Panel buffing

im about to start a P-51D with a bare metal finish and from what ive gathered its mix matched. ofcourse, the pics im going by are of models themselves and not the actual aircraft photos. i think youd be safe by just randomly selecting the panels and darken or lighten them. later.

Dana

What A/C are you modeling?

After metalizing my f-86, the best advice I can give is to find all the photo references you can and use those as a guideline. In the absence of any references though, I'd just pick out a few panels that look like they might be servicable (like access panels) or perhaps requiring a different manufacturing process, like a wing root, or fin root panel. Something that is not just a flat panel, but maybe had to be specially formed to fit its placement on the aircraft.
Turned out that I didn't accent enough on my Sabre, and now it looks rather dull.

Wish I could add more but I'm kinda going through the same decision making process myself.

stinger

Stinger, two aircraft now. A 1/144 KC-97 and a 1/32 Mig-19. Later I'll be doing a 1/48 F-89J.

Of course, on the F-89, I have to learn to rescribe first.