FortyEighter Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 (edited) This will be one of two entries that I intend to make for this GB. Mustang Mk. IV NZ2419 of 2 (Wellington) Squadron late 1940s / early 1950s. I'll be using a Tamiya 1/48 kit, Eduard cockpit etch and national markings from Xtradecals. I also have a set of Quickboost resin flaps which may get used and have just received a Brassin uncuffed Hamilton propeller - hopefully this will fit the Tamiya kit even if designed for the Eduard version. See you all with some progress next week! Mike Edited December 20, 2019 by FortyEighter 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEMPESTMK5 Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 Good evening Mike Welcome aboard and have fun .. Patrice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted December 19, 2019 Author Share Posted December 19, 2019 Ready to assemble fuselage halves and add wings: and a closer view of the cockpit parts My second build is lurking in the background of the top photo, I've yet to decide on a livery. Mike 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Ha ha, that jumble of parts looked like more than two on first glance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 On 12/14/2019 at 5:34 AM, FortyEighter said: Mustang Mk. IV NZ2419 of 2 (Wellington) Squadron late 1940s / early 1950s. Hi Mike, The Mk IV designation was never used on our RNZAF P51's. They arrived too late for combat operations (meant to replace the war weary Corsairs). All the Mustangs were cocooned for storage, early 1946 and most were not brought out of Storage till circa 1950-52 (your build 1952), and retired Mid 1950 to late 50's All the Mustangs belonged to one of 4 Territorial Squadrons of the Territorial Air Force (TAF) (National Guard for our US colleagues) where they only really flew on the Weekends. Some were assigned to RNZAF 42 Sqn Ohakea for Fighter Affiliation/Drogue Towing etc. NZ4219 was assigned to 2 Wellington Sqn TAF The Checkerboard colours were to represent the Provincial Rugby Colours, No. 1 Sqn Auckland (Blue/White) No. 2 Sqn Wellington (Gold/Black), No. 3 Sqn Canterbury (Red/Black) No. 4 Sqn Otago (Blue/Gold (or Yellow)) Look forward to how your build progresses. I have a P51D underway (NZ2413) (too far along for this Group build), of No. 1 Auckland Sqn TAF Regards Alan 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted December 20, 2019 Author Share Posted December 20, 2019 9 hours ago, LDSModeller said: The Mk IV designation was never used on our RNZAF P51's. They arrived too late for combat operations (meant to replace the war weary Corsairs). Hi Alan, Thanks for your informative reply. My own research had confirmed most of your post but I had missed the designation of your Mustangs (and must admit that I took the Mk. IV from the decal sheet!). I've since found the description "P-51D-30-NT" for this aircraft - do you agree with that? Also, do you know if NZ2419 had puttied wing seams? I've filled them but can easily swap for the other kit's wings which haven't been filled yet. Regards Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 2 hours ago, FortyEighter said: Hi Alan, Thanks for your informative reply. My own research had confirmed most of your post but I had missed the designation of your Mustangs (and must admit that I took the Mk. IV from the decal sheet!). I've since found the description "P-51D-30-NT" for this aircraft - do you agree with that? Also, do you know if NZ2419 had puttied wing seams? I've filled them but can easily swap for the other kit's wings which haven't been filled yet. Hi Mike, Looking through my RNZAF references, our Mustangs are really only referred to as P51D's or by RNZAF Serial and the occasional US BuerNo.. (early on, some still did wear the US BuerNo. on the Tail fin (circa 1945-46)) Books like Southern Cross Mustangs (David Muir) may have better information. Looking at Joe Bauers Website, it appears your particular P51D is a P51D-25-NT. As to your question about the puttied wing seams, yes they did. Caveat to that is though, during their brief operational life, when/if the putty became chipped/loose/fell out, it was not replaced (Got that info from someone who worked on them) Regards Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted December 20, 2019 Author Share Posted December 20, 2019 Thanks Alan, Will change the title to P-51D, that way it must be correct! So; puttied wings, uncuffed prop and Dallas canopy to get an authentic model. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 2 hours ago, FortyEighter said: uncuffed prop Hi Mike, Yes, except one, NZ2413 was the only one that had a Cuffed Prop Regards Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted December 21, 2019 Author Share Posted December 21, 2019 22 hours ago, LDSModeller said: Looking at Joe Bauers Website, it appears your particular P51D is a P51D-25-NT. Hi Alan I've been doing some more research on this aircraft. All websites seem to agree that it was originally 45-11509 BUT websites listing variants against serial numbers disagree and some have this airframe as a 25-NT and some as a 30-NT. Guess I'll just stick with P-51D. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 2 hours ago, FortyEighter said: I've been doing some more research on this aircraft. All websites seem to agree that it was originally 45-11509 BUT websites listing variants against serial numbers disagree and some have this airframe as a 25-NT and some as a 30-NT. Hi Mike Phillip Treweek (Kiwi Aircraft Images) puts the RNZAF versions as 30-NT P51D Kiwi Aircraft Images I have noted on occasion, Joe Bauer's site has used RNZAF info, so, perhaps a check with the RNZAF Museum might of use to check what records they have of the correct designation? Regards Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted March 7, 2020 Author Share Posted March 7, 2020 Whoops, hadn't realised that it was so long since my last post nor that I didn't take any photos during the build phase - sorry Patrice! Anyway this is where it is at today: The last two weeks have had setbacks with the metal finish: I originally used Alclad chrome on the fuselage but couldn't get a decent finish (and I have used the paint successfully before). So, Plan B was to use Humbrol "rattle" chrome - a good finish but badly marked by the masking tape applied before using Humbrol silver on the wings. Plan C reversed the order of spraying as the silver wasn't affected by masking tape (which was stuck to my clean cutting mat first to reduce the stickiness) - success! The difference in the two shades is easy to see on the elevators, rudder and wing to fuselage joint. Most of the smaller parts are painted and should be attached tomorrow. Providing there is no issue with masking the chrome for the anti-glare panel, this might just get over the line by the deadline. Mike 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEMPESTMK5 Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 Good evening Mike Very good job so far (despite the lack of photos during the building phase ).. Patrice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted March 9, 2020 Author Share Posted March 9, 2020 And now standing on her legs (prop just a push fit and still in three parts) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share Posted March 15, 2020 I'm declaring this as finished but am not happy with the final finish, particularly as the masking tape has again lifted some paint this evening (though I could argue that the anti-glare pabel is just weather worn!. The upper wing roundels aren't in the correct position but to change that I need to get some more decals - they didn't want to settle down over the actuators and using Microsol only encouraged the red part of the roundels to leach into the white. Pictures as it is in the Gallery and a few more below: Mike 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Shame about those niggling problems but the finish is absolutely superb 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted March 16, 2020 Author Share Posted March 16, 2020 2 hours ago, Alan P said: Shame about those niggling problems but the finish is absolutely superb 👍 Thanks Alan, I'm going to come back to this model (and the other which wasn't finished) later in the year. Don't know why I had problems with the metallic finish or masking tape lifting paint - in last year's dedicated 1/72 Mustang build everything worked fine! Meanwhile it's back to grey jets...…... Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 50 minutes ago, FortyEighter said: Thanks Alan, I'm going to come back to this model (and the other which wasn't finished) later in the year. Don't know why I had problems with the metallic finish or masking tape lifting paint - in last year's dedicated 1/72 Mustang build everything worked fine! Meanwhile it's back to grey jets...…... Mike GREY JETS ROOOOOL 😂 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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