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Showing results for tags '1/24 Airfix Mustang'.
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With the discussion around the old 1/24 Airfix kits, and Charlie's fabulous Spitfire Mk.I build below, I thought I would present my attempt at their almost 50-year old kit of the Mustang. Some of you will have seen it elsewhere, and I apologize. Mine was started four years ago, and it's getting close to completion. These old kits are still impressive for the amount of detail they included, and disappointing for what they omitted. The Airfix P-51D/Mustang IV is still easily the best foundation for a 1/24 model of the Mustang. Trumpeter's attempt was an enormous disappointment, although better fitting and finely detailed, it doesn't matter when most of it is inaccurate. The major problems with the Airfix kit are the lack of dihedral on the wings, the complete lack of anything in the landing gear wells, the too-long landing gear legs and the somewhat anemic shape of the nose. Most of these shortcomings have recently been corrected by fabulous aftermarket parts by ModelMonkey. There is a now set of brass gear legs from a chap in the States, and the Airscale instrument panel is stunning and a must. Of course, all of the aftermarket improvements except the instrument panel were not released until after I had scratch-built all of my own corrections! These kits will absorb as much work as you are willing to put into them. I had never scratch-built anything before, so it has been a slow but satisfying experiment. I learned a lot about the Mustang, in particular the modifications made to RCAF Mustangs in the process, and learned many new techniques for other projects. I also lost my fear of altering and improving parts, or making new ones. Although, there were a lot of, 'Oh crap, what the hell have I done!" moments. So, I started with the kit, Waldron 1/24 P-51D placards ( I would kill for another set!! ), the Airscale P-51D instrument panel, and the RB Productions USAAF seat harness. The rest was a lot of plastic card, aluminum tubing, solder wire and swearing. The decals were a combination of an ancient sheet of RCAF roundels from Can-Force, and the rest had to be designed and printed by me on decal paper. The RCAF Mustang stencils were a unique combination of North American Aviation instructions, and RCAF additions. I learned a lot about post-war RCAF markings!! I hope people won't mind me sharing the progress photos that were taken during the build to date. Richard This is what I hope to achieve...soon:
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