Tail-Dragon Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 (edited) My latest is converting the Accurate Miniatures 1/48 Mustang 1a into a Mustang Mk 1 at the time of the Dieppe raid. I'm doing AG470, RU*M as flown by F/O Hollis Hills (an American) flying with 414 Sqdn, RCAF when he scored the first Mustang victory over an FW-190. I'm using the Ultracast resin conversion set, an Ultracast seat and fishtail exhaust, a set of decals produced by IPMS Canada, and some scratch building. The Accurate Miniatures kit is no longer cutting edge, but the quality of the original still shines through. The Ultracast set requires some careful cutting to fit the resin leading edges, and the lower cowl, and I replaced the incorrect prop blades with spares from an Eduard P-39. I also had to make the seat armor plate (missing from kit) and do a little addition to the kit sidewalls, but for the most part, the kit interior is satisfactory. The interior is mostly US interior green, with a bronze-green seat and armor plate. I had installed the rear quarter windows previously and masked them (Hills's aircraft was not fitted with the camera at the time of Dieppe) I wanted the canopy open for this, but the kit transparencies were too thick, so I made some masters out of tin can sections and vacuformed my own, some framework from .010' strip, and some details and they were ready for paint. I've tried to replicate the scheme seen in photo's, rather than the incorrect scheme for the Mustang 1a ... (paint are Tamiya Acrylics spayed with Tamiya Lacquer thinner) The gear attach was a little loose and sloppy, so I added a length of brass rod, and routed the socket a little deeper, and installed the gear with 5 minute epoxy for added strength. (the tires are kit wheels, with the tread sanded off to match the smooth tread of the real aircraft) Hope you like so far ... Colin Edited February 8, 2021 by Tail-Dragon 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Duvalier Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 3 minutes ago, Tail-Dragon said: Hope you like so far ... So far? You're all but done with it! But yes, we like. 🙂 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColFord Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 (edited) Hi Colin, Looks like you are making really good progress. Two things, firstly, did you remove the radiator intake air deflector from in front of the underslung radiator intake? Being a Mustang Mk.I of the early AG serial range, it should have this deflector fitted. It was removed on the later (second batch production run) AL, AM and AP serial Mustang MkI and the later Mk.IA as it was proven to be redundant. See item tagged with red arrow on underside photo. Accurate Miniatures added to the underwing moulding for their Mustang Mk.IA kit, which was an error. But of course if backdating to an early Mk.I with and AG serial, it needs to stay. Secondly, any plans to add the gun camera window on the port wing outer leading edge. Again, specific to the AG serialled Mustangs, gun camera out in position marked with the blue arrow (censor has removed in photo attached to this post, but it is evident in the photo you posted above showing the NAA factory camouflage pattern on a very early AG serialled Mustang). RAF Mustang MkI Marked Up by Colin Ford, on Flickr Regards, Edited February 10, 2021 by ColFord Typo fix 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted February 12, 2021 Author Share Posted February 12, 2021 Hi I have added the gun camera and the access hatch, the lens is hidden by masking tape right now ... ... as for the air deflector, I have removed it, as the belly photos I had showed it absence. To late to add it back, so I'll live with the error (oh well) I've done a pinwash with oils and and waiting for it to dry before proceeding ... and I have opened the torque link lightening holes, and drilled out the tiedown rings on the gear, as well as adding the brake lines ... hope you like so far, Colin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted March 12, 2021 Author Share Posted March 12, 2021 The decals are on, next, the flat coat and weathering. Thanks for looking, Colin 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_W Posted March 12, 2021 Share Posted March 12, 2021 Hi Colin, Too quick! I thought great, an opportunity to watch one of your builds come together and it is all but done ☹️ I suppose the positive is not having to wait for the next installment. Lovely work as always. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted March 19, 2021 Author Share Posted March 19, 2021 The progress so far - just about done, I'll try to post on "Ready for Inspection" next week. 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 Beautiful work Colin - congratulations! Cheers, Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVTB Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 Just awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 Crikey I had missed this, great job it does look gorgeous, I will go back and catch up after I charge my phone as battery nearly gone. Chris Edit- just caught up wow , I love the scratch built canopy framing and glazing particularly, but an all over cracking build and a great model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 It looks gorgeous. I do like the early Mustangs. Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Wow, that's really cool! I built the AM kit in the late 20th Century when it first came out. I didn't know much about Mustangs back then (and i still don't) but considering it was AM's first time at bat, it was very nearly a home run. First time i've seen that Ultracast conversion is use too. Crack on!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
At Sea Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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