Antoine Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 CHINA/PRC Mustang P-51D 1/72 AIRFIX Well, after much hard discussions with myself, I think that I'll be able to start this one soon, and it's only time. Another Mustang? Yes, another, but at the same time, I understand that there was none already started in this GB, and thinking about PRC/China, I'm sure you would have thought about another aircraft. So Mustang it is. I must say that the box was already open, as I wanted to tackle it shortly after my return from abroad, but nothing came of it, so, time for another try. What have we in the box? Well, there's a nice review by Paul over here, which cover already everything, but let me show you what's in MY box. That was the boxart. Then what's left of the sprues... Then, what's not so common under thoses lattitudes, the decal sheet I'll be using. Bestfong, from Taiwan, decal sheet N°72055, NA P-51D/K in PLAAF, with three options. Here are the decals. I'm a bit lazy, so I've asked Ed to give a hand. And here's what I have as a guideline. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 Cool. An uncommon scheme for the P-51D and all the better for that. Been planning to do the same with some spare Airfix MiG-15 decals shared by a kind BM member so will be taking a close interest in your progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 Great choice. It will be nice to see a Mustang with a different set of stars and bars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 I didn't see this one coming Antoine! Great choice. Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 Well, I thought about a MiG-15, from Ed in 1/72, but... couldn't put my hand on the box, too far away down in the stash. And then, there are already numerous MiG-15 in the GB. So... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 I've started!! A few pics latter, but before all, there will be another addon, as I hate to deal with PE harness and buckles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 My first task will be the cockpit, which I find detailled enough for this scale. Nevertheless, there's still room for improvement. Here I start filling somes holes that could be seen once the airframe is closed. Some other will be left as they are, being in some non-strategic locations. I've also cut the seat's base, as I'll use a resin one, and I want to be sure to be able to close the canopy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 Just a few wires added to the radio set. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 A replacement seat is IMHO a good choice, I find the airfix seat the weakest part in what is otherwise a nicely detailed cockpit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 Yes, agree, and not specific to airfix. My minimum setup would be mask, then mask with resin seat/harness, then mask with resin seat/harness and a set of PE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Really nice to see this one underway, Antoine. Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 Early morning work. I think I wont push too far with the cockpit, as it's already quite nice as it is considering the scale. So the next touch will be the paint. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truro Model Builder Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Always nice to see another P-51, and definitely in an unusual scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 Some news, at last... The pit can be considered finished. No difficult build, but there were some issues with airfix shitty plastic (Chewing gum?), as I did broke the stick, and was left with no other choice than to keep a big blob of CA glue at the breaking point, as I was not able to sand it properly without breaking it again...(Talking about shitty plastic, the main gear legs are completely warped, and will be difficult to repair also...Airfix if yo hear me...) I suspect also that assembling the two half fuselage will not be that easy... Well. Pit is painted interior green, with black instrument board, radio pack, and also the wooden floor covered in tar-like material. I did use the decals instrument, which seem sufficient to me, and added a few (very few touch of color here and there, trying hard to avoid the Xmas tree effect. The resin seat is a welcome addition, specificaly due to the presence of harness. Just a few drop of paint, et voilà!!! I'm not satisfied with my own color choice for the harness, but I'll try to live with it. The whole thing. Note to myself: A bit of cleaning would be welcome BEFORE taking any pics! Wel, I must also work on my photo setup.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Very nice looking cockpit Antoine, especially in 1/72 scale. I look forward to seeing it come together. Craig. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 Thanks. I'm currently thinking about ordering a métal set of legs... but the price is nearly the kit's itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Nice looking cockpit Antoine - it should really look the part when everything's closed up Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Antoine, welcome to the "modellers who broke the stick on the 1/72 Airfix kit club" ! Really, it's something that happens to most modellers building this kit, the combination of soft plastic, thin parts and large sprue gates is not good at all. The warped gear legs are another common problem of this kit. In any case, you managed to get a very good looking cockpit ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 Thank you Giorgio..... I was happy with airfix new tools, but I'll have another look at them from now on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted February 16, 2015 Author Share Posted February 16, 2015 Not the best day to take pictures, but.... (anyway, with me at the controls, whatever the day...). After some sanding here and there, as the pit makes the fuselage difficult to close, it's done. And while Iwas at it, the wings also. And trying for more realism, I've also drilled the spent case chute. Then the landing lights. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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