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Hello Ladies and Gents, So after a 20+ year hiatus from mutilating and butchering 1/72 plastic aircraft models, I've decided to pick up a knife and paint brush again to get through these winter evenings. This forum has been a trove of information and advice which I've quietly browsed for several years, as such I already owe many members thanks for sharing their wisdom though I haven't even started a kit yet. Seeing the vast range of kits that are available these days, combined with the abundance of after-market items and weathering/finishing techniques that have evolved over the last two decades has me excited but also a little intimidated about returning to the hobby...the leaps and bounds taken during my break has me questioning whether I even really know the basics anymore, let alone the advanced stuff, so fellow members can expect some bone-head questions in the near future. I've decided to take things slowly and learn as much as I can about each stage of the build process, so will be making a nuisance of myself on these forums over the next few months. I've decided that 1/48 is now my scale of choice. I'll stick to aircraft, but no particular theme...just whatever takes my fancy, an airframe I admire or have some connection with. My first two projects will be a Spitfire V, (one of Malta's so-called Blue Defenders) and a commonwealth P-51D Mustang. My third project is intended to be an F7F Tigercat Air Tanker, but I'm trying not to get ahead of myself. Right now I'm purchasing tools/equipment and going through the research stage. The two former kits will most likely be Tamiya products, though I'm aware they have some issues (the Sptifire wings will be annoying). The Tigercat, probably the AMT kit. Any advice offered regarding these products, or potential alternatives, will be graciously received. Though I do prefer a degree of anonymity online, I certainly look forward to getting invovled in this the community which appears to be very generous and supportive! Cheers Everybody Launchpad

This is Airfix's new Mustang finished as the mount of S/L Witold Tokuciewski of 303 Sqn. It was originally going to be in a RNZAF scheme but the black & yellow chequerboards on the fuselage sides disintegrated & curled up so, in the words of Wile E Coyote, back to the old drawing board. In the end I used Kagero's Mustangs over Europe, part 1, I also used Eduard's Zoom set for the cockpit. The kit goes together well but looks a little odd when you open the box due to the clever way it is engineered. This is my first attempt at NMF, I used AK Interactive paints which performed well although the black base was a bit patchy - but that was probably me. Next NMF aircraft will be the Eduard Mirage III. Any comments or criticisms welcome as always. Thanks for looking. Pete

Build a couple years ago, I was unpacking this from the trip back from the Nats, and thought I'd get a couple pics before putting it back in the display case. I have many happy memories of attending airshows with my father and the dancing yellow Mustang of Bob Hoover was always a highly anticipated. The Cavalier Mustang is a civilian-ized version of the North American P-51 Mustang. In 1957, Trans-Florida Aviation in Sarasota, Florida, (which was renamed Cavalier Aircraft Corporation in 1967) was formed with the objective of transforming the P-51 into a fast and powerful executive business aircraft. Cavalier Mustangs were rebuilt from the ground up, removing all unneeded military equipment and adding features like a second seat, cockpit soundproofing, improved cockpit ventilation, modern avionics, and a luggage storage bay. One of the most recognized is surely the Mustang flown by Robert 'Bob' Hoover. N51RH was purchased in 1971 to replace an earlier Mustang damaged by an exploding oxygen bottle.. Hoover and the yellow Mustang became famous for precision aerobatic displays though out the world. As a working aircraft, N51RH went through many changes and modifications throughout over twenty years of service. This model represents N51RH as it appeared in the mid 1970s. It all started with a gift from a friend (thereafter known as my project instigator friend) of a very nicely done decal sheet for the 70's era Hoover Mustang. Hoover had become one of my boyhood heroes with his precise and smooth demonstrations of aerobatics and many hours of my youth were spent at dozens of air shows watching Hoover and the famous yellow Mustang perform. I must admit to hording the decals for a number of years until my benefactor convinced me to get off my duff and get started. Oh yes, as long as I was building one kit I could build a copy just as easy since he had obtained a second set of Hoover's markings! What are friends for? The Korean War version of the venerable 1/48 Tamiya P-51D kit was modified into a Cavalier Mustang as it contained the uncuffed Hamilton Standard propeller and longer pointed spinner needed for the conversion. Changes to the cockpit started by replacing the kit parts with a Blackbox resin cockpit modified to civilian configuration by removing military armament panels and adding civilian instrumentation and radio panels. The fuselage fuel tank and radio were removed and the rear cockpit floor replaced. Pilot and passenger seats and cushions scratch built and seat belts/harnesses fabricated using foil from top of wine bottle. (A Zinfandel I believe). The canopy was replaced by spare part having a more bulged rear profile and green tinting added by airbrushing a mixture of Future with a drop of Tamiya clear green acrylic. Finish is a custom mix yellow Testers enamel built up in thin coats allowed to thoroughly dry between applications. A light wet sanding with 1200 paper removed small imperfections and the surface polished with fine automotive swirl remover. The decals were applied and after drying two coats of Future airbrushed at about 15 psi. After the future had dried another VERY light wet sanding with 1800 paper to smooth the surface was followed by polishing with the swirl remover. I remember N51RH having shiny polished paint, but as an aircraft that was flown regularly in aerobatic demonstrations, I also recall exhaust stains and oil on the Mustang's flanks until it was wiped down after the show. Air show aircraft worked for a living and I wanted to depict this so light weathering was applied. It just so happens my friend has two sets of markings for the Mustang racer 'Miss America' and an extra Mustang kit........... Oh yeah, we did pretty good at the IPMS Nationals!

Hi, this is my recent build, Airfix 1/72 P-51D Mustang, painted with Alclad II Polished Aluminum and weathered with Tamiya's weather sets. Decals from Blue Diamond Decals. Thank you for looking.

Hi All, I have been researching recently about producing the said topic of a NA-73 Mustang for the RAF in 1/72. I found an article on Internet Modeler that goes into some detail about this guy had done it but done know if it's a recent article and their may be better ways of doing it. Here is my question for the wise ones. With what's available now and without breaking the bank, how would you produce this aircraft to an acceptable example and catch the 'key' features of a Mustang I. Stuart

I first saw this film when it was on general release at the cinema. I instantly fell in love with the sight and sound of this car. Today on Hyperscale.com I found this article. http://redirect.viglink.com/?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_151639300005213&key=0eff82a158b9bcd735539ea921a97f93&libId=jcmco7x5010009tm000DA80206yce&cuid=f-&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.network54.com%2FForum%2F232726%2Fthread%2F1516155383%2Flast-1516285438%2F%28View%2BAll%2BMessages%2BIn%2BThis%2BThread%29&v=1&out=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hagerty.com%2Farticles-videos%2Farticles%2F2018%2F01%2F14%2Fmustang-bullitt-found-real-mcqueen%3Futm_source%3DSFMC%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_term%3Dsp-eyes%40redshift.com%26utm_content%3DNewsletter_Special_Bullitt_Mustang%23&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.network54.com%2FForum%2F232726&title=The Lounge - HyperScale's "Off-Topic" Forum%3A THE Bullit Mustang found!&txt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hagerty.com%2Farticles-videos%2Farticles%2F2018%2F01%2F14%2Fmustang-bullitt-found-real-mcqueen%3Futm_source%3DSFMC%26amp%3Butm_medium... Make up your own mind, I will still be picking up my jaw!

HI All! Just finished my latest build and made a timelapse video about it! This is the new tool kit from airfix - really thought there was a wealth of detail. I feel the RAF paint scheme makes this look like a different plane, it's not as glamorous as the USAAF version (all shiny). I think I did a good job overall, but had a bit of an issue with those yellow decals taking ages to conform to the wings... Let me know what you think! Thanks in advance

Hello again Next up we have Tamiya, ones a Spifire and the other’s a Mustang both 1/32... Spitefire Mk XIVe 1/32, 301 Sqn (Polish) RAF.. RAF Mustang Mk IV, 3 Sqn RAAF.. Til next time Iain

Hi Guys, today a really old Kit, with some improvement's. I used the Frightdog conversation kit with new Propeller und underside cowling to display a MK IV, Tanks are out of the Spare-Box, Seat is from Italerie, also the Wheels, The Roundels, as nearly in every RAF Kit from Matchbox, where out of Register and replaced. Stencils also from Spare-Box. Paints Agama, done by brush. Hope you like this old girl.. Best Regards Stefan

North American P-51D Mustang 1:72 Airfix The North American P-51 Mustang is one of the most famous and easily-recognisable of Allied types to have served during the Second World War. It was originally designed to a British requirement for a low-altitude fighter, and because it was designed around the Alison V-1710 engine, it had limited performance at higher altitudes. This shortcoming was famously addressed by the marriage of North Americans airframe to the Rolls Royce Merlin aero engine. Once so equipped, the Mustang was able to take on Luftwaffe fighters on equal or better terms up to 15,000 feet. In common with later Spitfires, the D model of the Mustang employed a cut-down rear fuselage and a bubble canopy, giving pilots superb all-round vision. The outstanding feature of the aircraft was is range, which enabled Mustangs to escort bombers all the way to Berlin and back. This prompted the famous quote from Reichmarshal Herman Göring: "When I saw Mustangs over Berlin, I knew the jig was up." Airfixs Mustang has only been around for a few months, but in that time it has garnered a good reputation in terms of fit and accuracy. The kit is part of Airfixs series one range and as such as a fairly simple kit, made up of just fifty three parts spread across two sprues of grey plastic and a single small clear sprue. The mouldings are clean and crisp and moulded detail looks good. The panel lines look pretty fine to me, but some will no doubt find them a little too deep. In my opinion they arent too broad though, so treatment with primer would seem to be the way to go here. The cockpit is assembled on top of a large floor piece which also acts as the roof of the radiator tunnel. Onto this are added an instrument panel (with a decal for detail), a gun sight, control column and seat. Sidewalls and radio kit is moulded in place. The inner sides of the fuselage have some nice raised/recessed detail which helps to add a sense of realism to the cockpit. Overall impressions are very favourable, particularly for a kit in this scale and at this price point. If you want the airscrew to be moveable, you will have to assemble it before the fuselage halves have been joined. This will make it a bit of a nuisance to paint though, so I would recommend adding it later and fixing it in place. Whichever route you choose, once the fuselage halves are joined then you can add the wing. The lower wing is moulded as a single span, which will help you achieve the correct dihedral. The main gear bays are boxed in and feature some convincing structural details. The tail planes are moulded as solid pieces, but the rudder is a separate part, so you can finish it in a deflected position if you so desire. There are separate flaps too, which is a bonus. The Finishing details show that Airfix has put some care and attention into the design of this kit. The mouth of the radiator inlet is moulded as a separate part, saving you the trouble of cleaning up a visible seam. The cooling air exhaust is also a separate part and can be posed in either open or closed position. The undercarriage doors are detailed on the inside and the landing gear itself is also very nice. The tyres have a cross-cut tread and subtle flat spots moulded in place. Two drop tanks are provided to hang under the wings. Two canopies are provided, but only the bulged version is used for the decal option supplied with this kit. The frame of the rear canopy is a separate part too, and of course the canopy can be posed in open or closed position. As this is a series 1 kit, just one scheme is provided on the decal sheet - the aircraft flown by First Lieutenant Spurgeon Ellington, Tuskegee Airmen, 100th Fighter Squadron, Ramitelli, Italy, December 1944. The decal sheet is printed by Cartograf and includes a full range of stencils. Conclusion Whilst the subject is one that has hardly been ignored by model manufacturers, this is a neat little kit and Im very glad that Airfix took the decision to release it. The level of detail is surprisingly good for the scale and price, and it looks as though this should build up into an excellent model. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Way back in October of last year I entered the Mustang Single Type Group Building with two Airfix F-51Ds in 1/72. Both aircraft were to be RNZAF/TAF Mustangs from the 1950s. One based from my home city (Auckland) the second from the home of my father's family (Wellington). I managed to finish the first aircraft during the group build, the Auckland based aircraft. I've been plodding along with my Wellington based aircraft ever since and am happy to share it with you all here today. Natural metal is Alclad Airframe Aluminimum over Humbrol gloss black. The level of shine is captured by the underside photo. The wings were filled in, sanded, and painted with decanted Tamiya AS-12. Decals from Ventura. Canopy is Squadron/Falcon and was intended for the Hasegawa kit, which meant it needed a bit of surgery to fit. Very happy with the result.

Hi All, I have just completed an Academy 1/72 scale P-51D, I have only just started making models so this is one of my first serious attempts so had help from my dad and enjoyed making it, I wanted to make it 'Old Crow' as I'm an aviation graphics artist and managed to get a couple of my pieces signed by Bud Anderson himself, so this will go along side them in my room. Comments and criticism welcome always looking to improve I have got another Academy P-51B which I will make into Berlin Express and also an Airfix 1/72 scale P-51D which I'm looking at making into 'Tall in the Saddle'. 1/72 'Old Crow' P-51D Mustang 357th FG by Ryan Dorling ( Ryan Dorling Photography, Reheat Ph, on Flickr 1/72 'Old Crow' P-51D Mustang 357th FG by Ryan Dorling ( Ryan Dorling Photography, Reheat Ph, on Flickr 1/72 'Old Crow' P-51D Mustang 357th FG by Ryan Dorling ( Ryan Dorling Photography, Reheat Ph, on Flickr Kind Regards Ryan

Dear fellow Britmodellers, here's my 1/72 Airfix Mustang P-51D (Kit #A01004A) built straight from the box. Decals represent the mount of Lt. Eugene W. James, 352nd FG, 328th FS, Bodney/Norfolk, England 1944. Painted with acrylics from Gunze/Mr.Hobby and Alclad II. This kit is cheap, easy to build and has very good surface detail. The plastic used by Airfix is quite soft, which resulted in some broken or bent parts. I broke the control column and the blade antenna when trying to remove it from the sprues. (I scratch-built a new control stick and replaced the kit's antenna with a photoetch item.) One of the undercarriage legs was badly bent. Due to the softness of the plastic, the model is in a "wobbly" state, when you touch it, it rocks from side to side! This is the only weak point of the whole model kit. If I build another one, I will invest in a metal undercarriage from Scale Aircraft Conversions. Ok, here's the pictures ... as usual, taken by Mr. Wolfgang Rabel of IGM Cars & Bikes. Best wishes from Vienna! Thanks for your interest! Roman

Hello! Here is one of my models. In building I used RasKit whells set, Aires cockpit, Eduards photo etched setMini World barells set, Rex exhaust nozzles set. In painting I used AK {Xtreme metal and MR color Super metallik paints. Weathering- oil dots pigments and washes. Decal- Isra decal.

Kiwi resin is to release soon a 1/48th Cavalier Mustang conversion set. Source: http://www.kiwiresin.com/#!product/prd1/4506744761/coming-soon!-1-48-cavalier-mustang-conversion V.P.

Airfix's 4th(?) foray into blue-nosed Mustangs. I'm sure we're all familiar with the plastic, so here's the new bits: Box art: Painting guide: Cartograf decal sheet:

I'll be building two kits for this group build, two Airfix F-51Ds in RNZAF markings. These aircraft flew in the Territorial Air Force and only flew for a short period between 1951/2 to 1955 before being retired. They had arrived in New Zealand in 1945, but were put into storage due to the end of hostilities with Japan. I'll be building NZ2425, seen at the top of the Ventura sheet here. I believe this aircraft was still in its factory finish of natural metal with the panels joins in the wings filled in and the wings painted aluminium/silver. The roundels were painted directly over the American markings on the fuselage, upper port wing, and lower starboard wing. And NZ2413 seen here. This aircraft was repainted in high speed silver and had a cuffed propeller. According to Anderson's Mustangs of the RAAF and RNZAF when the Mustangs assembled 1951 the wings, control surfaces, and undercarriage doors were painted in high speed silver. I was going to give NZ2425 painted wings regardless as I believe they came this way from the factory, but I'm not sure about the control surfaces and undercarriage doors. Need to get myself a copy of the definitive Mustang resource, Southern Cross Mustangs, by David Muir. I originally wanted to depict NZ2415 in the markings of the Canterbury squadron of the Territorial Air Force. This used to be a popular aircraft flying at shows around the country, but I haven't seen it in the air for quite some time. However, I'm happy to be able to depict two Auckland based aircraft in different schemes from this sheet! I'd like to depict a few other Auckland aircraft in the coming years. I've got a Spitfire Mk Vb W3577 I'd like to build with the crest of the University of Auckland on the port side under the forward section of the canopy.

Hi all, I just cant stop myself! Sorry. Here are just two that I came across in my files: I-BILL F-51 at Greenham Common in 1976(?). Sadly she was written of a short while after this. N232J Sea Fury at North Weald in the late 1990s. She was ferried to the UK by my old friend Norman Lees (sadly now winging his way up on high) Martin

Hi folk's built for the Mustang GB my take on Flt.Lt Arthur Doley's Mustang "Dooleybird" which was for a while posted to Acklington just up the road from me,also I had happy memories of the old Matchbox kit built way back.Dave (Spadad) fixed me up with the decal's and Tamiyas kit was a no brainer for my chosen scale,there are differing views on the actual finish of the real thing Blue front fuselage,Yellow and blue and both with anti glare OD panel but I stuck with Blue,painted with Halford's rattle can silver,thanks for looking in.

HI For a while I had the Tamiya 1/72 P-51D in my stash. It comes with markings for aircraft flown by Chuck Yeager (Glamorous Glennis III),Clarence Andersons (Old Crow which had white wall tyres) and John landers (Big Beautiful Doll). I bought two Airfix 1/72 P-51Ds and will use the three kits so I can build the aircraft of these famous aces. Yeagers & Landers aircraft will be built undercarriage up ( which I generally do) and Old Crow with gear down to show of those white wall tyres. As the airfix kits come with a flaps down and with tyres showing the effect of weight on them this has meant using the Airfix Kit for Old Crow and the tamiya for Big Beautiful Doll ( the Tamiya kit does not allow a wheels up option out of the box) . The kits are being built out of the box with no after market add ons and with canopy closed but with fully painted pilots from the two airfix kits and an old airfix WW2 pilot I had to hand. I will put pictures up soon as I have finished the build but want to show progress of the painting, I have also some comments on the comparrisosn of these two kits which are very similar in layout but with subtle and significant difference when it comes to building them

Hi all. Needed something to keep me going before christmas day so i visited my local hobby shop in Ely and picked up this 1/72 mustang for a tenner. Bargain bouquet ! What a lovely kit, and a pleasure to build. Really enjoyed my first experience with Hasegawa. Pro’s: Its a Mootang. Superb fit & lovely detail. Fun to build! Con’s: Decals on the thick side All comments and critique very, very welcome. Hope you enjoy the pictures. Cheers! Thanks for looking!

These are the completed builds from the recently finished P-51 STGB III which I did not complete on time. The original thread is here which has the work in progress. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235015012-phantomes-triple-172-build-2x-tamiya-p-51d-1x-academy-p-51b/ Quick summary of the three aircraft: 1) P-51D "Jumpin' Jacques" (Tamiya). Built OOB except for Eduard superfabric seatbelts (amazing stuff!). Decals were some spares from a Hasegawa kit. Paints were Mr Metal Color for the NMF and Gunze/Tamiya for everything else. Weathering was done with Flory washes, with Tamiya Smoke for the exhaust stains. 2) P-51D "Detroit Miss" (Tamiya). Same as above except decals from an old Microscale set. 3) P-51B "Bonnie B" (Academy). Same as above except decals from Xtradecals. Color was Gunze H73 as Olive Drab. I was extremely pleased. Gunze totally botched RAF Dark Green (which is what it was supposed to be) and unwittingly created a very nice faded olive drab with just the right amount of green and brown. H73 was also used for the olive drab anti-glare in the other two aircraft. Weathering was done with Humbrol enamel wash. There are a few inaccuracies in the markings, some my fault some from the decals.In particular I was not pleased with Detroit Miss as the markings seem somewhat oversized. Also I think the Bonnie B markings on this set are incorrect (no locomotive kill mark and Bonnie B should be white). I used TallyHo decals for the insignia of the first two planes which ended up being noticeably translucent (and did not conform to panel lines). Terrible stuff. Anyway, were fun builds and reminded me why the Tamiya 1/72 Mustang is my favorite kit in the universe (and the Academy P-51B is nearly as good)

With only a few days left until the GB is over, I'm going to attempt an extremely ambitious triple Mustang build taking advantage of the fact that both the Tamiya and the Academy Mustangs are extremely good 'shake and bake' kits that should not cause me much trouble. Here's a summary of the builds and (possible problems) 1) Academy P-51B "Bonnie B II". Taken from the Xtradecal D-Day sheet. Alas, this particular P-51B had the fin fillets which the "Old Crow" boxing does not have. I ordered the P-51C kit that does but has not yet arrived. That still does not stop me from building up everything except the separate tail section. 2) Tamiya P-51D "Detroit Miss". Have always wanted to build this one so here's the chance. 3) Tamiya P-51D "Jumpin' Jacques". I have some old Hasegawa decals but I'm slightly terrified of how thick they'll look on natural metal. I ordered some Mr Setter/Softer from Japan a few weeks ago but waiting for that to arrive. If it does not arrive by early Saturday I will replace it with something else. The "JJ" will be armed with two bombs, rather than drop tanks, hence why I chose the F-51 kit.

Well I have taken a bit of a sabbatical from group builds as the subjects were not my usual area of fast, noisy pointy things. I however started on a 617 Sqn project, namely 3 x Lancs, with some other aircraft, including a Mustang III. Had a quick scan in prep for the upcoming F16, F111 and F15 GBs and thought.....I could get this Mustang III done! So, here it is, a bit out of my comfort zone, 1/72 and a prop powered a In The De Havilland Mosquito and then in a ?Borrowed? P-51B Mustang III (P-51B) Leonard Cheshire had pioneered a new method of marking enemy targets, flying in at a very low level in the face of strong defences. In four years of fighting against the bitterest opposition he maintained a standard of outstanding personal achievement, his successful operations being the result of careful planning, brilliant execution and supreme contempt for danger - for example, on one occasion he flew his P-51 Mustang in slow figures of 8 above a target obscured by low cloud, to act as a bomb-aiming mark for his squadron. Cheshire displayed the courage and determination of an exceptional leader. Group Captain Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire, VC, OM, DSO and Two Bars, DFC (7 September 1917 ? 31 July 1992) was a highly decorated British RAF pilot during the Second World War. Among the honours Cheshire received as a bomber pilot is the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. After the war, he became a charity worker, setting up the Leonard Cheshire Disability as well as other philanthropic organisations. Cheshire was, in his day, both the youngest Group Captain in the service and, following his VC, the most decorated. His notable wartime record makes his subsequent career all the more remarkable. Kit: Decals: References: Now any advice appreciated - what weapons should I mount, is the spinner sky or white?

Good afternoon, just got back from a week of holidays in Paris. Beautiful weather, by the way! And now, time to start with the Mustang. It's the famous kit from Revell, this time with the Malcom hood and decals for two RAF versions in the Dark sea grey/Ocean grey/Dark green scheme. It should be a rather quick build, which I will do along the Airfix Tiffie. They are both the same colours, so I will improve efficiency in painting two aircrafts with one mix of colours. So, don't be alarmed if you spot some parts which don't belong to a Mustang! Just some minor questions, the interiour of the mustang was the usual RAF interior green/grey, correct? Alex