1st goes at NMF, a P-51B and a P-47D-27

[RainierHooker]

I completed these two aircraft earlier this summer, about two months into my reentry to the hobby after a 20 year hiatus. Both are in 1/72.

 

The Academy P-51B was only my fourth model since that restart, and was completed out of the box with the addition of Eduard seatbelts. The finish is a combination of Tamiya and Testors rattle cans, and brushed acrylics from Tamiya and Vallejo. All in all, I think it was a success and I learned enough that I wanted to give another ago, but this time with an Airbrush. I purchased an Iwata Neo and a compressor and set my sights on a bubble-top P-47. The P-47 is made from Tamiya's 1/72 boxing and likewise built out of the box with the addition of Eduard seatbelts and a few scratch built details in the cockpit and engine. Paints were a combination of Tamiya and Vallejo acrylics and Vallejo's Metal Color.

 

 

P-51B-7-NA s/n 43-7040, in 1/72 scale.

The original 43-7040 was built in 1943 at the North American Aviation plant in Inglewood, California. She was given the code E9-Y, assigned to the 376th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group, of the 8th Air Force and operated out of Southern England primarily on long range escort missions for USAAF bombing missions. She was painted with invasion stripes just prior to the invasion of Normandy and flew in support of the allied advance through France and Belgium. Never having been given a name or any nose art, she was likely a rotating spare for the squadron's pilots, something of an unsung, unadorned hero.

After over a year of service 040 was declared "War Weary" and transferred to the 434th FS. With her invasion stripes removed, and re-coded L2-3, she was used as a "squadron hack", for training and other non-combat flights while she awaited the end of the war, and her final trip to the scrap yard.

 

The markings for my model were pieced together from various kit and aftermarket decal sets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

P-47D-27-RE s/n 42-27215 was assigned to the 379th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group, 9th Air Force, and was the charge of Lt. Ralph Sallee, who named her "Super Rabbit"

While flying a close air support mission over Bastogne, the day after Christmas 1944, a small flight of the 362nd's P-47s spotted a group of 25 German Fw. 190s at treetop level. Without hesitation, they jettisoned their bombs and dove strait down into the German fighters. In the next hour and twenty minutes a running battle ensued and Sallee claimed two of the eight Fw.190s shot down that day. 

Ralph Sallee never forgot the image of one of his adversaries, 40 feet away, slump forward in his cockpit and nose dive into the ground after a burst of .50cal through the canopy. 60 years later, Sallee learned that man to be 29 year old German Lt Heinz Fresia who's remains had then recently been recovered from the crash site.

Markings provided by the Barracuda Studios Mogin's Maulers set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, I know they aren't perfect, but they are good enough that I'm not scared of doing another NMF aircraft. Its gotta get better the more I do it...

[Madmaks]

I used rattle cans some 10 odd years back when my compressor blew and my airbrush at the time also broke. Knowing the effort needed to get a uniform finish, these look awesome! Great job 👌

Edited September 28, 2021 by Madmaks

[Tokyo Raider]

They look great!  Nice weathering!

[RidgeRunner]

I’d say they worked out beautifully  

 

Martin

[SAT69]

My first goes didn't come out nearly that nice so my hat's off to you on some great work!

[John Laidlaw]

They’ve turned out beautifully - a good NMF is tricky, but you’ve done it!

[stevehnz]

Those are both impressive, the P-47 especially. By a combination of well done paint & good weathering, they both look most convincing. 👍

Steve.

[Wulfman]

Very nice paint jobs, well done !

 

Wulfman

Edited September 29, 2021 by Wulfman

[thorfinn]

Beautiful job on both!

Well done.

[ijs302]

For a first time NMF what an excellent finish, nice weathering not too much, I can't wait to see what's next a p38 maybe 

[kapam]

Yes, I'd say you nailed it for both of them!

I especially love the Academy P-51B - it's a cool kit.

I particularly like their option to have the canopy folded out (they way you have it).

Both builds look perfect on their display bases.

[F-32]

Quality builds and displays