Manipled Mutineer Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) I come a bit late to the build as I was saving up my project for my summer holiday, which started on 13 July and which I have only just come back from. With my very intermittent internet access I decided to save my updates until I got home, and here is the first of them... I took as my subject FR901, a P-51A Mustang (Mustang Mk II), used for long-range ferry tank trials. It is illustrated in "The North American P-51 Early Mustang" and on the web, including some very fine photographs on Pozefilms.de. The pictures date from July 1943. For my base kit I used two reboxings of the venerable Frog P-51A/Mustang MkII kit, one from the limited Novo release, and the other from an unidentified Eastern European manufacturer. I cross-kitted, using the main components from the no-name kit (which whilst softer in detail had fewer sink-marks than Novo) with the latter's markedly crisper detailed parts. To supplement this base I also purchased Quickboost exhausts (which I will not now be using as I do not think they are correct for this particular machine) a Pavla canopy and some paper instrument panels. The cockpit fittings came from MPM's P-51 kit, where they had been rendered superfluous by the resin cockpit parts provided. I had already built another iteration of the FROG/Novo kit as FR919 of No. 2 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, and retained and reused the instructions from this kit to support the build. I chose these kits as they were cheap and readily available and I knew that, although basic, they made-up well. The two base kits together cost around £8, and I got a CBI-theatre P-51A out of the remaining parts, plus leftover decals from when I made FR919. Aftermarket parts came to around £5.50 excluding postage. Having gathered the necessary parts, my first step was to annotate my instructions with the changes required, to write myself out a step-by-step illustrated build guide and to begin measuring-up the alterations required to the inboard wing leading edge to bring it to the correct profile. I also took the opportunity of researching the detail of the wheel wells. Edited August 10, 2014 by Manipled Mutineer 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted August 11, 2014 Author Share Posted August 11, 2014 Next I assembled the MPM cockpit, undercoated it black and temporarily fixed it into the fuselage; fortunately the fit was quite good. I also put the propeller and spinner together and filled in the sink mark. (Note bespoke Cookie Crisp cutting mat/work surface) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Welcome to the GB, and glad to see another Allison Mustang! bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 (edited) Welcome to the GB, and glad to see another Allison Mustang! bob Thanks Bob, good to be here! Edited August 12, 2014 by Manipled Mutineer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 My next step was to turn my attention to the detail-less cockpit sidewalls; as I was not planning to do an open-cockpit build I decided to do a little scratchbuilding using layers of card and a little sprue to create a 3D effect: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellzy Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Looking good ,welcome to the build .have not seen a novo kit for some time ,the shape looks about right good luck with your build Les 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 Looking good ,welcome to the build .have not seen a novo kit for some time ,the shape looks about right good luck with your build Les Thanks Les, I think I might need it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 (edited) Having taken care of the cockpit area, I then addressed the wing roots and inner leading edge, with their P-51D type profile. I wasn't convinced (contrary to Franks) that there was enough plastic for a full reprofile, so I decided to settle for something more impressionistic. (This is still a work in progress - the port wing is as moulded, the starboard wing has been reprofiled.) With reference to the detailed plans and isometric drawings in Franks, I corrected the panel lines as far as possible without major changes to things such as flaps (which appear to be a little short). The wings in particular (there appeared to be less to do on the fuselage) display a mixture of scribed and raised panel lines; I tested this combination during my build of the donor kit into a P-51A Mustang of the 1st Air Commando Group, and it looks reasonably cohesive. I also added panel lines (which were previously completely missing) to the tailplanes. Edited August 14, 2014 by Manipled Mutineer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 (edited) As well as detailing the sidewalls I took the opportunity of putting some light detail on the rear shelf and painting the whole, albeit not very well... Edited August 14, 2014 by Manipled Mutineer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted August 16, 2014 Author Share Posted August 16, 2014 (edited) In order to test the concept, I tried out the scribing on the wings, tailplanes and fuselages of the donor kit and then put it together, using one of the decal options from the FROG boxing, as a North American Mustang P-51A of the 1st Air Commando Group, India, 1944. I also had a go at the wing reprofile, with mixed results. Edited August 16, 2014 by Manipled Mutineer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolwe82 Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 that looks nice, i like this camp with all the stripes, just dont have the balls to give it a go .. ) but your looks cool 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted August 16, 2014 Author Share Posted August 16, 2014 that looks nice, i like this camp with all the stripes, just dont have the balls to give it a go .. ) but your looks cool Thanks - I think the secrets are a throwaway kit and no expectations. - that way any half decent result is a win! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted September 14, 2014 Author Share Posted September 14, 2014 So, after having lost inspiration for a while, I came back to this build this weekend. I did some fairly "bitty" work, including having another go at the wing root leading edges, blanking off the rear exhaust vent, thinning the tailwheel doors and looking for a passable tailwheel assembly in the spares box, and trimming the cockpit assembly to improve the fit. I also attempted to remove some of the teacup-sized rivets for which this kit is infamous: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 (edited) I thought that it was "get your finger out time", so this weekend I put it all together and gave an undercoat of Hu11 to show up any blemishes and to provide the basis for some weathering later. I also filed out a bit of an aperture for the wing landing light (I'll decide how to fill it later) and added some "blobs" to the upper wings to represent the missing upper wing lights. I also tried to use my Pavla canopy but unfortunately it is a little short, so I had in the end to use the kit canopy, which is rather thick but otherwise accurate. The undercarriage has been assembled but will not be attached to the airframe until later in the build. I also added in a scratchbuilt card and sprue wheel well and rear spar to give an impression of detail. Edited September 22, 2014 by Manipled Mutineer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Not the easiest of things to build to a modern standard, these. Is it just me or does the starboard tailplane need tweaking down a bit to align it straight before you put any paint on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 Yes, it has been a fair bit of work! I'll take a look at the tailplane, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 I did a bit more tonight. I cleaned up the wings a little, filled the landing light aperture with CA glue to mimic glass, lightly drilled the machine gun ports to give an illusion of depth, and gave the panel lines a dark wash. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolwe82 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 good progres and i see your work bench is in similar conditions like mine... the more and more i m building, the less and less free space i have for the kit itself.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellzy Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Thats a standerd work bench and all good build come of them ,nice work on a very old kit Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 (edited) Taking shape... Can you guess what it is yet...? This weekend I decided I wanted to make some real progress so, after a little tinkering (putting a "wire" down from the antenna socket to the cockpit rear decking, finally sanding off the nubs representing guns, adding trim tab linkages, etc, I finally turned to the 150-gallon long range ferry tanks. It was these that had first attracted me to this subject but I had been putting off tackling them as I simply didn't know how to approach them, as I quickly found out that there didn't seem to be any aftermarket solution out there. In the end, after faffing about with card and other media, I decided to try balsa wood, a new medium for me but the only logical one left. Using a combination of the useful side view in Franks, together with my best estimates of the width (taken from a head-on photograph) and overall plan (interpreted from a number of isometric views), I made some templates which I then drew around straight onto the wood. Cutting this out gave me my basic shape, which I then shaped and refined with a nail file to produce a reasonable approximation of the real thing, subjext to the addition of cardboard washers at the front edge to assist with the fitting to the wing (the balsa strip I was using not having quite enough depth to furnish the whole thing. I then made holes to accommodate the underwing hardpoints (which I left on to provide more surface area for adhesion, and stuck the whole together. Next weekend, more painting and final assembly (if I can find the necessary decals...) Edited October 4, 2014 by Manipled Mutineer 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted September 29, 2014 Author Share Posted September 29, 2014 (edited) A first stab at the paint scheme. From the photos available I believe that this aircraft carried a slight variation on the original (Ducimus calls it "A") scheme, and so have painted accordingly. I may go over the Hu30 with something darker. Edited October 5, 2014 by Manipled Mutineer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted October 4, 2014 Author Share Posted October 4, 2014 Touched up the paint job further, drilled holes for underwing identification lights, very much hoping one last push tomorrow will finish her off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 you're nearly there, great work so far. do look forward to see her in the gallery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted October 5, 2014 Author Share Posted October 5, 2014 Decals applied, Decalfix doing its work (I hope...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manipled Mutineer Posted October 5, 2014 Author Share Posted October 5, 2014 (edited) Completed underside: Face on: Edited October 5, 2014 by Manipled Mutineer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts