Jump to content

Cuban Revolutionary F-51


TeeELL

Recommended Posts

Oops,

  I had completely forgotten where this Group Build was and the revised Web Site had left me scratching my head a bit.  Anyway, having removed the splinters, I thought I had better report something.  My model is the Airfix F-51 1/72 model which, fortuitously, includes the correct propeller for FAR 400.  Thus far I have completed the interior buttoned up the fuselage and added the wings.  As I write this, a few coats of primer/filler have been applied to the nose in order to allow me to 'remove' the seam line.

 

P1010290.jpg

 

P1010335.jpg

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In between building a Bristol Bulldog I have managed to do work on the Mustang; principally filling various minor gaps and rubbing down the several coats of filler applied along the seam of the nose - all is looking well and, possibly, the first coat of primer could be applied.  I am gaining some better understanding of Alclad and feel much more confident over the way to put the final coats onto the F-51.  Mind you, we are a week or so away from reaching that point - Oh, no we aren't, I don't have to thread miles of rigging as I've been doing with the Siskin and about to do with the bulldog :-).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Completely forgot that I had planned to attach the rocket mounts so the wings have been cemented together without the holes being drilled - not the end of the world and I'm not going to try and be clever.

 

The Mustang has been primed but I forgot to attach part 29A at the front of the fuselage scoop!  That is now in place and I shall apply some primer/filler to just that area before it is out with the micromesh again.  I might get the gloss black undercoat on the fuselage today??.

 

P1010404.jpgP1010416.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

With the primer/filler smoothed with micromesh, the Mustang has been masked and the fuselage sprayed with the gloss black.  Possibly tomorrow, but certainly next week the black will be micromesh'd with 8000 then 12000 before the final finish.  I have left some parts in grey to see if that will cause variations in the finish.  The wings will be sprayed separately using a less shiny Alclad.

 

P1010425.jpgP1010426.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I am supposed to be preparing the practical wind tunnel lesson guides for the aerodynamics course I am teaching this weekend - but that is boring!!  The Mustang is undressed and ready for the gloss black to be rubbed back with micromesh.  There are certainly some very fine imperfections in how the paint settled.  It is quite difficult to see any in this photo though.

 

P1010430.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Today I masked and sprayed the wings of the Mustang.  I was a bit disappointed with the finish initially but once it had dried the rather patchy appearance worked for me and created the slightly tired look I think these surplus aircraft might have had.

 

P1010441.jpgP1010442.jpg

 

I shall let the finish dry thoroughly and then mask up the wings so that I can spray the fuselage.  I must remember to do the bits that also need the different finish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

With very crossed fingers, I masked up the fuselage ready for another attempt on the wings.  This time I used 'Dull Aluminium' and it seems to have gone on very well, removing the masking tape didn't cause any issues so it looks, for now, as though I am still on track.

 

P1010460a.jpg

 

This is a comparison with the F-51 I built whilst on my canal boat during the summer:

 

P1010463a.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since my last post I have used another, different Alclad aluminium on the ailerons and elevators 'Dull Aluminium', not a great difference in the photo but more so in the flesh.  I've started applying the decals now, rather than waiting until the gear, U/C doors etc etc are attached and therefore vulnerable.  The antiglare panel has been sprayed with Tamiya acrylic - There now, lesson learnt from the T-33 build and using Humbrol enamels over Alclad.  That said, it was difficult to get the airbrush to deliver the paint correctly and it took 3 goes.

 

P1010466.jpgP1010468.jpg 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, TeeELL said:

is it me?  On the previous site, one used to get responses to posts, but now - nothing!!!

Well I'm quietly drooling, and also kicking myself that I embarked on a trio of P-51s without knowing that the GB was about to start. They're well past the 25% point now, so I'm looking at your D and asking mself whether to start another one...

 

Justin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have mentioned the paucity of references for Cuban F-51's in some ways a blessing and in more a curse.  There is but one photo of FAR400 'dressed' in her final livery - this is what I am trying to copy.

 

http://www.urrib2000.narod.ru/EqMustang-e.html

 

Whilst it is impossible to say for sure, there are a couple of photos of a Mustang with 'uncuffed' propeller, which I am choosing to assume are '400 as seen in the definite image in the above reference.  I have noted that there appear to be no tail wheel doors on '400, although they are fitted to '401.  References indicate the tail wheel doors were removed on some aircraft to ease the maintenance burden.

 

In photograph, the fuselage stripe is finished as Black?/NMF/Red possibly, although logic would suggest Blue/NMF/Red.  Colour profiles show either combination, one even has the Red leading!  The museum aircraft, FAR 401, has Black as the leading colour.  I have elected to go for Black and initially used clear decal paper for the stripe but the density of the Red was insufficient and it was rather dull:

 

P1010492.jpg 

 

I removed that stripe later - came off in one, to my delight (and surprise).

 

I decided to replace it with a stripe on white decal paper and accept that, whilst I would gain the Red, I would lose the NMF.  Here is that option:

(I would prefer the NMF but my laser printer cannot lay down sufficient toner to achieve the necessary density).

 

P1010497.jpg 

 

As you will see, the aircraft has had some of the additional Airfix 'stencil' decals applied along with the 'eyes'.  The flaps, rudder and prop are all temporarily fitted - the flaps are finished in the same Alclad as the fuselage - but on the grey primer rather than the gloss black - so another different finish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Joss, I've not seen one 'in the flesh' as the museum where FAR 401 resides is no longer open.  FAR 400 disappeared although remains of a Mustang have been found near Guantanamo - could be 400 but there is also a rumour that a third F-51 was acquired.  They were never used in anger as Batista capitulated the day the 2 (3?) Mustangs were finally serviceable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

43 minutes ago, TeeELL said:

Joss, I've not seen one 'in the flesh' as the museum where FAR 401 resides is no longer open.  FAR 400 disappeared although remains of a Mustang have been found near Guantanamo - could be 400 but there is also a rumour that a third F-51 was acquired.  They were never used in anger as Batista capitulated the day the 2 (3?) Mustangs were finally serviceable.

That's interesting to know, I thought it was a case of there being quite a few off them!

Cheers

Joss

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The build continues - I would say 'at a pace' but that wouldn't be true - were it so to be, I would have finished the Mustang today.  As it is, the seams on the main wheels has been removed and the tyres re-painted, the canopy and wind screen have been painted, the aerial wire made provision for (hole drilled in the fin and the rear of the canopy.

 

P1010501.jpg

 

One of the decals on the prop fell off - no idea when or where but the remainder have now had a dollop of Future coated over them.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

GOSH some how I've completely missed this build!!

 

Very nicely done, I'm glad to see a "Stang"  ( :P Les) in something different than the usual USAAF/RAF colour schemes. I do like the finish you got with the wings even if it wasn't intentional, looks great.  

 

Well done, now you have plenty of time to build another! :winkgrin:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The build is complete!!  Pictures posted in the Gallery.

 

Here are a couple more:

 

P1010519.jpg

 

P1010517.jpg

 

The 'through canopy' radio aerial (definitely fitted to FAR 400, unfortunately) has been replicated - and it works, or it would if the canopy wasn't PVA's into position.  In fact the canopy was positioned right by the fin when I was tensioning the filament, had to apply the PVA to the canopy, rotate it and slide it forward into position!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...