'Just Hanging Around' 78th FG P-51D 1/48 scale.

[Scratchbuilder]

Finally got the inspiration I needed to fill in my break from my current build thanks the Pete and his Mossie. It has been years since my last airplane build...

.... And after a look in the cupboard finally decided on the Tamiya P-51D Mustang...

... I bought this kit and all the accesories many moons ago when I was actually on the road, but never got around to building it....

... And after going through the USAF folder of decals I have came up with these markings for a P-51D of the 78th Fighter Group...


So armed with the reference material...

... It was off to bed and start work in this morning...
First job was to grind away all the details on each side of the cockpit and then prepare the Aires resin cockpit sides for fitting, and came away very pleased as the went straight in as did the 'tub'. Then I cut away the rear scoop and fit that in place, but gave up on the grill as it is too tall with its locating tabs. So I constructed a plate which will go with the Eduard mesh grill and have some depth to it when in place. The other item added was the tail wheel bay, and after a bit of fiddling and filing it is now in pace, again no real problem. Other items cleaned off are the armour plate, seat and control column. These have now been primed and leaving them to dry it is on with the wings and undercarriage bay.

So more later.
Cheers
Mike.

 

[minitnkr]

Very nice additions.

 

[stillp]

Not hanging about with that one Mike! Not sure how you were inspired by my Mossie though...
Pete

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Very nice additions.

Many thanks Paul, but will not be using all those extra parts.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Not hanging about with that one Mike! Not sure how you were inspired by my Mossie though...
Pete

Pete, Sometimes you just need that extra push.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Update,
So the wings are now cemented together and the first job was to remove the 'gun' barrel ends and replace them with some aluminium tube...

... It was then onto the undercarriage bays and adding some of the Eduard etch. I do have a replacement resin offering, perhaps next time....


The bottom image has a grey look to it with spots and stripes, this was from the c/a.
The wings, wheels and instrument panel are now in primer ready for the Zinc Chromate paint along with the fuselage... More later
Chers
Mike.

 

[JR]

I can see this being built with the same skill set as the armour you produce Wibble, already bits cut off and replaced. Will follow please.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

I can see this being built with the same skill set as the armour you produce Wibble, already bits cut off and replaced. Will follow please.

Carry on Wobble, this 48th scale stuff has the eyeballs standing out on stalks..... Wibble.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Update,
So - got the Zinc Chromate on. I did find that the Real Colours Zinc was a bit Yellow so added a touch of Green to the mix and it came out close to the T.T.O 114 U.S. Colour (or Color in the colonials) Chart.

So full of glory I then started to build up the cockpit...

The floor was made of wood and so added myversion of wood with first a coat of Tamiya Buff followed when dry with Burnt Umber oil which had been left for half an hour to allow the oil to be soaked into the card it was sitting on. This was then brushed on and again left due to lunch break... When I returned I used a bit of foam from one of those washing up sponges held in some tweezers and stroked in the direction I wanted the grain to go. The head rest and the boot for the control column were treated in the same way as they are leather. The instrument panel has been built up from the Eduard set and is now waiting to be matt varnished and then the instruments filled with gloss, although I might try some Vallejo water touched in with a cocktail stick. More later
Mike.

 

[Jim R]

All looking very good and done very quickly.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looking splendid. Pit is coming on a treat.
Funny what you say about 1/48 stuff being hard on the eyeballs though Mike…..I usually work in 28mm figures, so found the recent 1/48th Spitfire and Mosquito group build entries I did rather relaxing to work on

 

[JR]

Wibble, a splendid update, glad you're making such progress on the office . Love the wood colour . Wobble .

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Looking splendid. Pit is coming on a treat.
Funny what you say about 1/48 stuff being hard on the eyeballs though Mike…..I usually work in 28mm figures, so found the recent 1/48th Spitfire and Mosquito group build entries I did rather relaxing to work on

Tim,
Just joking, I do more 1/35 than anything else.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Wibble, a splendid update, glad you're making such progress on the office . Love the wood colour . Wobble .

Thankyou Wobble, hopefully more today with the sides. Wibble.

 

[colin m]

Good stuff Michael. Lee's GB has proved quite popular - that must say something about the Mustang.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Good stuff Michael. Lee's GB has proved quite popular - that must say something about the Mustang.

Thanks for the compliment, just fancied building a lost in the stash of time Mustang.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Update,
The weathering of the cockpit is now complete...



And today have been sorting out the odd bits that need cleaning up/assembling and priming - here are the exhaust pipes getting the drill treatment...

...Before and after.... Tomorrow will be back to painting.
Cheers
Mike.

 

[minitnkr]

Beautifully executed.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Nice!

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Paul and Tim, many thanks for your comments.
Just dropped in to say work is still progressing well with pics to follow later today.
Cheers
Mike.