpy. Even the Pattern guys have problems with their retracts when they fly off it.

The only models that don't run into strife are those with fixed gear of pneumatic retracts.

I haven't seen a review of the GSP/CM-PRO P40, only the Kyosho P40 with Hobbico retracts fitted.

The review was posiitve, but remember it was a magazine review.

What swayed me to the CM-PRO/GSP version was the fact that "Flair" in the United Kingdom market the kit under their name. And from my experience, Flair don't touch garbage.

I would love it for GSP/CM-PRO to do a 1.20 4 stroke sized P40.

With hobbico retracts and a 51 engine it should be great. Yes you could paint over the gel coat, but you would have to recover. you could also get a top flight p40. they are both nice planes.

Iceman, if you haven't purchased a kit yet, check out the upgraded VQ models P-40.

Trouble for me though is that VQ don't have any overseas distribution (so not available in my part of the world) and Fedex-ing one out would be just too cost prohibitive.

The VQ is great , I have one , its about $259, with free oleo structs . Its much bigger then the GSP , its aprox 64" span , very sold plane with standoff scale detail .
There is even flight video under VQ on this site , Rich poasted the video

The VQ P-40 is a sweet flying plane and a joy to land (with flaps).

Here is the Maiden Flight: [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/VQ_P%2D40_Maiden_Flight/m_2085882/tm.htm]VQ P-40 Maiden Flight[/link]

Here is the build: [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/VQ_P%2D40_Build/m_1921112/tm.htm]VQ P-40 Build[/link]

I think it is a SIN to sell a P-40 silver colored![:@]
What are these people thinking,make it look like a P-40,like you know...all drab olive,camo,......HELLO?

The nice thing about silver is that it can be served as a primer color for other top colors.

Yeah, but this is an ARF..it should not need painting![X(]