Revell P-51B/C

First off, welcome to the new and improved (supposedely) forums. I'm currently building that kit now. It's not quite as good as a tamiya or accurate miniatures version of the same plane but for the money it builds up just fine. The biggest things I didnt care for is the 3 injector marks on each of the main tires and how the instrument panel attaches into the fuselage, after that, it's a great little kit. Nothing to really watch out for, it builds pretty easy simple and straight forward. I recommend it, I'll be buying another one or two. 

Not familiar with that kit, unless Revell has re-released the old Monogram P-51B, Art Howard's "Ding Hao!"?  Or is this an entirely new kit?  I'd love to see that old gal back in circulation...

This is the one released this year. I dont know much about their past kits but It doesnt look to be a rerelease.

http://www.revell.com/model-kits/aircraft/85-5256.html

As far as I know, it is a re-release of the original Monogram kit.

The old P-51B kit was the starting point; I read that the molds were retooled, to replace the raised panel lines with recessed lines.  But otherwise, it's supposed to be the same kit.

I haven't bought one yet, but I plan to, if for nothing else than to compare it to the original kit that I have in my stash, and see what's different.

Regards,

Brad

I'm pretty sure it's actually a re-release of the P-51B/C that was originally packaged under the Monogram Pro-Modeler label which if I'm not mistaken was a Hasegawa kit.  It comes with both the B canopy and a Malcolm hood. I just built that kit in Tuskeegee markings and it took a couple of awards during contest season.  Engraved panel lines on that kit instead of the raised lines on the older Monogram P-51B.

It is the Pro-Modeler release of the original Monogram kit.  It is NOT a Hasegawa kit.  The Monogram kit was partially re-tooled with engraved panel lines and some added details to the cockpit for the ProModeler release.

Nothin' wrong with either of those kits... Gonna have to find the new one m'self now... Been wanting to do Tex Hill's Pony for years...

Sorry.  I thought it was a rebox of the Hasegawa kit.  It's definitely better than the old Monogram B that's for sure.  The windscreen doesn't match three-view drawings very well but it's hard to notice without the drawings.

My girlfriend let me open it early! Like stated before the only "flaws" I see are the injector pin marks on the wheels but they should be easily filled at sanded even, there isnt any detail to worry about sanding away. I dont get why the intsrument panel has a decal to go over it when there are raised details on it to begin with? Any suggestions on how to work with it, put the decal on or just paint the instrument panel with dry brushing the detail?

I wouldnt even use the decal for the IP, I rarely do. I took mine and started by painting it flat back, then paint on the little silver and red details, then using a silver colored pencil carefully picked out the details withe side of the pencil lead. After that, use a drop of future on each instument dial face to give them the glass look, plus it makes the details stand out a bit more.

The decal's an "either/or" thing... Either paint the panel & details, or sand the panel smooth and use the decal..

I've got a set of punches that I use to punch out the decal for JUST each instrument and place in the appropriate bezel.  The future on each dial really makes it pop.  Almost as good as the Eduard Color Panels.

The original Monogram canopy fit like a glove....the new canopy is very "soft" and  just about not usable because of the fit.

Unfortunately, I didn't fit the canopy until I had worked the rest of the kit - will now look for a replacement from Squadron.... http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=SQ9528.

The rest of the kit is very nice!

Gene K

Hans von Hammer

The decal's an "either/or" thing... Either paint the panel & details, or sand the panel smooth and use the decal..

I'll respectfully disagree, Hammer, I've made an overlay for decal instrument panels by photocopying the decal, then using that to make the overlay with thin clear plastic (I use the stiffeners that are packaged in my new shirts).  I use the photocopy as a guide to punch out the holes for the instruments and scribe the outline of the panel  I can paint the overlay, then apply the decal to the appropriate area, or to another piece of thin plastic, and fix the overlay to that with white glue.

Regards,

Brad

Hans von Hammer

Nothin' wrong with either of those kits... Gonna have to find the new one m'self now... Been wanting to do Tex Hill's Pony for years...

Revell of Germany has a 1/72 scale P-51B with Tex hill's markings for his bird. I have that particular kit myself and the 1/48 scale P-51B/C pro modeler kit.

Hans von Hammer

Nothin' wrong with either of those kits... Gonna have to find the new one m'self now... Been wanting to do Tex Hill's Pony for years...

Youre in luck Hans, the kit comes with decals for Tex Hills bird...

http://www.revell.com/model-kits/aircraft/85-5256.html

SWEET!  I'm all over that one...  I knew Tex personally (He was a fellow CAF Colonel) and wanted to do his Mustang for years... Went to his funeral back in 07...  Sad, man...

On another note, Tex autographed a "baseball card" of the CAF's P-40 for me back in 99, right?  My 3rd ex-wife stole it from my collection of AVG stuff during our rather messy divorce and STILL will not let me have it back...   That ain't all the Witch stole outta my military collectables, either... But that one irks me the most..

aside from spite, what would she have to gain by taking such an item? is she a fan/friend of Tex's?

She met him once, had no idea who he was and why I called him "General" and "Sir"... She joined the CAF as well, but her motives were different than mine... She had a real habit of being "The Belle of the Ball" wherever we went, and CAF Airshows were no different... Her main thing was the Hangar Dance after the show...    She took that stuff & more outta pure Eff-in' spite...  Said so even.. Her words,"I didn't want you to have it.."  Ya believe that Shinola??  Someday I'll tell ya the story of her and me and Paul Tibbets & Bob Morgan..

Man... Some people are alive only because it's against the law to kill 'em...

Hey hans, I've got the decal sheet for the revell B/C mustang, I wont be using anything other than the star and bars off it, your welcome to the rest of it if you like.

Sure, just throw it in with the Jug..

Not a problem mike, will do.

Hey all, first post. I read the forums often, (as is common, getting back into the hobby after 25 years, ha) and I noticed something here I can contribute.

Re: using decals on an instrument panel that has raised areas (very short cylinders basically) and a flat decal. When I faced this with my first build (which I am still working on), being a total noob, I decided to give it a go against all reason that the decals would work. Worst case, I knew I could just remove the decal. 

It actually works if you use Micro Sol on the decal. The solvent properties of that chemical, after probably 5 applications, caused it to adhere to the uneven surface flawlessly. I actually did take some pictures showing this, but my slightly off center placement of the decal REALLY showed up so I think I deleted the images, so unfortunately I can't show you the result. The gauges were on the tops of the cylinders, and the rest of the decal settled down between them, no silvering. 

This is a cheapo Revell p47, not sure if they are unusual quality (good or bad) or common. Might be worth a try to someone looking to get the benefit of the decal w/o buying aftermarket parts or too much extra effort. 

I really like the tip about using a drop of Future on the decal faces to create a glass effect, that's brilliant!

Hi, Wrenchhead!  Welcome to the forum!

I understand what you're saying about applying the decal, but I still like to use drybrushing on an instrument panel with raised relief.  I finally got the right size of Prismacolor silver pencil, and I've used that on the last couple of builds with instrument panels with raised detail.  Either that, or some flat white or flat aluminum paint.  But whatever works for each of us, is best.

I look forward to seeing your builds!

Decal is probably a carry over from the original kit, I don't think it had a detailed instrument panel.  

The original kit had NO IP. Just two backing halves molded in their respective fuselage sides and a decal you were supposed to cut from from the decal sheet with its' paper backing and glue in place.

I am working on my next build, a p-51. I tried your drybrushing idea, and it came out great! Definitely better than the decal, even though the decal set down properly. Drybrushing for me from now on!

(Unrelated, yikes Revell kits are awful, haha, using them for practice before I spend the money on quality kits)

wrnchhead76

(Unrelated, yikes Revell kits are awful, haha, using them for practice before I spend the money on quality kits)

Really?  To which kits do you refer?  Do you mean the old stand alone Revell brand, or do you refer to the current Revell-Monogram kits, or perhaps you mean Revell of Germany?   Yikes indeed.

Well I am not sure. I built a p47, molds copyrighted in the 60s, and the flash and fit were AWFUL. Had to trim 2mm of styrene off of the back of the upper wing sections to mate them up, and the copyright 2000 p-51 I'm working on now...the canopy isn't even the right shape for the rest of the model. The fuselage halves fit terribly. Now, since I'm a super modeling noob, it's possible this is just how it is, and all these issues need addressed on any kit. Learning as I go.