Jump to content

Airfix RNZAF Mustang IV


Doccur

Recommended Posts

Greetings,

 

I wish to get involved with this GB with this little Airfix mustang that I bagged for about a fiver from Aldi (or Lidl I can’t remember). Not being particularly fond of the stars and bars, I found a nice decal sheet with a lovely 2 Squadron RNZAF aircraft. I seem to have a a soft spot for a nice roundel with a checkerboard. This should hopefully be a relatively quick and straightforward build once I get started! Famous last words...

 

49385799971_16e06b5e8b_b.jpg


Cheers,

 

Ash

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Doccur said:

a lovely 2 Squadron RNZAF aircraft.

Always nice to see an RNZAF (TAF) Mustang

 

A little bit about your particular airframe (2nd page in link)

NZ2419

( I have No connection to Ventura products what so ever)

Look forward to your build

 

Regards

 

Alan

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, Doccur said:

Thanks so much @LDSModeller! Do you happen to know if this particular machine had anything different from the standard ‘D’ mustang? I see in one of those photos NZ2419 has the cuffless prop?

 

Cheers

 

Ash

Hi Ash,

 

RNZAF P51D's were pretty much stock, exception being they all ( bar one NZ2413)

had cuff-less props (NZ2413 has standard cuffed prop)

 

Hard to tell from the photos, but the airframe may have been natural metal or

painted in High Speed Silver (HSS), if HSS then the area around exhaust shroud

was natural metal. Prop nose cone most likely NM

 

Hope that helps?

 

Regards

 

Alan

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, LDSModeller said:

they all ( bar one NZ2413)

had cuff-less props 

Thanks Alan, I’ll have to source a replacement. 
 

2 hours ago, LDSModeller said:

Hard to tell from the photos, but the airframe may have been natural metal or

painted in High Speed Silver (HSS), if HSS then the area around exhaust shroud

was natural metal. Prop nose cone most likely NM

The article suggests a NMF so I’ll go for that, maybe add a couple of different shades on the occasional panel. 
 

Cheers for the help! 

 

Ash

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 minutes ago, Doccur said:

Thanks Alan, I’ll have to source a replacement

I can send you an Airfix prop if it helps. PM me.

 

Martin

Edited by RidgeRunner
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Ash,

Just looking at your photo above (couldn't see them on the kit sprues)

the Rocket Stubs can also be utilized (just remove the rockets) to add

to your RNZAF Model

A colour photo I manged to find (from when Photo Bucket went pear shaped),

you can see the stubs  under the wings

RNZAFP51DNZ2423colour1.jpg

(Image used for Illustration purposes only)

 

Regards

 

Alan

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Alan! 

I shall definitely have to get the stubs on the wings in that case!

 

Regarding the finish of the aircraft, it appears to be all over NMF, just with a different shade around the exhausts. Also the tail appears to be a different shade, silver? 
 

Cheers

 

Ash

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, Doccur said:

Regarding the finish of the aircraft, it appears to be all over NMF, just with a different shade around the exhausts. Also the tail appears to be a different shade, silver? 

Hi Ash,

 

Yes, I would agree overall NMF, with exhaust staining/metal discolouration around

the the exhaust.

The Vertical Stabilizer certainly looks Silver, may very well be a replacement from an

airframe Struck off Charge, and reduced to produce, that had been painted with HSS?

 

Regards

 

Alan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alan,

 

glad we came to the same conclusion... the replacement tail also seems like a plausible explanation! Can’t wait to get started on this Kiwi Pony now 🕺

 

Cheers

 

Ash

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, gingerbob said:

As for the wing... ?

Looks NMF to my eye? What do you think? 
 

2 hours ago, RidgeRunner said:

Remember to drill those holes before cementing, Ash ;)

I’ll try my best... my young mind can end up being distracted however... 😂:whistle:

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Doccur said:

Looks NMF to my eye? What do you think? 

I'd say that at least the LE is painted, but maybe my interpretation is wrong :)

 

2 minutes ago, Doccur said:

I’ll try my best... my young mind can end up being distracted however... 😂:whistle:

Do it now, Ash. Its never too soon! :)

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, Doccur said:

Looks NMF to my eye? What do you think? 

 

16 hours ago, RidgeRunner said:

I'd say that at least the LE is painted, but maybe my interpretation is wrong

Given that these Mustangs were part of the Territorial Air Force as

an arm of the RNZAF, they were only flown (generally) on the weekends

and on RNZAF exercises

The Colour photo above shows NZ2423 as part of 42 Squadron RNZAF

based at Ohakea between Oct 1955 and early 1957 after serving with

TAF 2 Wellington Squadron previous from  July 1954.

Looking at inflight shots of TAF Mustangs, the wings appear to be

Silver (or HSS). I would put the colour photo as an Airframe silver on the wings,

also found on other RNZAF aircraft during that period.

The wings may or may not be puttied, if the putty fell out/ was removed during

overhauls, it was not replaced.

 

Regards

 

Alan

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Finally made a start! Painted the interior In ModelMaster interior green with some black details. Not too keen on airfix’s decal instead of raised instrument panel detail. Especially when the decal film is bigger than the instrument panel! Got myself a new phone this week so the quality of my photos has improved somewhat ☺️ 

49497961493_a4a6961c58_b.jpg

Also just received some Vallejo paints which I will be trialling with this build. I am trying to find the ideal acrylic metallic colours to spray and hopefully these do the trick. I have silver (for HSS), Aluminium and Chrome. 
 

Ash

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used Vallejo metallics on my two Mustangs and am very happy with the results.  They are very thin and will run if you spray from too close even with the pressure turned down low, I think mine was 1psi.

 

AW

Edited by Andwil
Added extra info
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi all,

 

Got the fuselage halves together along with the wings. Gave the cockpit an oil wash and some tape seatbelts beforehand. All the parts were very tight fitting. Only annoying thing was that one of the wing tips is bent slightly 🤦🏻‍♂️ Only noticed when I glued it. 

49504423543_971abb23d1_b.jpg 49505151492_98f3b4c09b_b.jpg 49504423873_9143a3a4df_b.jpg


Ash

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Completed some more assembly on the Kiwi Pony. This kit is going together like a dream. Sanded all the seams on the fuselage, cemented the wings the air intakes. Also got the rocket stubs on. Was going to have the flaps down but reconsidered after I saw what a pain it would be to mask. Quick question for you mustang buffs. The posable vent on the bottom of the rear fuselage, would this usually be positioned opened or closed while on the ground. (P.S like all of us who have or are building this kit, the control column did break when cutting it off the sprue 🤦🏻‍♂️)

 

49512890781_63e988312c_b.jpg 49512890766_7db575f660_b.jpg


Ash

  • Like 3
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...