I had Revell's 1/48 P-51B/C Mustang that I got on the cheap from the local Michael's craft store. I decided to use it as a practice kit for natural metal finishes. I was hesitant to build it in NMF because the fit was terrible and I knew I'd be struggling with the seams, and also because the kit's plastic was rough and "pebbly". I figured this kit would be a good test of my NMF skills to this point.
This is my fourth NMF kit, and it's finished using Alclad and MM enamels. The weathering's done using Flory washes and pastels. The only parts that were not from the box are the decals that are from my spares box, some unshrouded exhausts and drop tanks from a Tamiya kit, drop tank plumbing made of fine solder and wire insulation from an old pair of ear buds, and simple tape seat belts.
Here's the plane I was trying to depict: P-51C 43-25054. I had the 20th's nose stripes but I didn't have the nose art for this plane. The codes and serials are all decals from my spares box, but the tail's plane code I had to paint on.
I know this build's not on par with some of the brilliant Mustang builds out there, but I think it's a solid 3-footer. I'm trying to improve on my natural metal finishes, so please don't hesitate to provide some feedback.
Thanks for lookin'!
-O