P-40CU "Eight Ball" ...

[Nathan]

Things get confusing when studying P-40's. You had short tails, long tails, merlins, allisons replacing merlins, merlins replacing allisons, etc.

[res6kgcr]

Hi Chris,

Here are the other eBay class mates of "Eight-Ball":





All the best,

Tom

[gemmer]

The P-40CU was the first production model of the P-40 line (Curtiss Designation H81A) with little to no armour, self sealing tanks, only one gun per wing etc, and were later converted to RP-40CU, and P-40G-CU (those that survived)

Buz

The a/c is a P-40(no CU manufacturer code). The block number/Manufacturer code system was not in effect until after the start of the war. The first P-40 to use it was the P40F-5 CU. The RP-40 was not
a conversion. The R prefix designation was Restricted, meaning restricted from combat use. It was applied to a number of older a/c with excessive hours. As an example the B-17D The Swoose was redesignated RB-17D.

Duane

[Buz]

The P-40CU was the first production model of the P-40 line (Curtiss Designation H81A) with little to no armour, self sealing tanks, only one gun per wing etc, and were later converted to RP-40CU, and P-40G-CU (those that survived)

Buz

The a/c is a P-40(no CU manufacturer code). The block number/Manufacturer code system was not in effect until after the start of the war. The first P-40 to use it was the P40F-5 CU. The RP-40 was not
a conversion. The R prefix designation was Restricted, meaning restricted from combat use. It was applied to a number of older a/c with excessive hours. As an example the B-17D The Swoose was redesignated RB-17D.

Duane

Duane

Agree with you entirely, as that's what the IRC's state (P-40 and later some changed to either P-40G or RP-40), however to throw the cat amoungst the pigeons, Some curtiss plates I have seen show P-40CU (CU seems to be later stampings - by whom I have no idea), whilst some have plain P-40.

Same with some of the P-40E1, some show P-40-E-1, some show P-40E-1 and others show P-40-E1-CU. Some P-40E's are again different although not with the CU on them (yet to see one with CU on it). You have P-40E or P-40-E...............I haven't seen any P-40B/C/D plates as of yet (well originals anyhow), and only ever seen 1 P-40F, which was marked as P-40-F. Sometime ago I was offered a P-40G plate however the price was more than I was will to pay (14k IIRC), however I believe someone on here may know of or have access to a P-40G plate so would be interesting to see what that one states.

This is the most confusing bit of my struggles to understand and track the P-40's...........the aircraft histories are the easy bit the understanding the stampings, then add that the P-40 was know by three different designations between the USAAC (as it was at the time) and Curtiss................mmmmmmm mind blowing.

Buz

[CH2Tdriver]

On these early P-40's, what would the color be on the gear wells and inside of the flaps? Interior green or Neutral Gray (undersurface color)? Research has come up empty.

Thanks in advance!

[Buz]

On these early P-40's, what would the color be on the gear wells and inside of the flaps? Interior green or Neutral Gray (undersurface color)? Research has come up empty.

Thanks in advance!

CH2Tdriver

Now that is the question of the ages, I haven't as yet seen a colour photo of the P-40 being built or in service (showing these areas), so can't tell you, however can say that the P-40C had a brown wheel well cover with a bronze green colour on the upper wing, the Flaps were of a similar colour. (doesn't look like the standard interior green colour but may be an early version of interior green or just Curtiss's version).

Some photos from this time seems to show a more yellow colour on the flaps as well, however not sure if this was lighting/film/or the actual colour. And as always nothing is simple, one wrecked example of an aircraft built around this time still had the blue spray in the flap area.

The P-40C's were coming of the factory line 6 months after the P-40, so may give you something to work with but alas not confirmation.

Buz