SimonL Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 This was one of the first kits I picked up when restarting the hobby back in around 2004. It’s been left partially built in box in the garage since 2005. I think I used some cheap silver spray paint from the hardware store. All the other paint would have been Humbrol enamels. The years haven’t been kind. The (very) thick decals were cracking and falling off, the instructions were missing and the tail wheel was missing. I decided to see if I could finish it off. I replaced the stars and bars with those from the “new” Airfix P-51. The tail wheel came from an “old” Airfix P-51. Touching up of the flaky markings was with Italeri and Tamiya Acrylics, a bit of oils to add just a little patina of dirt. 41 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Great looking save 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Very handsome. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Great save! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatFlyHalf Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 And your late summer sunshine helps too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelMonkey Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 Great recovery! I've seen the refinished 1:1 scale flying at Fantasy of Flight in Florida. Yours is a great likeness. I've done the Academy kit too and enjoyed it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive_t Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 Well rescued! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted February 26, 2019 Share Posted February 26, 2019 An excellent result. If I recall correctly, I have built the same aircraft from a 1/72 Hasegawa kit. The scope for red-tailed Tuskegee P-51's seems almost limitless. Your repairs have produced a fine rendition. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted February 26, 2019 Share Posted February 26, 2019 Great save of a old model. I always like to see a model that has been give life after so long. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted February 26, 2019 Share Posted February 26, 2019 Very nice indeed. Perhaps I should look at my shelf of doom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ham Hands Posted February 26, 2019 Share Posted February 26, 2019 On 24/02/2019 at 18:02, SimonL said: This was one of the first kits I picked up when restarting the hobby back in around 2004. It’s been left partially built in box in the garage since 2005. I think I used some cheap silver spray paint from the hardware store. All the other paint would have been Humbrol enamels. The years haven’t been kind. The (very) thick decals were cracking and falling off, the instructions were missing and the tail wheel was missing. I decided to see if I could finish it off. I replaced the stars and bars with those from the “new” Airfix P-51. The tail wheel came from an “old” Airfix P-51. Touching up of the flaky markings was with Italeri and Tamiya Acrylics, a bit of oils to add just a little patina of dirt. You offer hope to many. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted February 26, 2019 Author Share Posted February 26, 2019 Thanks for the kind comments. Great photos @ModelMonkey! I am envious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelMonkey Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 Cheers Simon - it was a great experience. As it happened myself and my dad turned up at Fantasy of Flight on the very last of business in their current guise and the owner (Kermit Weeks) was wandering around talking to people. I suspect that may have been standard practice though as he seemed a very friendly bloke! We were all gathered on the taxiway, right up close to the P51. We were just warned not to touch it as it they'd spent all morning polishing it! Kermit wandered over and spent about 10 minutes explaining how to he came to own the P51, what it was like to fly, etc and we were gently ushered back as he fired it up, taxied it past us and then took off! For someone used to UK airshows with miles of barriers 100m from the flightline it was amazing - not a hi-vis jacket or fence in sight! After a few low passes he lands, stops it in front of us and then passes on a bit more info - great experience. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted February 27, 2019 Author Share Posted February 27, 2019 @ModelMonkey I don’t have an experience like that, but did see a close up demonstration of a Mustang at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook near Melbourne, which was pretty special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModelMonkey Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Nice, flying aside, just being within drooling distance of an idling Merlin is a treat! 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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