Eduard P-51D-5 Mustang

[Dads203]

So thanks to @shortCummins who has done a really amazing builds of one of these Eduard kits,

I took some inspiration and managed to grab a few boxings of this kit. @chrisrope Here's looking at you mate  🙂

 

(I picked up the 8th Airforce boxing from him for a later build, but will use the profipack as a work up) 

 

A few bits that will go into the build but as always I reserve the right to change things 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More to follow 

[Hamden]

 

Ah first in looking forward to this one Dan, beer and crisps ordered!

 

             Roger

[Retired Bob]

I have a few Eduard P-51D kits in the stash, every time I think about building one a GB I signed up for comes along, even the Mustang GB failed to get me building one. 

Watching with interest how this goes together. 

[2996 Victor]

Hi Dan,

 

I'll be following this build, if I may? After your incredible Skyraider, I'm keen to see what you do with this kit! I'll be interested to see how the Brassin parts look, too.

 

@Retired Bob I know what you mean! I did just about start the D-20 boxing at the beginning of the Mustang STGB and promptly made a muck of the radio rack bits, so there it's stayed (hence my interest in the Brassin set!).

 

Cheers,

Mark

[Retired Bob]

31 minutes ago, 2996 Victor said:

@Retired Bob I know what you mean! I did just about start the D-20 boxing at the beginning of the Mustang STGB and promptly made a muck of the radio rack bits, so there it's stayed (hence my interest in the Brassin set!).

My problem, of which there are many,  I tried to do a quick build on the old Hasegawa P-51D kit, after a replacing/improving lots of parts I thought why struggle when I have half a dozen Eduard kits in the stash, including a couple of those Eduard Brassin cockpit sets.  They include a resin rack, battery, radio plus other electronic boxes in the Brassin set, you just have to use the kit fuel tank and the rear part of the cockpit floor section that it sits on, there is a new, better detailed resin cockpit provided for the forward section.  Hope this is helpful.

[2996 Victor]

3 minutes ago, Retired Bob said:

My problem, of which there are many,  I tried to do a quick build on the old Hasegawa P-51D kit, after a replacing/improving lots of parts I thought why struggle when I have half a dozen Eduard kits in the stash, including a couple of those Eduard Brassin cockpit sets.  They include a resin rack, battery, radio plus other electronic boxes in the Brassin set, you just have to use the kit fuel tank and the rear part of the cockpit floor section that it sits on, there is a new, better detailed resin cockpit provided for the forward section.  Hope this is helpful.

Thanks, yes, that's very helpful! I'd like to do the best possible job when I finally get back to it, and having trashed some of the cockpit the Brassin set looks like a great option.

 

Cheers,

Mark

[Retired Bob]

Glad it was helpful Mark, I was hoping that the Brassin cockpit set wouldn't require any of the kit parts so I could use the unused Eduard kit parts to improve the Tamiya kits that I have, but I hope you kept the parts from your previous attempt for the fuel tank and floor part.  I was just reading the complaints from @dov about the Eduard instructions and assembly methods on his P-51D kit, I had to chuckle, wait until he attempts their new P-51B kit.  I have only done a bit of work on mine as I try and finish 3 tanks in the Tiger GB.  On that kit (P-51B) don't follow the kit instructions to drill the holes for the wing bomb/fuel tank release shackles they are too far back. (I think the indicated holes are for the rockets) the radio/battery rack is another problem area, the kit parts are the the same as from the P-51D but the new rack has holes and supports in different places so it's up to you to work out what fits where and how to attach it looking at the plans. Just throwing this out there so when you look at the kit part and it doesn't fit where it's supposed to, it's not you that's being dumb. 

[2996 Victor]

1 hour ago, Retired Bob said:

Glad it was helpful Mark, I was hoping that the Brassin cockpit set wouldn't require any of the kit parts so I could use the unused Eduard kit parts to improve the Tamiya kits that I have, but I hope you kept the parts from your previous attempt for the fuel tank and floor part.  I was just reading the complaints from @dov about the Eduard instructions and assembly methods on his P-51D kit, I had to chuckle, wait until he attempts their new P-51B kit.  I have only done a bit of work on mine as I try and finish 3 tanks in the Tiger GB.  On that kit (P-51B) don't follow the kit instructions to drill the holes for the wing bomb/fuel tank release shackles they are too far back. (I think the indicated holes are for the rockets) the radio/battery rack is another problem area, the kit parts are the the same as from the P-51D but the new rack has holes and supports in different places so it's up to you to work out what fits where and how to attach it looking at the plans. Just throwing this out there so when you look at the kit part and it doesn't fit where it's supposed to, it's not you that's being dumb. 

Thanks, Bob, yes I've kept the kit floor/tank etc so I'll be good to go! I haven't got the Eduard 'B' kit yet (I was hoping that Arma would release a 'B/C' in 1/48.....) it sounds like it's a bit of a Curate's Egg - I think I might wait to get one of those!

 

Cheers,

Mark

[Dads203]

I can confirm the Brassin pit set is excellent, I cleaned up a few parts last night and they all test fit with no problems after clean up. I’ll get some pix up later on the progress but don’t think it’s going to cause any issues.

The Radio rack deck piece one part that requires a delicate hand in cleaning up but if you take time in removing the flashed in areas it’s very doable. 
 

The resin Brassin parts are really well refined, and a step up from the already good standard kit parts.

[dov]

Hallo

Oh, the radio compartment does not show a D-5, just a D-20.

This is what I learned from P-51 Squadron Walk Around page #51.

Since, I build the D-5 from plastic kit only, I had to swallow this.

Jappy modelling

[2996 Victor]

24 minutes ago, Dads203 said:

I can confirm the Brassin pit set is excellent, I cleaned up a few parts last night and they all test fit with no problems after clean up. I’ll get some pix up later on the progress but don’t think it’s going to cause any issues.

The Radio rack deck piece one part that requires a delicate hand in cleaning up but if you take time in removing the flashed in areas it’s very doable. 
 

The resin Brassin parts are really well refined, and a step up from the already good standard kit parts.

Excellent - thanks for confirming! Looking forward to seeing how it's going. The radio rack deck sounds a bit scary for a ham-fisted bloke like me!

 

Cheers,

Mark

[Dads203]

Right chaps, some photo's of the clean up process for the pit.

I've still got a lot of parts to sort from the casting /printing bases but you'll get the gist of it.

The detail is much better than the standard plastic contained in the kit, its just so much more refined and scale like. 

The pit uses the rear plastic portion of the kit tub, this is glued together with a little thick CA glue. Fuel tanks are also used from the kit. 

 

 

 

 

 

Points to note:- radio rack still has some material that needs removing, I've left it on as its gives the part a bit more strength but the main areas that have been flashed over  

have been cleaned up. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sidewall detail is light years ahead of the already good kit parts, some subtle detail on the various panels that are not on the plastic parts. 

Fuel tank needs slight modification so the sidewalls do not interfere, just a couple of areas that need a bit of filing. 

 

 

 

Radio harness leads shown on the destructions, there are a few that need adding. 

 

 

 

 

Hope some of this helps chaps, I would recommend this in a heartbeat as it really is superb. 

 

 

[2996 Victor]

23 minutes ago, Dads203 said:

Hope some of this helps chaps, I would recommend this in a heartbeat as it really is superb. 

Definitely! Thanks so much for the extra photos and run down of the parts - they really do look excellent!

 

Thanks again,

Mark

[Dads203]

Tonight's progress, PE parts fitted to the sidewalls and some other resin panels, both supplied seats 

cut away from the casting blocks, not sure yet on which one to use so I've prepped both. 

 

All main parts primed and very roughly blocked in with some MRP Interior Green, radios and fuel tanks still in the Mr Surfacer Primer.

As I said its just blocking in so as rough as a badgers preverbal  , lots yet to do before we can think of getting it all in the fuselage. 

Main cockpit floor needs painting up in a plywood colour and the rubber over the top - with chipping   

You can see the detail that has been cast/printed in this set better now so with some careful painting it will really come alive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Retired Bob]

10 hours ago, 2996 Victor said:

Thanks, Bob, yes I've kept the kit floor/tank etc so I'll be good to go! I haven't got the Eduard 'B' kit yet (I was hoping that Arma would release a 'B/C' in 1/48.....) it sounds like it's a bit of a Curate's Egg - I think I might wait to get one of those!

I don't want to waffle on too much seeing as it's not my thread, but the Eduard P-51B is a great kit, it's much better than the old Tamiya kit, it's just the instructions that seem to be the weak point with Eduard kits.  As I mentioned, I haven't had time to build one yet, just take some of the bigger parts from the trees and see how they fit and one rainy afternoon I started putting the cockpit parts together and found the minor issues I mentioned.  The fuselage parts and wings click together without any problems, there are several options for a lot of the parts, just like in the P-51D kits, for me the big plus is they have got the 'blown' Malcolm hood right, by this I mean it has the rails by which the real one slid open on, if you look at photos of the B model of Mustang with a Malcolm hood you will notice them.  Tamiya provided the closed 'blown' hood but ignored the rails on either side.  Eduard give you an open hood with the rails in the sills and a closed hood with the rails on the fuselage beneath the rear windows.  There are the NAA canopy parts in the side opening and closed positions and the windscreen is moulded with a section of the forward fuselage to make fitting and masking easier.  Put it this way, I bought the D-Day dual boxing and I was so impressed I immediately ordered the Royal Edition dual kit while they were still available.

[Dads203]

1 minute ago, Retired Bob said:

I don't want to waffle on too much seeing as it's not my thread, but the Eduard P-51B is a great kit, it's much better than the old Tamiya kit, it's just the instructions that seem to be the weak point with Eduard kits.  As I mentioned, I haven't had time to build one yet, just take some of the bigger parts from the trees and see how they fit and one rainy afternoon I started putting the cockpit parts together and found the minor issues I mentioned.  The fuselage parts and wings click together without any problems, there are several options for a lot of the parts, just like in the P-51D kits, for me the big plus is they have got the 'blown' Malcolm hood right, by this I mean it has the rails by which the real one slid open on, if you look at photos of the B model of Mustang with a Malcolm hood you will notice them.  Tamiya provided the closed 'blown' hood but ignored the rails on either side.  Eduard give you an open hood with the rails in the sills and a closed hood with the rails on the fuselage beneath the rear windows.  There are the NAA canopy parts in the side opening and closed positions and the windscreen is moulded with a section of the forward fuselage to make fitting and masking easier.  Put it this way, I bought the D-Day dual boxing and I was so impressed I immediately ordered the Royal Edition dual kit while they were still available.

 

 

Have to agree Bob the B boxing is just a step up from the P-51D kit I'm building here .

 

I also ordered the Royal Class kit 

[Dads203]

13 hours ago, 2996 Victor said:

Hi Dan,

 

I'll be following this build, if I may? After your incredible Skyraider, I'm keen to see what you do with this kit! I'll be interested to see how the Brassin parts look, too.

 

@Retired Bob I know what you mean! I did just about start the D-20 boxing at the beginning of the Mustang STGB and promptly made a muck of the radio rack bits, so there it's stayed (hence my interest in the Brassin set!).

 

Cheers,

Mark

Mark, if you need the plastic radio rack and other bits then PM me your details and I’ll send you over the bits from this kit 👍

[2996 Victor]

11 hours ago, Retired Bob said:

I don't want to waffle on too much seeing as it's not my thread, but the Eduard P-51B is a great kit, it's much better than the old Tamiya kit, it's just the instructions that seem to be the weak point with Eduard kits.  As I mentioned, I haven't had time to build one yet, just take some of the bigger parts from the trees and see how they fit and one rainy afternoon I started putting the cockpit parts together and found the minor issues I mentioned.  The fuselage parts and wings click together without any problems, there are several options for a lot of the parts, just like in the P-51D kits, for me the big plus is they have got the 'blown' Malcolm hood right, by this I mean it has the rails by which the real one slid open on, if you look at photos of the B model of Mustang with a Malcolm hood you will notice them.  Tamiya provided the closed 'blown' hood but ignored the rails on either side.  Eduard give you an open hood with the rails in the sills and a closed hood with the rails on the fuselage beneath the rear windows.  There are the NAA canopy parts in the side opening and closed positions and the windscreen is moulded with a section of the forward fuselage to make fitting and masking easier.  Put it this way, I bought the D-Day dual boxing and I was so impressed I immediately ordered the Royal Edition dual kit while they were still available.

 

11 hours ago, Dads203 said:

Have to agree Bob the B boxing is just a step up from the P-51D kit I'm building here .

 

I also ordered the Royal Class kit 

Thanks, chaps - it does sound like it's a good option, then, so perhaps I'll treat myself to one after all! I was pretty keen to build one of the three 242Sqn (I think!) P-51Bs that were finished in overall PRU Blue, so that could be the opportunity excuse to buy a couple one! 

 

11 hours ago, Dads203 said:

Mark, if you need the plastic radio rack and other bits then PM me your details and I’ll send you over the bits from this kit 👍

Thanks, Dan, that's incredibly kind of you! PM inbound!

 

Cheers,

Mark

[2996 Victor]

Can I just say that the cockpit parts are looking superb already! The blocking-in of colour has really made the details show, and any additional dry brushing/wash is really going to make them pop out. The Mr Color Primer looks like a good shade for the radio gear to my eye.

 

Excellent!

[Retired Bob]

1 hour ago, 2996 Victor said:

 I was pretty keen to build one of the three 242Sqn (I think!) P-51Bs that were finished in overall PRU Blue, so that could be the opportunity excuse to buy a couple one! 

The RAF Mustang Mk.III in PRU Blue with white nose and D-Day black and white ident stripes were from 541 Squadron, RAF Benson.  With my comments about the Malcom Hood the new Eduard P-51B kit is the best option and is on my list as well,  the only P-51B boxings currently available are the dual kits of Overlord or Royal Edition, both are superb.

[2996 Victor]

52 minutes ago, Retired Bob said:

The RAF Mustang Mk.III in PRU Blue with white nose and D-Day black and white ident stripes were from 541 Squadron, RAF Benson.  With my comments about the Malcom Hood the new Eduard P-51B kit is the best option and is on my list as well,  the only P-51B boxings currently available are the dual kits of Overlord or Royal Edition, both are superb.

Thanks, Bob, goodness knows where 242 came from - I've been looking at Battle of Britain Hurricanes, so maybe that's why  Anyway, yes, 541Sqn. 

 

Cheers,

Mark

[Dads203]

Made a start on some detail painting in the pit.

 

Plywood floor, Tamiya deck tan for the base and then one of the Mig Ammo oilbrushers in brown applied in wood grain effect, this was sealed in with Tamiya clear orange.

It will get some chipping fluid and a rubber black top coat. No other weathering has happened yet, hopefully tonight. 

More painting up of the various internal parts has been going on, tail wheel bay etc. 

 

Some pix from last nights session - Enjoy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The radio rack is blocked in and waiting for the radio kit. 

 

 

 

[Retired Bob]

29 minutes ago, Dads203 said:

Plywood floor, Tamiya deck tan for the base and then one of the Mig Ammo oilbrushers in brown applied in wood grain effect, this was sealed in with Tamiya clear orange.

That's a lot of effort just to have a small patch of the floor scuffed, I was wondering if with the short life of these aircraft, the floor really did get that scuffed that the plywood was visible? 

[2996 Victor]

All looks great to me, Dan, the cockpit detail painting is excellent and I like the wood grain effect: I do get Bob's point regarding the floor covering, but I should think it would wear quite quickly under combat conditions with the pilot's flying boots kicking at the rudder pedals while manoeuvring. I tried a similar wood grain effect on my stalled effort - Tamiya Deck Tan as a base with woody-coloured watercolour pencils to give a grain effect. I think it looked okay:

It could have done with a bit more "grain", really!  

 

Can I trouble you for a bit more info on how you paint the basic cockpit colour? I'm not a fan of washes, to be honest, but I like the shadowed effect you achieve around framework. How do you do that? TIA!

 

Looking forward to your next update.

 

Cheers,

Mark

 

[Dads203]

Shadow effect on the sidewalls, easy -

I primed the parts with Mr Sufacer black 1500, once dry I sprayed MRP interior green in a drifting manner across the sidewall careful to not put too much paint down in the nooks and crannies.

 

You leave some some of the black primer to act as a bit of shadow in the areas of detail effectively, after that I mixed in some  sand yellow into the interior green so I have a lightened tone of the base colour. Dial down the pressure on the compressor and get in real close to areas you want to highlight and spray some local highlights, the trick is to only add small amounts of paint to create the highlight mix so that it’s very subtle. 
 

On my build for the sidewall painting, I’ll seal the work so far with a gloss varnish , add the decals & revarnish to lock the decals in and it will then get a thinned down dark brown oil wash just to add to the effect.