Calculate total work in boy-hours:
\[
\text{Work} = \text{number of boys} \times \text{days} \times \text{hours/day} = 40 \times 18 \times 6 = 4320 \text{ boy-hours}
\]
Let $x$ be the number of additional boys needed, so total boys = $40 + x$. The new work schedule is 12 days, 4 hours/day, so:
\[
(40 + x) \times 12 \times 4 = 4320
\]
\[
(40 + x) \times 48 = 4320 \implies 40 + x = \frac{4320}{48} = 90
\]
\[
x = 90 - 40 = 50
\]