JimmyZ Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 (edited) Hi all. My previous 9 builds has all been some sort of camo scheme, so it's time for a bare metal subject. And since I always have room for another Mustang, that's what I'll do. However I couldn't decide which Mustang to do for my next build, so I'll just do them all! I have to warn you, this isn't going to be a very fast build as I have few other non-modelling related things on my plate at the moment. Ok, so here's what I've got I also have some aftermarket and spare decals Microscale and spare decals from the Italeri F-51D kit and of course, the decals that comes with these kits Academy usually has superb quality decals - just kidding Luckily these looks printed okay. I have academy sheets where the red circle in the RAF roundel isn't anywhere near the centre And the Airfix decals. Looks perfect as usual So it seems I still have some choices to make. Here's some photographs of the possible subjects The Airfix F-51D. The OOB option looks really great. But I also have this F-51 option from the Microscale sheet Pretty sure I'll go for the OOB option As for the P-51D's, I haven't built the OOB option yet. I don't think it's the prettiest Mustang scheme ever, but a blue nosed Mustang would bring some diversity to my Mustang collection... But, I have this option from the Microscale sheet I think I'll go for "Jan". I also the the "wildcard" option of going for a RAF Mustang Some camo might help break all the silver from the bare metal Mustangs in my production line. Hmmm, choices.... Moving to the P-51C Mustang. The Academy kit gives 3 options. I won't go for the Chinese one, so that leaves two viable options Wow! Isn't she a beaut!? The 530th FS option (top of the 3) doesn't look bad, but the 5th FS (yellow tail) just looks so racy. There's no choice here. To make it a little more interesting, I also have these Unfortunately not enough for all 3 kits, so yet more decisions. Looks like deciding to build all 3 Mustangs didn't make for any easier choices.... Well that's it for now. Next I'll share the mandatory sprue shots. Cheers Jimmy Edited March 21, 2018 by JimmyZ 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Looks interesting. I'll be building RAF types myself and these will interesting to see how these kits come together. Bum on seat . Crack on . Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrzeM Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Polish 303 Squadron gives you option for DG/MSG camo or bare metal: (its the same squadron, despite different letters - the code RF has been changed to PD after the war) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmouredSprue Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Nice project. I'll be following. Cheers Paulo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 I'm up for a bit of this! Justin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyZ Posted March 24, 2018 Author Share Posted March 24, 2018 Hi all. Here's the sprue shots before I wash them. The many times seen Airfix P-51D sprues. All looking good. However the canopies have some marks on them. I'm a little disappointed. Here's a better photo to see the marks And, DA DA DHUM! Place your bets now. How many control sticks will I break as I remove it from the sprue? Option 1 - 0 Option 2 - 1 Option 3 - 2 Option 4 - all 3 of them! In my own experience I have a 50% change of breaking them. And the F-51 sprue. Same as the P-51, but with extra bits Again I have damage here. I've never seen this with a new Airfix kit before, certainly not with a Mustang This is harder to see on a photo, but the panel lines are messy Here's the Academy sprues. Very Tamiya-esque. No quality issues here Not a big fan of this though. But I do understand why they separated the tailpane. Because of the added fin fillet of this one. These side windows wont be much fun, I'm already dreading glueing these. Now on to wash the plastic, and start painting the IP's. Cheers Jimmy 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Airfix control columns. I've never NOT broken one on the sprue...! Justin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 used a razor saw to get my control Column off without breaking but the carpet claimed it whilst painting 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 ^---- it seems like you can run, but you can't hide! Personally, I'd be considering the Chinese one, just to make something a little different. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magua87 Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 (edited) On 24/03/2018 at 7:52 PM, JimmyZ said: This is harder to see on a photo, but the panel lines are messy I had similar issues with my Airfix F-51s. I had wonky panel lines on one wing and again on the fuselage under the cockpit. Those burrs on your fuselage are something different again! Edited March 25, 2018 by Magua87 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 On 3/24/2018 at 1:52 AM, JimmyZ said: This is harder to see on a photo, but the panel lines are messy Looks like somebody took the plastic out of the mold while it was still soft in the first photo. It looks like a gloved fingerprint. The 2nd photo looks as if there was scrap plastic that got pressed into the soft plastic while still in the mold. Some of the panel lines seem to have poor engraving in the mold. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyZ Posted March 28, 2018 Author Share Posted March 28, 2018 I finally have real progress to show, albeit very little. I've been doing the P-51D kit instrument panel alongside the PE one. Goodness, the PE IP took forever, and it is such fine work, I am amazed I've completed it without smashing the thing by accident. This is still without the gunsight in place. I still have to decide which I want to use. Think I will use the PE IP in my P-51D, and the OOB IP on the F-51D? It's really hard to see the instrument dials on the PE IP. The one photo with a bit of glare shows it, but it's hard to see the actual dials without backlighting. I'm considering glueing a white piece of paper behind the film to hopefully bring the dials out a bit. My next step is to do the gunsight. I have to modify the kit piece with PE parts...not really looking forward to it. Cheers Jimmy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyZ Posted March 30, 2018 Author Share Posted March 30, 2018 Hi all. Last update for a few days as I'm going away for the easter wekend. This is the gunsight for the F-51, the OOB part And this is the PE modified one for I'll be using for the P-51D. Looks a great deal more accurate than the OOB piece. here's the PE IP completed. And all 3 Mustang IP's side by side. The P-51C gunsight is molded to the fuselage piece Cheers Jimmy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre B Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Concerning KH 695, the Mustang IV that "landed" at Getterön, Varberg, Sweden... Cheers / André Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyZ Posted April 8, 2018 Author Share Posted April 8, 2018 Good Sunday all. I've started some work on the seats. Here's the Quickboost seat compared to the Airfix seat. Also, this happened... and this is after carefully sawing the piece off the sprue successfully, then broke it while cleaning it up Luckily I've managed to glue it back together Then I went and worked on the 51C's cockpit. Hmmmm...the control column looks way too long After confirming on some reference photographs I decided to shorten it. After puking, I used some thin paperclip metal cut to size and bent to look the part. I drilled a hole into the base of the control, and squeezed the new stick in. I think it looks a bit better Moving on the the other 51D control stick, you can guess what happened It probably doesn't look like it, but I was very careful, but still managed to break it. This one I couldn't get glued back together, so used a needle cut to size, and glued it to the base and handle of the original piece. So all in all I broke all three control sticks, albeit the 51C was on purpose. Cheers Jimmy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyZ Posted April 8, 2018 Author Share Posted April 8, 2018 And last update for the weekend and for a while. I've completed all three cockpits (sidewalls excluded). P-51C I've added foil seat-belts, electrical wire on the battery / radio in the back and off course the modified control stick P-51D I've used the Quickboost seat, PE IP, modified control stick and electrical wire for battery / radio in the back. The Quickboost seat is awesome, really looks the part. The PE IP looks OK, but was very finicky to put together. It really tested my "fine" working skills, which proved wanting on a few occasions. I'm not sure if the trouble is worth it. Maybe if the IP is sprayed instead of brush painted it would look really good and be worth the hours to put it together. However, the sdandard gunsight doesn't do it for me after seeing this one. I might actually be tempted to use just the PE gunsight on the standard Airfix IP in future. F-51D All standard except for added foil seatbelts and electrical wire for the battery / radio in the back. Cheers Jimmy 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyZ Posted April 27, 2018 Author Share Posted April 27, 2018 (edited) Hi everyone. I finally got to do some modelling again last night and today, and made a bit of progress. P-51C cockpit glued to fuselage And starboard Glued together, taped up and out away to dry. The separate tail section also glued together The P-51D's interior. These are the only PE pieces I've used. The PE set was meant for a kit with a less detailed interior. And sides painted up. Cockpit piece glued to the fuselage All glued and taped up, and left to dry. Here's the F-51D's interior painted. Glued and taped. That's all for now. Cheers Jimmy Edited April 27, 2018 by JimmyZ 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyZ Posted May 1, 2018 Author Share Posted May 1, 2018 Hi all. I've spent another few hours on my Mustangs. See some photos below. Three glued fuselages I applied some filler for the seems, and left to dry Some time later I glued the P-51B's tail to the forward fuselage I moved on to a piece of work I did not look forward to. Removing the flaps so I can have them in the down position And done 😰 Top wing halves glued to bottom Still not cleaned after the flapectomy And then I started filling the wing panel lines. This will again be the last post in a while. Cheers Jimmy 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRealMrEd Posted May 1, 2018 Share Posted May 1, 2018 Looks like a fun build. I'll be tuning in... Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted May 1, 2018 Share Posted May 1, 2018 What are you using to fill your panel lines? Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyZ Posted May 12, 2018 Author Share Posted May 12, 2018 On 5/1/2018 at 6:37 PM, TheRealMrEd said: Looks like a fun build. I'll be tuning in... Ed Please do! On 5/1/2018 at 7:43 PM, Courageous said: What are you using to fill your panel lines? Stuart Tamiya Surface Primer. Now, I can't remember why I chose it over Perfect Plastic Putty, since cleaning the latter up is easier 🤔 I guess I'll use PPP on the other Mustang's, and make a ruling for once and for all on which works the best for filling panel lines! I have some time to model today, so I should post an update soon. Cheers Jimmy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyZ Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 I have mostly been filling fuselage seams yesterday, as well as wing panel lines. Unfortunately I didn't take photos. I do however have a success story. Since I was filling and smoothing fuselage seams, I thought I'd better fit the aerial pole to make sure it fits. Then I noticed this I honestly don't know how anyone is expected to clean that up. I did however attempt to locate my inner zen, and attempt to remove from the sprue. I managed to get it off the sprue without breaking by cutting the section out with a cutter I then very carefully cut the scrap off with a knife, and sander it smooth while I could still easily do it It still needed to be removed from the last piece of sprue, and this I did with a razor saw This last bit was the trickiest to clean up since it's difficult to hold, but I managed to do it to some extent. However, success ends there. I glued the wing halves together (all 3 kits), and I even remembered to drill the holes for the wing pylons. I did however forget to paint the wheel wells.....and as a brush painter, I see tricky painting times ahead 😓 Cheers Jimmy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amblypygid Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 I've got a virtually finished Airfix F-51 (just waiting for the rockets to be painted and attached), and the mast was of a similar standard to yours. It didn't clean up well, I admit; I should probably have fashioned my own from scrap. Yours is far superior! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 Nice work cleaning up that part! Håkan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 Well done with that antenna mast. I gave up on mine and made my own from plasticard. Andrew 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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