1/72 Airfix P-51D Mustang - 100th Fighter Squadron, 332d Fighter Group - "Tuskegee Airmen" - Dec 1944

[Romeo Delta]

 

Introduction

 

Hello Britmodeller!

 

I thought to just mix my forum 'Intro Post' with a build thread for the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations GB. My name is Rowan, but use the pseudonym 'Romeo Delta' online as it's my initials. I'm new to these forums and quite new to this hobby. Still learning the basics and trying to learn the art of airbrushing. Haven't quite got that figured out yet.

 

I built a modelling desk a few years back in my shed and tried to get into it seriously back in 2013, but a change in career and everything was put into boxes for a few years. I recently bought a home, unpacked and "commandeered" a small room to quietly enjoy these kits again. Once it's all set up I'll show you guys. 

 

I used to make a few kits as a young boy and have started to get back into it as a form of relaxation. This hobby ticks a lot of boxes for me as I love military history, and through building the kits I learn a lot more about a diverse range of topics from the squadrons; unique things about the aircraft; and the history of the conflicts of that time.

 

Anyway, that's me. Let's start the build!

 

 

 

 

The Kit

 

I have chosen the 1/72 Airfix Mustang because it's an affordable scale to start in, and this model has a great reputation in terms of fit and accuracy. It's a recently tooled kit from 2012, has 53 parts, and the sprues are all clean and sharp with moulded recessed panel lines. The cockpit has a decal instrument panel and the cockpit sidewalls are quite detailed. The wheel wells and undercarriage look great for this scale. I'm really happy with it.

 

Decals are printed by Cartograf and are just for 1 scheme - 1Lt Spurgeon Ellington, 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group - and seem quite comprehensive with clear stencil data.

 

I will be making this completely 'Out Of The Box' with zero aftermarket, and using the supplied markings that come with the kit.

 

Paints will be acrylics and some Mr Metal paints. I plan on keeping things pretty basic and straightforward. I've never worked with metal finishes before, or used any form of pin-washing or weathering. So lots of new things to try.

 

 

Thanks for reading

Edited September 15, 2016 by Romeo Delta

[Greg in OK]

This is a great kit to start with and perfect for this GB. 

 

I am glad to hear you have set up a small place in your house to model, that can make all the difference in the world when it comes to enjoying the build.

 

Looking forward to your progress. 

 

Greg in OK

[TEMPESTMK5]

Good morning Rowan

  Welcome aboard in Brittmodeller and in this Gb , I have already built several Airfix Mustangs I think you will enjoy building it , it 's an easy kit to build but don't go too fast and when you will place the wings and fuselage together make dry fitting tests before glueing them ..

Regards

Patrice

Good morning Rowan

  Welcome aboard in Brittmodeller and in this Gb , I have already built several Airfix Mustangs I think you will enjoy building it , it 's an easy kit to build but don't go too fast and when you will place the wings and fuselage together make dry fitting tests before glueing them ..

Regards

Patrice

[Romeo Delta]

The Cockpit

 

 

 

Everything came off the sprues well except the notorious control stick snapped in half even using offset sprue cutters. Glued the parts together and gave the cockpit sides, wheel wells and cockpit a base coat of Gunze H58. I didn't have anything to represent the lighter Zinc Chromate Green, so I just used the H58 and then lightened it up with drybrushing from whatever I had on the shelf. I have been reading about 'scale effect' and about the lightening of colours as you view it further away, so I wasn't too fussed and just got on with it.

 

I used the black Tamiya panel wash for shading, and a bit of silver lightly drybrushed gave that solid metal / scuffed look to everything. I did the floor black and mottled some different browns to show the wood panelling coming through the black paint from use. I gave it a wash of Tamiya Panel Line again to darken it back. I highlighted some buttons around the cockpit in white.

 

While waiting for the paint to dry I started looking around and checking out some of the more advanced 1/32 Tamiya representations of this cockpit from professional modellers. Many had modelled some 'leads' coming out of the black boxes behind the seat. Those black boxes are the receiver and transmitter radio systems. I had some 0.3mm lead wire so I cut some pieces, dabbed the end in superglue, and folded it over the first box. It turned out OK. I had to touch up the boxes again in flat black as the superglue lifted some of the paint. I trimmed the wire at the bottom of the floor so it wouldn't cause any fit issues later.

 

The Instrument Panel is a decal and I did have to hit it a bit with Micro Sol to get it to conform. It seems too big for the front panel. But it melted on and I folded it over the edges with a Q Tip. Looks pretty cool and will help a lot with cockpit detail.

 

Now it's time to button the fuselage all up, and put the wings on. But so far I'm having a lot of fun with this.

 

Thanks for reading

Edited September 18, 2016 by Romeo Delta

[TEMPESTMK5]

God morning RD

 Nice work so far

Patrice

[Romeo Delta]

On 9/16/2016 at 4:44 PM, TEMPESTMK5 said:

... I have already built several Airfix Mustangs I think you will enjoy building it , it 's an easy kit to build but don't go too fast and when you will place the wings and fuselage together make dry fitting tests before glueing them ..

 

Regards

Patrice

 

 

Patrice, thanks for the heads up on the dry fitting, it took a little shaving and fiddling around to get a nice fit and heaps of clamps to try and keep any joins level and synced up. 

 

Thank you for the warning! Helped a lot. 

 

RD

[TEMPESTMK5]

Good afternoon RD

 Sharing build experiences that 's why BM exists ..

 

Patrice