LAYING OUT THE DRAWING

Several factors got me going here. First I had a request from an Internet buddiy in the UK asking if anyone had done a P 40 Q, the last in a great line. It was different from the other models insofar as it had a bubble canopy, was longer and it was fast. I had done that plane before and had built it from sktches on a standard P 40 plan. I also had recently acquired AUTO CAD LT as a drawing program so here was an excuse to learn how to draw! Two days later, the plan was drawn up.

Shortly thereafter, other people were asking if here were any good instructions on how to design/draw your own plan. AHA; my next book project!

In this book I tell how I laid out the P 40 Q from existing data, photos, plans etc, then detailing which items were important and what can be figured out as one goes along. From here we determine reference lines, key lines and support. I also discuss how to develop shapes given the side and top view data.

A word of caution here when doing your own thing. It may look good on paper but ALWAYS physically check the part as you build the model. What works on paper may not work in practice due to things like wood thickness, etc. When designing parts, leave a litle wiggle room so you can trim that part to fit accurately.

The book is 52 pages 8 1/2 x 7. with the P 40 Q plan included.