Potato Pete

I'll in with Eduard's P-51D-10 Not sure what scheme yet but I do like the box art featuring Elwyn Righetti shooting down a Mistel. Righetti himself was shot down by flak whist strafing an airfield near Dresden on 17th April 1945. He force landed successfully but is believed to have been killed by German civilians. I have some 3D decals for the cockpit on the way, so just waiting on them before I start. Pete

Can anyone given an opinion on Ron Mackay's histories of the air divisions of the 8th Airforce? Are they narrative histories or more war diary style? TIA Pete

Blimey, that seems a bit of a challenge - keep up the good work Pete

Just spent the evening carefully filling in injector pin marks in the cockpit side walls which I now think were accurately rendered lightening holes..... AAAAAAAAAAARRGH You're allowed to larf........

Welcome to the build - good to see another Mustang Which reminds me...... Pete

Just caught up with this - that cockpit looks magnificent - as others have said, the seat is a marvel P

Ooooof - we're there - sort of Cockpit and engine assembly complete, quite pleased all told. The instrument panel I fussed about is pretty much hidden anyway... Now on to the cockpit side walls..... P

And another thing (it's the wine speaking)...... I'm using the Barracuda cockpit decals to brighten things up, and they're very nice. But if you don't get them set nice and square, they actually detract from the model, which for those of us with failing eyesight and stubby fingers, can be a challenge, although I am getting there. So, being a very average modeller, is it a case of less is more?

Agree entirely. I've glued the Quinta one in place so it isn't coming out, but part of me feels I should have stuck with the kit parts and done the best could with them. Might not have looked as flash, but it would have been mine. Oh, the guilt of AM stuff......

That is looking very nice, well impressed

So, onto the instrument panel..... Originally I intended to use the Eduard Look instrument panel which is a drop in replacement for the kit panel. However, having got my hands on one, I ended up getting a set of Quinta Studio 3D decals as an alternative. Below, we ave the Eduard panel on top, Quinta below Not sure the photo really shows the full differences but..... The Eduard panel is a beautiful flat matt black piece but to my eye, the dial faces are all distinctly blue, and the surrounding bezels silver grey. General crispness of detail is ok, but not brilliant and the 3D relief a exaggerated. The Quinta decals are applied to the Tamiya panel once you've sanded off the 3D relief. It isn't as absolutely black as the Eduard piece, more a very dark grey, but I prefer the colour rendering of the dials and the bezels are the same colour as the main panel. The 3D relief is more subdued than the Eduard piece, and the crispness of detail is slightly better. So I'll be going with the Quinta option. It's the first time I've used them, but it was hassle free, just sand off the detail on the kit piece and apply the decal. The decals come off the backing sheet very quickly, and are fairly rigid. I fixed them to the kit part with a bit of PVA glue just to be on the safe side. I used the seat belts from the Eduard set , so not totally wasted. You can also get an enlarged Quinta set which includes belts and other bits. In hindsight, that would have probably been the best option. In truth, I tried able to apply the yellow demarcation line between the engine and the flight instruments with three pieces of decal strip on the basic Tamiya piece, but couldn't get it properly straight. Had I been able to, I think the kit piece with so detail painting would have looked nice enough. Anyway, onwards and upwards P

I absolutely couldn't possibly comment..... 🤣 🤪

Mmmm, like your seatbelts very much - compare and contrast with the Eduard etched ones on my P-51

Looking forward to this, I've ummmed and ahhhed over this kit many a time

Those engines look very nice

Slow progress, but progress nonetheless...... Engine now attached to the firewall The two sections are are meant to be joined by a screw and two locating pins which fix the firewall to the back of the supercharger unit. However Mr Genius here used the wrong piece at the back of the supercharger which didn't have the holes for the locating pins, so it's just fixed with the screw. Doesn't appear to be fatal. The engine tilts up slightly but the whole assembly is fairly flexible. It might need need disassembling and judicious trimming later but I think that will be possible. Has anyone else made this kit? At this stage, the engine appears to float freely within the engine bay. Does it get attached to anything later to give it a firm position? Despite my carelessness, ,quite pleased with it overall. Colours based on this rather nice pic And the cockpit, still lacking instrument panel Seatbelts by Eduard, and colours generally muted with some gentle washes, dry brushing and Tamiya Weathering Master powder. As I said, progress is slow, and you do have to pay attention, but enjoying it so far. Off on "hols" for a week, then on to the Instrument panel Pete

And now with a coat of paint and some weathering Humbrol satin black, and then brushed with Tamiya weathering powders - silver, gunmetal and a little rust. Never used them before but I have to say I'm quite pleased with the result. It's a bit more subtle than my usual dry brushing, knocks back the stain finish a bit and gives a nice lustre to the engine, without it looking as if it's been dragged across the hanger floor. Also got some aftermarket goodies - Barracuda replacement wheels and 108gal drop tank correction set which look fine, and Eduard's Look instrument panel - more of which later. Pete

Excellent progress there - that looks like it's going to be quite chunky little (but large) chap Pete

Looks very nice - excellent choice P

Know what you mean - it will be the finest rattle-can finish 🙂

And we're off........ Construction starts with the engine, which is later fixed to the cockpit sub-assembly and the whole thing then goes into the fuselage. Considering it's a Tamiya kit, there has been more than the usual bad language. The instructions aren't as clear as they might be (and include a reference to a mysterious "Sprue V" which doesn't actually exist, they mean E) but with patience, a bit of head scratching and some trial and error fitting I eventually got there. The fit is, as expected good and precise although the rows of cylinders do appear to diverge very slightly - is this right? The engine and the supercharger unit are just clipped together for the moment so that I can paint and weather them separately. Oh - and also the magnets which allow various panels to be clipped on and off appear to be missing so I'll be seeking a replacement set. Anyway, hopefully applying paint later in the week. P

No, no, no! Do THIS one. There are thousands of Skyhawks and Mig-21's out there (said the man building a Mustang 🤪). Seriously, though, there's something about a Bronco. P

Some photos... She was later renamed Lulu Belle II as was damaged in forced landing 21st April. Here she is being recovered I'll be replacing the Tamiya vinyl tires with aftermarket - am I right in the pic above the tyres have different tread patterns? I may also replace the instrument panel, not sure. Cheers Pete

I'l be going with Tamiya's 1/32 P-51D This one has been sitting in the stash for 10 years.... I'll be building it as P-51D-15-NA Mustang, "Alabama Rammer Jammer", s/n 44-15092, 352nd FS, 353rd FG, 8th AF. The aircraft was initially assigned to Lt. Cundy. However he was MIA on March 11,1945 flying another aircraft, when it developed a coolant leak that led to engine failure and fire. He was last seen diving through the clouds towards the North Sea.

Might I join with this.... I'll be adding Eduard's 3D decal cockpit detail set, and decals from the kit, when this example served with the Verbandsführerschule General der Jagdflieger before moving on to JV44 Platzschutzschwarm. Pete