453rd BG Museum Build - P-51D Mustang - East Wretham (Green Nosed) 370th FS "CisCo" (using the Tamiya 1/48 kit)

[giemme]

Happy Birthday then, Terry!

 

Excellent detail job with those PE parts and the scratch building!

 

I hope to see you in Norwich, then! 🤞

 

Ciao 

[perdu]

I don't say this very often but that etch stuff is bootiful, lovely work there chum.

 

Happy birthday and enjoy your present, give all those lovely helicopters my regards.

 

Its time I got back to Yeovilton meself.

[Biggles87]

And it’s Happy Birthday from me too.

Mine next week and there’s a large box sitting on the kitchen table which I’ve been told not to open. I wonder what it could be?

 

John

[Brandy]

Happy Birthday Terry. Enjoy the road trip!

 

Ian

[81-er]

Happy birthday, Terry! Hopefully the legs sort themselves out soon. There's some really nice photos on that link, and I have to agree with you that the Cobra is a very, very nice car indeed. Having spotted a couple of Morgans in the shots, if you've not done it, the Morgan factory tour is well worth it

 

James

[AdrianMF]

Smashing work on the interior. Didn't catch the scale but I'll assume it's 1/24

 

Regards,

Adrian

[hendie]

oooh Happy Birthday Terry

[woody37]

I suspect that this won't be ready for next week, but looking great so far Terry.

[bigbadbadge]

Nice car photos Terry,  cracking work on the Mustang bits too. The Seaking kit is lovely isn't it,nice birthday pressie.  Hope you had a great Birthday and you enjoy the toad trip.

Chris

[Fritag]

On 9/13/2023 at 6:53 AM, giemme said:

Happy Birthday then, Terry!

 

Excellent detail job with those PE parts and the scratch building!

 

I hope to see you in Norwich, then! 🤞

 

 

Likewise.

[Navy Bird]

Brilliant PE work. You'll soon be addicted if you're not already. Happy Birthday!

 

Cheers,

Bill

[The Spadgent]

Lovely work on the pony. I’ll look forward to stories from the “LEG” in seven or so days.🦵 looks like the birthday gifts just keep giving, which reminds me. Happy Birthday dear boy. 🍰🥳

 

 Johnny.

[Terry1954]

Oooh look, another update!

 

On 9/12/2023 at 10:27 PM, hendie said:

A smashing update Terry.  From scratching, to PE fitting, and even snake charming an oxygen hose - all great stuff 

 

Glad to hear the leg is on the mend - remember and take it with you on the road trip

 

Thanks Alan, I'll try and remember to take the dodgy leg, and thanks for the birthday wishes..........

 

On 9/13/2023 at 6:53 AM, giemme said:

Happy Birthday then, Terry!

 

Excellent detail job with those PE parts and the scratch building!

 

I hope to see you in Norwich, then! 🤞

 

Thanks Giorgio, I actually think I'm going to make Norwich, but the road trip starts the day after tomorrow now, so should see you there!

 

On 9/13/2023 at 8:06 AM, perdu said:

I don't say this very often but that etch stuff is bootiful, lovely work there chum.

 

Happy birthday and enjoy your present, give all those lovely helicopters my regards.

 

Its time I got back to Yeovilton meself.

 

Thanks Bill. Yeovilton was a blast, and I took loads more pics of the resident Heli's. Mrs T was a star, and she even posed against some for scale/glamour effect!

 

On 9/13/2023 at 8:37 AM, Biggles87 said:

And it’s Happy Birthday from me too.

Mine next week and there’s a large box sitting on the kitchen table which I’ve been told not to open. I wonder what it could be?

 

John

 

Thanks John, I hope it's something you want, perhaps a large helicoptor?

 

On 9/13/2023 at 9:01 AM, Brandy said:

Happy Birthday Terry. Enjoy the road trip!

 

Ian

 

Thank you Ian. The road trip had to be much curtailed/delayed, so Norwich is the starting point, but large parts of the north Norfolk Coast will form some great subsequent walking and nature observance!

 

On 9/13/2023 at 9:59 AM, 81-er said:

Happy birthday, Terry! Hopefully the legs sort themselves out soon. There's some really nice photos on that link, and I have to agree with you that the Cobra is a very, very nice car indeed. Having spotted a couple of Morgans in the shots, if you've not done it, the Morgan factory tour is well worth it

 

Thank you James. The legs are very slowly beginning to calm down (milking the sympathy). Cobra is my all time want one car (I have a 1/24 kit in the stash), so maybe one day I will own a complete one). I'll try the Morgan factory tour someday as that sounds good.

 

On 9/13/2023 at 11:17 AM, AdrianMF said:

Smashing work on the interior. Didn't catch the scale but I'll assume it's 1/24

 

You old charmer you Adrian 🫠

 

On 9/14/2023 at 4:09 PM, woody37 said:

I suspect that this won't be ready for next week, but looking great so far Terry.

 

Thanks! You are clearly a man of deep perception Neil. The truth is, this Mustang won't be ready any time soon, but I might bring some bits, to convince Jim that I'm serious!

 

On 9/14/2023 at 6:53 PM, bigbadbadge said:

Nice car photos Terry,  cracking work on the Mustang bits too. The Seaking kit is lovely isn't it,nice birthday pressie.  Hope you had a great Birthday and you enjoy the toad trip.

 

Thanks Chris. The birthday was a blast.

 

On 9/15/2023 at 11:40 AM, Fritag said:

Likewise.

 

A man of few words yet many skills Steve. Thank you for your "likewised" wishes and compliments, and yes, it looks like I will make Norwich!

 

On 9/15/2023 at 4:22 PM, Navy Bird said:

Brilliant PE work. You'll soon be addicted if you're not already. Happy Birthday!

 

 Thanks Bill. I am already VERY addicted to the brass...........!

 

On 9/15/2023 at 5:37 PM, The Spadgent said:

Lovely work on the pony. I’ll look forward to stories from the “LEG” in seven or so days.🦵 looks like the birthday gifts just keep giving, which reminds me. Happy Birthday dear boy.

 

Thanks Johnny! I can surely regale you with stories of the leg. You'll wish you'd never asked.

 

So ................... an actual update on the Mustang. This one is a bonus, as I should now have been on my second week of the great road trip, but we all know whay that didn't happen ....... yet.

 

Some washes on the cockpit sidewalls.........

 

 

A repainted cockpit floor and some heavy rudder work by the young Lt. John W. Lamont, judging by the wear and tear from his heels...........?

 

 

 

A bit of wear and tear on the rudder pedals ............ it seems like Lamont really liked to exercise lateral control!

 

 

Some aluminium paint on the intakes and radiator parts...........

 

 

Oxygen hose, intake and radiators in filters in ..........

 

 

 

And a quick look into the cockpit so far..........

 

 

And for those of you, Giorgio as I recall, who recommended painting the aftermarket wheel wells before assembly ........... of course you were right

 

Seen here with a coat of Mr Hobby Aluminium..........

 

 

And then with some detail picked out in yellow zinc chromate primer (Mission Models paint for those interested)  on some structural parts, as I've observed from numerous reference pictures.........

 

 

 

Much more to do in those wheel wells (other details, washes and weathering), but that's a start.

 

No more now till after the road trip, and looking forward to seeing @giemme, @CedB, @perdu, @Fritag, @The Spadgent, @woody37 and any others that make Old Buckenham this weekend.

 

T.

 

 

[The Spadgent]

Jeepers that wheel well is fantabulous!!!!

 

The other bits are pretty cool too but those pipes. 😳

🙌😇

[hendie]

15 minutes ago, The Spadgent said:

but those pipes.

🎶 Aye, Johnny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling 🎵

 

Some immaculate work going on there, Terry. 

 

Enjoy the weekend with the Britmod Contingent - I'm sure it'll be a fun time

 

[Massimo]

Great detailing work on that interior!

This is gonna be another beauty for the museum!

Look forward to see the next update!

Ciao

Massimo

[Fritag]

Excellent insides, Terry.

[giemme]

Smashing paint job on the interiors, Terry! And that wheels well is outstanding too!    

Ciao

[Navy Bird]

14 hours ago, Fritag said:

Excellent insides, Terry.

 

I wish I had excellent insides. My tummy's been growling all day.

 

Cheers,

Bill

[bigbadbadge]

Great job on the interiors Terry.

Chris

[Courageous]

Lovely looking work Terry. Enjoy your trip to Norfolk.

 

Stuart

[Terry1954]

So I made it to Norfolk.

 

Thanks to @The Spadgent, @hendie, @Massimo, @Fritag, @giemme, @Navy Bird, @bigbadbadge and @Courageous for your kind words.

 

The night before we travelled, I managed to paint a little more in the undercarriage bays, thus:

 

 

 

Not much, but its progress.

 

The rest of the last couple of days have been spent travelling and largely having fun.

 

Tonight, we had a great reunion with Johnny and Bill, and tomorrow will be breakfast at Old Buckenham with the full gang for this visit, then who knows what, for the rest of the day!

 

More pics and updates, later!

 

T.

 

 

 

[bigbadbadge]

Ooooooo,  that looks great Terry,  nice paint work.

Enjoy your trip.

Chris

[The Spadgent]

Fantastic to meet up with yourself, your good lady and the rest of the guys. I need to get the pics from Jim! 😇 such a great weekend. 😀🍻

[Terry1954]

Well, I finally got back from the great road trip which became considerably shortened at the beginning (delayed start), and ended up being 9 days in Norfolk/Suffolk. The north Norfolk coast is beautiful in parts and Mrs T (a bit of a twitcher) loved it. Apart from 3 nights in Norwich, we stayed for just under a week in Blakeney. Lots and lots of marsh walking and some great local food.

 

On 9/22/2023 at 11:22 PM, bigbadbadge said:

Ooooooo,  that looks great Terry,  nice paint work.

Enjoy your trip.

Chris

 

Thanks Chris, we did indeed enjoy the trip.

 

On 9/25/2023 at 10:28 PM, The Spadgent said:

Fantastic to meet up with yourself, your good lady and the rest of the guys. I need to get the pics from Jim! 😇 such a great weekend. 😀🍻

 

Thanks Johnny, it was great to meet you again, and this time spend some quality time together. Yes we need those pics from Jim. Does @CedB have them I wonder?

 

So a brief photographic record of the Norwich part of the trip..........

 

During the day on Friday, Mrs T and I explored historic Norwich thoroughly (I was noting down the co-ords of pubs for later) and we discovered this, quite by chance, although Mrs T wasn't convinced it was all chance .... 🤫

 

 

Of course I had to spend some time (and money) looking inside. A very fine shop indeed with hundreds of models on the shelves. Picked up a Heller Alouette III and a Special hobby Blanik glider, both 1/72. The Blanik will join the other gliders in the great glider build (some updates there soon).

 

This one in particular, made me think of you Pete @Pete in Lincs. Up your street I thought maybe?

 

 

As the day wore on we became "tired" and decided it was time for refreshments. We settled on this place...

 

 

......... and some of these.........

 

 

A few text messages later, and we were joined by Bill and Johnny for a few more beers, before trying this one out..........

 

 

At this point Mrs T retired from the party and Bill, Johnny and I headed for the Rumsey Wells and (a few) nightcaps whilst Ced was valiantly roaming East Anglia in search of our Italian visitor Giorgio @giemme, who I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time, the next day.

 

One of the highlights of the trip (I can't say the highlight, cos Mrs T might be watching and we did do other stuff) was meeting up with the gang (Giorgio, Steve, Johnny, Bill and Ced) plus the museum curator Jim, at Old Buckenham, in order for Steve Giorgio and Ced, to hand over their superb completed models.

A wonderful time was had by all, and Jim's generosity led to one of our number winning a prize draw in the form of a wonderful 1/32 model kit. Discussions on whether this prize shall be the subject of a combined future "group" build between the six of us continue, and I'm sure this superb model will form a WIP at some point in the future ............ 

 

The prize itself was Jim's way of saying thank you to us all, but I have it on good authority, that the winner feels somewhat embarrassed at the moment, given the amount of effort so far put in by some of those that have already contributed some very fine models 🫣

 

Jim also showed us a collection of switches from various WWII aircraft, and we were each allowed to take one as a souvenir. This is mine......... a three way switch from a Mustang no less, although I don't like to boast 

 

 

Later that afternoon, we went up to the Aviation Museum at the old Horsham St Faith site and more aviation stuff was perused. Indeed one of our number appeared to have his picture in the dedicated hut showing the history of RAF Coltishall, which according to google earth, is today covered in solar panels .........

 

 

Are you sure that's your best side Steve?

 

Naturally this all led to an evening event, visiting many pubs around central Norwich. Thanks again to Jim for hosting us, and for @giemme, @Fritag, @CedB, @The Spadgent and @perdu for your wonderful company!

 

But, what about the Mustang.............!

 

Shortly after my return, we had builders in to start some conversion work on the house, converting an integral garage into a hobby room for yours truly (and apparently a spare bedroom), so much disruption is occuring at the moment, but we have achieved a little more progress on the Mustang today......

 

Detail painting and weathering of the wheel bays is complete. I picked out some of the wiring and hydraulic pistons in grey and black, varnished the lot, then ran a wash of grey oil colour all over. Added some blue on the piping to try and lift it a bit. Colour bands on the pipes in the 1 to 1 examples I think. Just going for a busy look.

 

 

That can now go into the wings I reckon.

 

Final shots of the cockpit, before the fuselage gets closed up..........

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think I'm ready to close everything up, but will review tomorrow, just to be sure.

 

Hopefully more soon in between builder disruption!

 

T.