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1/72 RAF Mustang III


Edge

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Hi All

 

I'm planning to build an RAF Mustang III from the KP kit fairly soon & have started a little research & have got together some extras to add to the build. I'm thinking of building an aircraft based in Peterhead/Dallachy that was used to escort the strike wings on their raids in the Norwegian Fjords. Probably settled on YT-N from 65 squadron with white nose/spinner or, if I'm feeling brave, something from 315 squadron with black/yellow stripes on the spinner and nose (masking nightmare!).

 

One of the photographs in 'A Separate Little War' shows a pile of 108 gallon fuel tanks "ready to be fitted to 315 squadron Mustang IIIs", so I am assuming these could have been used by any of the escorting Mustang squadrons to extend their range and would like to add a pair to my build. They're a completely different shape (and size) to the 'normal' Mustang drop tanks, so would add a little extra to the build.

 

The problem is that I can't find any! Freightdog used to sell as set, but they're out of stock. I have emailed them to ask if another production run is likely, but no reply so far. Does anyone know of another producer??

 

Edge

 

 

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Offhand, I can't think of any other aftermarket source except Pavla U72023, for the P-47D which includes resin 108 gallon paper tanks, 110 gallon metal tanks, bazooka rocket tubes, and wheels. Same tanks as used on Mustangs.  Hannants shows them to be in stock. Failing that, both Hasegawa P-47D kits, both Academy P-47D kits, as well as the Academy and Hasegawa P-51B kits, and the old Monogram P-51B kit came with 108 gallon paper tanks, I'm betting somebody out there has a set they did not use on one of their builds who might be able to help you out. Good luck!

Mike

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12 minutes ago, 72modeler said:

Offhand, I can't think of any other aftermarket source except Pavla U72023, for the P-47D which includes resin 108 gallon paper tanks, 110 gallon metal tanks, bazooka rocket tubes, and wheels. Same tanks as used on Mustangs.  Hannants shows them to be in stock. Failing that, both Hasegawa P-47D kits, both Academy P-47D kits, as well as the Academy and Hasegawa P-51B kits, and the old Monogram P-51B kit came with 108 gallon paper tanks, I'm betting somebody out there has a set they did not use on one of their builds who might be able to help you out. Good luck!

Mike

 

Mike, thanks for such a speedy & informed reply! I had checked Hannants, using as many search references as I could think of, but of course not P-47! I'll head over now & take a look.

 

Edge

 

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It seems to me that the tanks attached in the same way.  I have seen photographs of a USAAF P-51B with the paper tanks and in the next shot with the smaller capacity metal ones.  If that is the case, apart from mission requirement or supply availability, you'd be justified in portraying either type, or none at all.

 

Idly curious, I've looked through my files and have never seen a mixed formation which makes sense.   

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4 hours ago, Beard said:

Freightdog make resin ones, and very nice they are too, I've got a set to use on a 19 squadron Mustang IV (until I found a photo of the aircraft using the 75gal (?) tanks): https://www.freightdogmodels.co.uk/freightdog-1-72-p-51d-mustang-108-gal-paper-drop-tanks.html

 

As others have said, 108 gallon tanks are found in a few kits.

Thank Beard. Unfortunately out of stock so I've ordered the Pavla P-47 update which includes the larger, paper tank.

 

Edge

 

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3 hours ago, RJP said:

It seems to me that the tanks attached in the same way.  I have seen photographs of a USAAF P-51B with the paper tanks and in the next shot with the smaller capacity metal ones.  If that is the case, apart from mission requirement or supply availability, you'd be justified in portraying either type, or none at all.

 

Idly curious, I've looked through my files and have never seen a mixed formation which makes sense.   

I'm guessing that the RAF used whichever was to hand & as there's a photograph of the 108 gal paper tank I thought I'd go for that. I'm also sure that the smaller tank was also used (Norway being closer to the north of Scotland than Berlin is to East Anglia).

 

Edge

 

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16 hours ago, Edge said:

Thank Beard. Unfortunately out of stock so I've ordered the Pavla P-47 update which includes the larger, paper tank.

 

Edge

 

Unfortunately I'm a bit late reading this message otherwise I've got some 108 tanks you could of had.

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On 24 July 2020 at 4:55 PM, Tbolt said:

Unfortunately I'm a bit late reading this message otherwise I've got some 108 tanks you could of had.

Cheers Tbolt. I didn't even realise P-47s used them!

 

Edge

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

I've made a tentative start on this, my 1st short-run style kit. Fuselage halves & most cockpit pieces are removed and cleaned in readiness for painting. Unlike the kits I've built previously I've been unable to line up the cockpit parts for a dry fit into the fuselage (no joining pins) so am thinking of building it in situ, once painted.

 

Pic of the kit and additions:

 

50237084316_1b0b933707_k.jpgContents by Gavin Edgerton, on Flickr

 

Edge

 

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4 hours ago, Edge said:

Unlike the kits I've built previously I've been unable to line up the cockpit parts for a dry fit into the fuselage (no joining pins) so am thinking of building it in situ, once painted.

Might I suggest small dabs of PVA glue? That way, you can always gently remove the parts and/or re-adjust.

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  • 6 months later...

Slowly getting back into this after a bit of a pause. Although I've been home-based for 18 years, being here permanently and now with the rest of the family here too, working or trying to complete on-line lessons, my mojo suffered. 

 

The cockpit is finished & the fuselage is together and ready for a 2nd round of seam filling/sanding. So I grabbed the Pavla P-47 upgrade set and fished out the resin 108 gallon tanks I made such a song & dance about earlier. Using my finest Japanese razor saw, I gently separated the tanks from their pouring blocks and was astounded how many pin holes were left. I anticipated 1 or 2, but this was crazy!

 

51003405751_72475d4b31_k.jpgUntitled by Gavin Edgerton, on Flickr

 

I've drilled them out to 0.5mm and dabbed some super glue into the holes to try to fill them as well as poss. I've also ordered some 0.5mm rod in case the super glue doesn't work, then I'll glue in the rod, cut it to length & sand it as neatly as possible.

 

Have to say I'm more than a bit disappointed, but working a little at a time I should have this cracked by Christmas!

 

Edge

 

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Despite this being my first short-run kit and finding things somewhat challenging I'm beginning to enjoy myself with this little Mustang. The lack of tabs and locating pins has caused a few issues and may have contributed to the poor fit of the wings to the fuselage, although I don't actually see how. In short, the wings are around half a millimetre to narrow where they meet the fillet at the fuselage. In an effort to correct this I've glued & shaped some plastic strip to the top of the undercarriage bay & further outboard near to the flap location.

 

51011910098_ceab86f7b3_k.jpgUntitled by Gavin Edgerton, on Flickr

 

This did the trick and both wings now align to their respective fillets

 

51011896108_93c3978409_k.jpgUntitled by Gavin Edgerton, on Flickr

 

51011896128_6c4c190872_k.jpgUntitled by Gavin Edgerton, on Flickr

 

 

But (isn't there always a but?!) this means that there's now a gap at the wing leading edge and a question mark over how well the flaps and ailerons will fit to the trailing edge.

 

51012611416_335a566bdd_k.jpgUntitled by Gavin Edgerton, on Flickr

 

I plan on gluing the upper wings to get the join between them & the fuselage as neat as possible, probably add some thin plastic card shims to lose the leading edge gap & deal with the trailing edge by crossing my fingers, dropping the flaps to hide the gap or fudging an as-yet not thought of solution.

 

Edge

 

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  • Edge changed the title to 1/72 RAF Mustang III

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