Alan Kelley Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Hi folks, this is my latest work in progress- the rather wonderful Tamiya Mustang. I will be adding a few Barracuda resin goodies in the cockpit, resin wheels, cockpit stencils and HGW belts. Work started in the cockpit- the Barracuda Stencils are a must, IMHO. Also working on the engine. As most of the engine will be covered I am not going to bother too much adding the ignition wiring, with the exception of the top coil. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somnas Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Wow, that is looking promising! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redcap Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 I built this exact same kit and scheme - great choice of subject and look forward to following this. Very impressive start Alan. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcclure Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Great start - really looking forward to watching this unfold. Cheers, Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwaterous Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Yay, another wunderkit being beautifully built! K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremlin56 Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 An absolutely gorgeous kick-off to the build. Keep the updates coming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Kelley Posted April 2, 2015 Author Share Posted April 2, 2015 More done. Cockpit floor and fuel tank painted. The barracuda battery packs are a good upgrade on the kits parts. I have the seat painted and control column, also barracuda painted and glued in place. . Until next time ... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Kelley Posted April 2, 2015 Author Share Posted April 2, 2015 Cockpit all done. Fuselage joined up as well. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 now that's impressive. Great weathering and as you say, those placards really add to it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Kelley Posted April 4, 2015 Author Share Posted April 4, 2015 Loads of parts cut off the sprues and cleaned up ready for paint Also painted the rudder. . Thanks for looking. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Kelley Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share Posted April 11, 2015 Friends, Have been working away diligently on this kit. Some areas of this kit are a little over-engineered for my liking. Have had some trouble getting the upper engine frame and the exhaust housing to fit. Finally got it into place, but I have noticed when you put the cowling in place it spreads a little toward the nose. I originally painted a fair bit of the exposed metal area of this in Vallejo metallic paint. This stuff really does not like to be handled at all- rubs off so easily. I bought some of the new AK Interactive Xtreme Metal Paints, and so far so good with them. Their black base isnt really gloss, I have found, so doesnt quite give the metallics the smooth shiny base that I thought it would. Looks like I will be using old faithful- Tamiya X-1 thinned with Mr Color Self Levelling Thinner for the gloss base coat. Pictures to follow- I am using my work computer to type this and it really doesn't like Photobucket at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Kelley Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 Here is the result of painting some of the metallics. The AK polished aluminium turns out really well, but does need a protective coat over it if you are intending to weather it. I have also Alclad Dark Aluminium for the Jess shiny metallic areas, such as gun bay covers. Think I will paint my wings either dark aluminium or duraluminum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bravo52 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) Friends, Have been working away diligently on this kit. Some areas of this kit are a little over-engineered for my liking. Have had some trouble getting the upper engine frame and the exhaust housing to fit. Finally got it into place, but I have noticed when you put the cowling in place it spreads a little toward the nose. I originally painted a fair bit of the exposed metal area of this in Vallejo metallic paint. This stuff really does not like to be handled at all- rubs off so easily. I bought some of the new AK Interactive Xtreme Metal Paints, and so far so good with them. Their black base isnt really gloss, I have found, so doesnt quite give the metallics the smooth shiny base that I thought it would. Looks like I will be using old faithful- Tamiya X-1 thinned with Mr Color Self Levelling Thinner for the gloss base coat. Pictures to follow- I am using my work computer to type this and it really doesn't like Photobucket at all. Yes, the front cowling area is very finicky... I had a heck of a time with mine and ended up doing a lot of grinding to get it to fit. It has to do with the alignment of the engine/cockpit pod. If it is twisted the slightest, and there is enough slop in the parts, it won't sit right... I eventually left the motor screw loose and glued the front together and then tightened up on the screw...but that was all my fault. A friend built his with the minimum motor parts to make it work and glued the cowlings on and they fit like a glove. Great job so far and I'm liking forward to the finish. Mine is about 98% done and I'll be posting the completed model soon. Edited April 22, 2015 by Bravo52 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Kelley Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 Bravo, After playing around with it for a while I managed to get it fitting better. I managed to find the problem was the hose piping that glues under the top engine frame- it was stopping on of the side support from sitting at the proper angle. I cut the hose behind the frame and have yet to reattach it. As much as I am tempted to glue the cowlings on, I really want to see the engine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delayar Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Looking great! Markus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Kelley Posted April 23, 2015 Author Share Posted April 23, 2015 I have been trying to fill in the panel lines on the wings, using both perfect plastic putty and Vallejo putty, but they are still noticebly visible. Going to try filling them now with Mr Dissolved putty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Kelley Posted April 24, 2015 Author Share Posted April 24, 2015 I am getting rather sick of sanding- only really noticed the panel lies were still present when I added a coat of black paint as a base for the metallic. Wish I had'nt painted it now, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Kelley Posted April 24, 2015 Author Share Posted April 24, 2015 One of the gun bays I painted before I painted the wings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homerlovesbeer Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Awesome! Very much what he said! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Kelley Posted April 26, 2015 Author Share Posted April 26, 2015 Been working away on this. I have filled all the panel lines on the wings, sanded them flush and shot a coat of zinc chromate primer over them. Next up will be a spray of AK worn effects chipping fluid then a coat of silver paint. Also been doing the propellor. Firstly sprayed Alclad Dark Aluminium, then a coat of RLM 74 on the tips, before masking. I then sprayed some worn effects on it and sprayed the Cuffs rubber black. The next pic is after the rest of the prop was painted, a stipple coat added using a sponge with Lifecolor shades of black paint, to add weathering. I then chipped away the leading edges leaving the Alclad showing- no chipping should be on the cuffs as these were rubber. I removed the masking tape from the tips. After that I have sprayed the prop in Klear ready for decals. The propellor boss is AK Xtreme Metal Polished Aluminium. Thanks for looking- decals going on in the next day or so. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKguyInUSA Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Wow, that's a gorgeous looking kit and and even more gorgeous looking build so far! Me wants one! Cheers, Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Kelley Posted April 27, 2015 Author Share Posted April 27, 2015 Every so often you hear of a tip that just changes the way you do everything. I heard mine the other day- courtesy of Spencer Pollard & Roy Sutherland. Black wash- a mix of klear, water and x-1 black paint. This wash is amazing- have used it on the propellor hub and boss on the above picture. When I think of the money I have wasted over the past few years trying to source a perfect wash for undercarriage, shadowy cockpit areas etc..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 Great tip for the black wash, I like to try to make my own as well, I use mostly watercolours. It's a real pain having to fill and sand all the wing panel lines, but at least it's not the Dragon version, I am still battling with mine after a couple of years. Looking forward to more John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breaker Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 Lovely work so far, the painting is superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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