Tamiya 1:48 F-51 Mustang late WW2/Korean War Canopie

[Sercrets07]

Hey, I have been working on the F-51 mustang from Tamiya for a few years off and on now, and made a serious botch when gluing the canopy on, by getting a huge glue finger print on the middle of the canopy, and have been unable to clean it up... I have tried several methods, i.e. sanding it, polishing it, tape, etc. It is so bad it wrecks the entire model, so if you have any other ideas on how to rectify this situation, or a source for a replacement canopy, that'd be greatly appreciated! I look forward to all the responses! https://www.scalemates.com/kits/tamiya-61044-north-american-f-51d-mustang-korean-war--122762 

[72modeler]

OK, time to open up the dreaded ! There could be as many as six types of canopies fitted to P-51D/K's, and they were all basically interchangeable! If you have a photo of your modeling subject, you can see which style of hood it has. Since the Mustangs used in Korea came from storage in Japan,depot overhaul, or ANG units all over the country,  and were not all from the same assembly plant or block number,  there is no standard  style of hood . If you can determine which hood the Mustang you want to model had, then let us know, and I'm sure one of us can tell you which aftermarket supplier has made one. I have the 1/48 Tamiya F-51D kit, and it came with two different hoods:  the #2 Inglewood type, part D5 and the #4 Dallas type, part D3. Squadron vacform canopy sets 9579 and 9580 give you two of each type. Squadron Mail Order is back in business and you can check their website for availability from them or another hobby supplier. If your chosen subject has a different style, you can check the aftermarket for availability. Somebody who has built the kit, might have the canopy you need as a leftover. Not my preferred scale, so I hope thus helps!

Mike

 

Here's a good site that lists the canopy types, and has a description, drawing, and photos of each one.

http://www.gaetanmarie.com/p-51dk-mustang-canopy-variations/

[Seawinder]

3 hours ago, 72modeler said:

OK, time to open up the dreaded ! There could be as many as six types of canopies fitted to P-51D/K's, and they were all basically interchangeable! If you have a photo of your modeling subject, you can see which style of hood it has. Since the Mustangs used in Korea came from storage in Japan,depot overhaul, or ANG units all over the country,  and were not all from the same assembly plant or block number,  there is no standard  style of hood . If you can determine which hood the Mustang you want to model had, then let us know, and I'm sure one of us can tell you which aftermarket supplier has made one. I have the 1/48 Tamiya F-51D kit, and it came with two different hoods:  the #2 Inglewood type, part D5 and the #4 Dallas type, part D3. Squadron vacform canopy sets 9579 and 9580 give you two of each type. Squadron Mail Order is back in business and you can check their website for availability from them or another hobby supplier. If your chosen subject has a different style, you can check the aftermarket for availability. Somebody who has built the kit, might have the canopy you need as a leftover. Not my preferred scale, so I hope thus helps!

Mike

 

Here's a good site that lists the canopy types, and has a description, drawing, and photos of each one.

http://www.gaetanmarie.com/p-51dk-mustang-canopy-variations/

Squadron Mail Order is back in business, but at this point they're not stocking the Squadron Vacufom line (nor True Details for that matter), which in any case were produced by Falcon. Even if you can source one (there are still quite a few to be had on Ebay), they have the hood and the lower frame as one piece, unlike Tamiya's separate clear and frame parts. That means you'll either have to use the whole Squadron hood and figure out a way to add the hemispherical cross brace that's part of the Tamiya frame piece, or (as I did), cut the clear part of the Squadron hood away from the frame and mount it on the Tamiya piece.

 

The separate clear hood is one significant failing of the Tamiya kit IMHO because it's virtually impossible to get the part cut off the runner without leaving a flaw in the plastic that's pretty much impossible to eradicate.

 

Finally, IMHO the differences between the various P-51 canopies are subtle enough that you can probably get away with using the wrong one (even if you know which one is the right one) without it leaping out at any but the most ardent Mustang fanatic.

[Sercrets07]

18 hours ago, Seawinder said:

Squadron Mail Order is back in business, but at this point they're not stocking the Squadron Vacufom line (nor True Details for that matter), which in any case were produced by Falcon. Even if you can source one (there are still quite a few to be had on Ebay), they have the hood and the lower frame as one piece, unlike Tamiya's separate clear and frame parts. That means you'll either have to use the whole Squadron hood and figure out a way to add the hemispherical cross brace that's part of the Tamiya frame piece, or (as I did), cut the clear part of the Squadron hood away from the frame and mount it on the Tamiya piece.

 

The separate clear hood is one significant failing of the Tamiya kit IMHO because it's virtually impossible to get the part cut off the runner without leaving a flaw in the plastic that's pretty much impossible to eradicate.

 

Finally, IMHO the differences between the various P-51 canopies are subtle enough that you can probably get away with using the wrong one (even if you know which one is the right one) without it leaping out at any but the most ardent Mustang fanatic.

Ah I see... I shall take a look into it... I may simply just have to live with my mistakes

[gingerbob]

There must be loads of "extra" P-51D canopies out there.  I'd offer one of my own, but with postage costs these days you're best off looking for one in Canada first.  Or just buy another P-51D (make sure it is a kit that gives more than one canopy option)!

 

bob

 

p.s. If you're on Hyperscale, put a "looking for" post on Plane Trading, and mention "...in Canada".

Edited December 8, 2021 by gingerbob

[Vanroon]

Hi Sercrets, I have several 1/48 Falcon vacuum formed canopies for P-51s left over. (I have given up 1/48 because of space to display reasons).

Send a PM with your postal address and I'll get one in the mail to you as a secret Santa gift. 

Grant in Oz.