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North American P-51D мустанг


Col.

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Right gang, in need of a simple and easy project to clear my head of other stuff as well as ease myself back into modelling I've put various TSR-2 and Hunter-shaped ideas to one side if favour of something simpler, a visit to my LMS on Wednesday didn't yield anything and nothing in the stash offered what I wanted. Then from nowhere I got an idea yesterday. I'll start with the boring political history;

Following Lenin's death Russia came to a political fork-in-the-road. Stalin and his desire to consolidate the Revolution at home before looking to extend it abroad would have led the nation down one path while the other was favoured by Trotsky and his wish to spread the Revolutionary doctrine as soon as possible. Stalin's aggressive paranoia had, however, made him many enemies by this time and few were surprised when he was found dead in suspicious circumstances - although the official reports stated he had fallen backward onto the ice-pick while drunk.

With Trotsky now in power the Soviet Red Army continued to grow in strength and gain high levels of moral from effective training and good equipment. Trotsky knew if the Revolution was to succeed both at home in the Motherland and further abroad it would need to call on the bravery and commitment of Soviet men and women. Simply rolling over boarders, however, was not the only path to spreading Communism globally and individuals were quietly introduced to neighbouring nations in an attempt to spread the doctrine amongst the oppressed masses. Soon there were pockets of like-minded workers growing within the factories of many nations across Europe; Italy, France, Belgium, Poland and England seemed ripe for Revolution but two notable exceptions failed to be receptive and these were of the greatest concern. Hitler's Germany became a difficult environment for Communists to thrive in. So much so that persecution and execution were common threats for anyone caught practicing or promoting the doctrine. Russia's other old foe in the East proved even worse to penetrate. Japan had held ambitions on its neighbours resources due to massive and rapid expansion of its industrial potential and to dilute that threat would have made life much easier for Trotsky.

The new policy of Communist Evolution was, alas, to cause more problems than it solved. The recent improvements to living standards in both Germany and Japan made it not only hard to convince a more comfortable working class to the worth of Communism but also drew even more aggressive suspicions from the military leaders of those nations. The Soviets now found themselves facing on two fronts the military might of those aggressive nations. A temporary reprieve came in 1939 with Hitler's invasion of Poland, although it did not seem that way at first, followed by his rapid western expansion. The Soviets may have been surprised by the speed at which Poland fell but Nazi forces were equally surprised by the rapidity shown by the Red Army in mobilizing forces to their western border. Thus Hitler turned his intentions toward easier targets and was quietly thankful that Trotsky had made the march west all the easier buy weakening the political, military and industrial strength of each nation that fell.

With the English Chanel, however, proving a step too far for German forces and the Luftwaffe suffering its first and most surprising defeat during the Battle of Britain Hitler left Britain to starve into submission, expecting the Kriegsmarine to isolate it from the outside world, and turned his attentions first south into Africa and then east. Russia had rich reserves of natural resources that would fuel German industrial might. On the eastern side a similar story had unfolded and Japan was now able to pay closer attention to those rich mineral and oil deposits contained within Russia. Germany was first to attack and made good initial progress due to the element of surprise as the Red Army had started to look inward and be employed to quell unrest. Japan soon followed and poured troops into an open wound created by an attack on Vladivostok that followed the same pattern as the one on Pearl Harbour. This in turn brought the Red Army into World War II and made them an unexpected new member of the Allied Forces that faced the Axis threat.

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Now for those of you who wish I'd stop waffling on and tell you what this build is about;

With German and Japanese ground forces brought to a sudden halt by a highly mechanised Red Army who had reacted to slow the rapid expansion in time for the harsh Russian winter of 1942 to set in the war had been increasingly fought in the air. Both Axis powers were looking to pound the Soviets into submission through the use of long-range bombers stationed at warmer bases flying missions unpopular due to high attrition rates. Neither forces had effective long-range escort fighters to protect the bomber fleets and those that were not shot down by Soviet fighters were often to fall victim to inclement weather. Thus the air war came to be fought in support of ground troops and the Luftwaffe was able to return to what it did best.

Fortunately for the Soviets the US had began to deliver a new aircraft called the P-51 Mustang to its allies and some were soon wearing red stars and being tested at the Air Force Research Institute close to Moscow. While Soviet pilots were initially at a loss to find use for the long-range offered by the P-51C/D they soon found it allowed them to loiter above the battle front and attack targets as they became available. Further to this they then found themselves flying a machine capable of engaging and defeating German and Japanese fighters sent to intercept them. These capabilities were further enhanced when the P-51D model arrived from their long delivery flights over Alaska. Without the radar system that protected Britain during the BoB and beyond the loitering Red Air Force Mustang proved to be the next best thing and many Soviet pilots were to record a high tally of victories on both fronts due to employing effective tactics that gradually evolved to meet changing threats.

So to cut a long story short; I've bought an Academy 72nd scale P-51D and I'm going to do an out of box build in fictitious Soviet markings :D

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Not done enough to justify a photo but got started on the interior parts. The instructions call for painting the cockpit black when it should be green. There is a little flash on parts. The way some parts fit is also causing me slight concern. None of these issues are mentioned in the reviews I've read although to be fair most of those dealt with the P-51B/C models that I would have preferred to use. Anyway, first coat of interior green is applied as I try very hard to build the 'pit straight from the box and not go adding stuff, considering a machine based to the east engaging Japanese forces in retreat through Korea so will need to think of a suitable colour-scheme.

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Cheers Jynski, dare say I may add a bit more story during another update but been busy checking references and making slow progress in the 'pit, my over-active imagination will no doubt kick in when I'm least expecting it and add more ;)

As for that slow progress; did a bit more painting last night then realised the kit does not include a gunsight so need to do some scratch-building. Hmm, the instrument panel is also a bit poor due to the instruments being represented by raised cylinders... Did I mention this was going to be a straight-from-the-box build?

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Been making slow progress on this one over the last few days due to not feeling too well and coming home from work knackered. Excuses aside, however, I've redone the instrument panel and made some sketches to work out the basic shape and detail of a gunsight so that's next on the task list. Dare say a simple set of rudder pedals would be worthwhile as well.

What has captured my imagination is a potential paint scheme and further back story to justify it so hopefully find the time for those this evening.

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Mike, if I told you the wife was hogging the camera and I had no idea where it was even if progress was worth photographing would that sound more realistic that Whif? ;)

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Mike, if I told you the wife was hogging the camera and I had no idea where it was even if progress was worth photographing would that sound more realistic that Whif? ;)

Yeah, I'd believe that actually. Fortunately, we've got a 10mp compact that she can carry around easily to snap Christopher, so my DSLR only gets called on for special occasions :rolleyes:

You need to get yourself a DSLR matey... great excuse to flash the cash "I can't get a lookin with the camera love, so I need one of my own" :innocent:

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Micha - neither can my keyboard so highlighted, copied and pasted them from a Russian language site.

Mike - seems we may have to get a new camera anyway since I've spent two hours this morning looking around for it and Fiona then woke up and admitted she had no idea where it was either.

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Mike - seems we may have to get a new camera anyway since I've spent two hours this morning looking around for it and Fiona then woke up and admitted she had no idea where it was either.

:lol: I'm only laughing because I know that feeling. :rolleyes: Probably in a handbag somewhere, or fallen out in the car. Hope you find it fella... might be as well to get two if you have to put your hand in your pocket (her purse). His & hers ;)

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Don't you mean; 'hers and, when she can't find that one, hers' Mike? Been threatening to buy a new camera for years now, went through every part of the house I can then even searched the car and Iona's pushchair and day-bag, seems I've got good reason to now :shithappens:

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Looks like a new camera is predicated then. One good thing from your POV about a DSLR is that it's heavy, complicated to use (properly - I still can't use mine fully!) and bulky. All very good reasons why it won't be used by 'er indoors :wicked:

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Found the camera again so here's a quick one just for Mike :photo:

Mixed056.jpg

Forgot to make a set of rudder pedals so while those are drying I'll get started to some external fuselage details.

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Built a simple representation of the rudder pedals under the instrument panel then had a go at correcting the wing root trailing edge where the flap sits. Academy mould it solid with a step in the flap where they would meet. North American, on the other hand, made the flap without said step and let it sit under the wing root fillet. Thus I hacked out the excess plastic and backed the hole. Last job of the evening was to blank off the radiator air scoop.

Mixed001.jpg

Couple more minor parts and should be about ready to join the fuselage halves :)

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Cockpit as finished as I'm willing to do for this one...

Mixed007.jpg

...then the fuselage halves joined and a couple other bits worked on while it cures.

Mixed009.jpg

Lower wing section is simply pushed into place while I test everything looks square.

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Cool sketches and great progress!

Thank you, found the sketches helped me understand the subject and work out details, dare say the next lot will be to work out a colour-scheme.

Slow progress this evening. Wings and front cowling panel were attached, left to dry then sanded, this is the second burst of filler and should see the seams sorted after a light rub-down.

Mixed002.jpg

Mixed003.jpg

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Cheers Dan. Got a little more progress made last night, mainly building the gun-sight and working on a few external details such as the small fences on the wing and the two cooling grills on the nose, still working to beef-up the propeller so will hopefully have something worth photographing later.

In the meantime been thinking further about colour-schemes and the reasons for them.

Initial deliveries of all equipment including the P51B/C went to the effort on Russia's European Theater while the war against Japan to the east was fought on entirely different methods. After the fall of Vladivostok Soviet troops had retreated and dissipated into the countryside. At first Japanese forces began a rapid advance west across largely uninhabited ground and many units found themselves in a race to gain the lead and give their commanders bragging rights as to who had moved furthest inland. While this at first proved popular with both troops on the ground and higher command at home it soon led to the supply lines stretching thin. This encouraged Soviet troops to begin a program of sporadic hit-and-run attacks on these lines and harass the invading forces both day and night. By the end of 1943 Russia was proving an unpopular place for the Japanese soldier as winter set in and sleep became difficult through nightly attention from otherwise obsolete Soviet aircraft

The spring of 1944 brought an increase of equipment supplies from the US and UK as well as a rapid advance through Eastern Europe and into Germany. This in turn allowed a redirection of Red Army elements to the east of Russia against the now stagnated Japanese. Pockets of troops who had been so keen to press forward now found themselves either trapped or in rapid retreat, so much so that by the onset of winter in 1944 Soviet forces had regained Vladivostok and pushed well into South-East Asia, the Red Army eventually ceased the drive upon met US and Allied forces driving North well into Vietnam. The only Japanese forces now left in mainland Asia were concentrated in the Korean peninsula and local commanders formed a fixed front line sure the Red Army would be unable to use hit-and-run tactics and gain the time required to regroup with supplies from mainland Japan. This decision, however, simply allowed the Soviets to employ the same tactics that proved successful in Europe and make use of the B25, P39 and P51D that were being brought to bore in increasing numbers.

The morning of January 5th 1945 dawned as cold as every other had for some time along the Korean Front and many Japanese troops had suffered another restless night due to the attentions of Po2 light bombers. The mornings peace was soon shattered by a series of strafing attacks by P51D's on several sections of the front line and was rapidly followed by further and heavier attacks by first P39s then B25s. Japanese intelligence had failed to notice the amassing of these types in the region following their delivery via the Alaskan route and were unprepared for the severity of the attack. local fighter squadrons were soon sent to intercept the now retreating P39s and B25s but failed to realise the P51s were still in the area at higher altitudes and were soon caught up in the first major air battle over the region. With the benefits of surprise and altitude the Red Air Force Mustangs inflicted heavy losses upon the A6M and Ki45 fighters but many pilots returned complaining of difficulties identifying the P51D from the similar shaped and camouflage Ki45. In subsequent engagements many Soviet pilots chose to adorn their Mustang's with large red panels to aid identification during combat - usually in sections of the nose, tail and outer wing - since the standard green over light blue scheme was proving too similar to that worn by Japanese types. Such decoration proved both effective and popular to the extent it soon became officially sanctioned as a mark of patriotism - even featuring in many propaganda posters.

Be a wee while yet before I'm ready to apply paint but in the meantime I want to prepare a couple colour profiles to test some potential schemes that have stuck in my imagination and let you all see what could be coming.

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A quick update to show last night's progress. Gun-sight scratch-built then painted and weathered so painted the windscreen inner frame while there was black paint on the brush. A platicard shim gets rid of the unsightly gap created by drooping the flaps a few degrees and more plasticard and filler beefed-up the propeller before it too got a coat of black.

Mixed001-1.jpg

Make a new set of underwing pylons and she's almost ready for paint.

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Cheers Trevor, got a little more done over the last couple evenings, pylons made but discovered my superglue tube was solid so didn't get the pitot finished. Ah well, job for tonight...

Mixed010.jpg

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