Jump to content

North American RAF Mustang III, No 315 (Polish) Sq, November 1944, Tamiya 1/48


Ronan71

Recommended Posts

I managed to finish my Tamiya RAF Mustang III over the weekend. I used an Eduard photoetch set for the P-51B, Montex masks (which I found hard to remove and which left quite a lot of residue), and aftermarket Aeromaster decals which were far nicer than the overly thick Tamiya ones. I also used a set of resin Brassin wheels.

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

North_American_RAF_Mustang_III_finished_

  • Like 19
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Keith! I see they problem with those red flap markings, I did note after I had put them on that they were slightly out of register, but by that stage they were well and truly attached to the flaps with softening fluid, so I've left them as is. The standard kit decals were very thick and consequently hard to work with, but the aftermarket ones were great to use, and apart from the registry problems on the flap markings I would generally recommend them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Glad you like it! I recently got some decals to do a British MkIV Mustang, but I also have decals to make Bud Anderson's P-51D "Old Crow", so I'd say that will be the next Mustang I make.

I think the three lights on the wing were done with clear red, orange and green? All on a silver base. I then masked them up prior to spraying the main fuselage colours and overall I think they turned out quite nicely!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very nice model of a Polish Mustang. It has already been pointed out that it is in the codes of 315 Squadron. If I may, I would note some other small errors.


When fitted with a Malcolm Hood the aerial was replaced with a whip aerial, there was no lead running to the fin.


The bombs in the mission tally were painted yellow not white, an annoying and consistent error made by kit and decal manufacturers.


The band around the rear fuselage was white not Sky and narrower than the regulation 18 inches. Possibly in order to get the letter H in which touched the roundel and band.


In the summer of 1944 FB353 was flown by F/Lt Longin Majewski of 316 Squadron at Friston coded SZ*H.

In late 1944 it was transferred to 315 Squadron where it was flown by S/Ldr Andersz still with Majewski's scoreboard butr coded PK*H.


IMG_0002_zpsivvajtw0.jpg


IMG_0001_zps5kp5psep.jpg


Photo taken in late 1944 on escort mission to Norway.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the additional info on the plane. I was going to put a whip aerial on it (would have been easier than the lead to the fin!) but I decided to copy Tamiya's box art which shows PK-H with a wire running to the fin. I should have looked at the Aeromaster decal guide more closely which has a whip aerial (mind you I did want to try out my Uschi rigging thread!).

The incorrect coloured bomb markings I don't think I would have tried to correct as I could see that being very messy, but shame I did not know the tail band was white as it was I tried hard to match the colour of it to the letters on the fuselage.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 11 months later...

Great build ronan, do u mind if I ask where you got the decals from? I'm building the same bird and like you, find the decals way too thick and can't get them to conform with decalfix or microsol/set.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you! I also found the Tamiya decals way too thick and unusable.

The decals I used were from an old set by Aeromaster which I found from this website in the Netherlands: http://www.flash-aviation.nl/

The set I got was this one: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/174324-aeromaster-48-212-fighting-mustangs-p-51b-c-part-ii

I think I might have got the last set from the Dutch site, but worth asking them.

I'd say you might be able to get a set of generic RAF markings for it if that sheet is no longer available, if I was buidling it again I'd probably paint on the roundels using some Maketar masks or similar.

Hope you can find a set and good luck with the rest of the build!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome mate :)

Thanks for the links, I have found some on eBay by techmod but unfortunately have to wait for the auction to end in 5 days before i see if i win them! I have got a 1/48 scale hurricane sheet which i could use but it just wouldn't look right i don't think. Thanks again! :)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No problem! Yes, I think Techmod do various markings for this kit and they are easier to get. The only thing I did hear about techmod is that they are very thin and can be hard to use, but I think definitely worth a go if you get them for a good price.

Good luck and looking forward to seeing the final result!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...