1/32 Tamiya P-51D Big Beautiful Doll, finally finished!

CNicoll

Member since
January 2003
From: Chantilly, Virginia

1/32 Tamiya P-51D Big Beautiful Doll, finally finished!

Posted by CNicoll on Friday, January 15, 2016 9:25 PM

Started back in 2013, finally finished it late 2015. Had several issues with finding nose checker decals that actually fit the Tamiya 1/32 kit (Zotz has the nose decals perfectly, Eagle Cal has the wingtip and BBD decals) but had a lot of fun putting it all together.

Mostly used Tamiya and Model Master acrylics (and metalizers for the exhaust panels). Eduard contributed a lot of the cockpit detail.

Big Beautiful Doll nose

I love the figure included with the kit. The goggle strap is actually a spare seatbelt.

BBD Cockpit

The Zotz decals fit the nose beautifully, and take just a little bit of work. You would never know the nose actually comes off in four different pieces!

BBD Nose

I took a few liberties with colours (wood floor in the cockpit, copper coloured radiator piping) just to add some color.

Engine

I know a lot of people complain that being able to remove the landing gear is gimmicky, but I like being able to show the plane 'in flight'.

BBD in flight

And here with the gear down. The drop tank plumbing is actually just solid core electrical wire painted black.

BBD on the ground.

Top down view:

BBD from the top.

Head on

Head on view.

This is a great kit, lots of fun to build, and very easy to add a phenominal amount of detail to as well.

On the bench: Academy 1/72 B-17G 'Blue Hen Chick'; 1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; Kitty Hawk 1/32 P-39.

Completed: 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Mustang - 'Show Bird', 1/32 Dragon P-51D Flying Tigers 'What if'; 1/32 Tamiya P-51D Big Beautiful Doll

Group build:1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Show Bird

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mississippivol

Member since
November 2003
From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)

Posted by mississippivol on Friday, January 15, 2016 9:52 PM

BBD makes a pretty build. Great job marking her up!

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Wilbur Wright

Member since
February 2006
From: Boston

Posted by Wilbur Wright on Friday, January 15, 2016 9:57 PM

Beautiful job, I appreciate the painstaking work.

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Toshi

Member since
March 2015
From: Streetsboro, Ohio

Posted by Toshi on Saturday, January 16, 2016 2:54 AM

That sir is an exceptional build! Well worth the time.

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world. Mrs. Toshi

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Wolfman_63

Member since
April 2015

Posted by Wolfman_63 on Saturday, January 16, 2016 5:03 AM

That came out great! Looks outstanding! Very nice job.

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

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midnightprowler

Member since
February 2003
From: East Bethel, MN

Posted by midnightprowler on Saturday, January 16, 2016 7:17 AM

Stunning!

Hi, I am Lee, I am a plastiholic.

Co. A, 682 Engineers, Ltchfield, MN, 1980-1986

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Ask me about Speedway Decals

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CNicoll

Member since
January 2003
From: Chantilly, Virginia

Posted by CNicoll on Saturday, January 16, 2016 8:04 AM

Gents, thank you very much for the kind comments, very much appreciated!

On the bench: Academy 1/72 B-17G 'Blue Hen Chick'; 1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; Kitty Hawk 1/32 P-39.

Completed: 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Mustang - 'Show Bird', 1/32 Dragon P-51D Flying Tigers 'What if'; 1/32 Tamiya P-51D Big Beautiful Doll

Group build:1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Show Bird

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DESooner

Member since
December 2015
From: texas

Posted by DESooner on Saturday, January 16, 2016 8:41 AM

I would never have guessed the nose decal was 4 pieces. Impressive. That had to have been fun sliding 4 pieces into place.

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Loydb

Member since
December 2015

Posted by Loydb on Saturday, January 16, 2016 9:44 AM

Great looking! Can you post a pic with a lighter or coke can to give scale?

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Raualduke

Member since
February 2011
From: St louis

Posted by Raualduke on Saturday, January 16, 2016 9:50 AM

Great work. Now I wanna build one Mike

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CNicoll

Member since
January 2003
From: Chantilly, Virginia

Posted by CNicoll on Saturday, January 16, 2016 12:05 PM

One note on the decals: The nose checkers are from Zotz, from their Duxford Mustang set. They are not exactly right for Big Beautiful Doll, however EagleCal's 1/32 BBD nose checkers are simply scaled up from their 1/48 scale kit and they do not fit the 1/32nd model. Yes I tried, they really don't fit.

I talked to EagleCal last year but they have not, to the best of my knowledge, corrected the issue with the 1/32 set. The rest of the EagleCal decals are terrific, but don't bother with their nose checkers.

Good luck!

On the bench: Academy 1/72 B-17G 'Blue Hen Chick'; 1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; Kitty Hawk 1/32 P-39.

Completed: 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Mustang - 'Show Bird', 1/32 Dragon P-51D Flying Tigers 'What if'; 1/32 Tamiya P-51D Big Beautiful Doll

Group build:1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Show Bird

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BrandonK

Member since
June 2014

Posted by BrandonK on Saturday, January 16, 2016 2:05 PM

I love BBD, she's my fave Mustang. Super nice work. Love it !!

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed

14 / 5 / 2

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CNicoll

Member since
January 2003
From: Chantilly, Virginia

Posted by CNicoll on Monday, January 18, 2016 4:47 PM

Here are a few more pics of the nose with some of the panels removed and a bottle of paint for scale.

BBD

Nose off

BBD 2

Tags: Tamiya , 1/32 , P-51D , Mustang , Big Beautiful Doll

On the bench: Academy 1/72 B-17G 'Blue Hen Chick'; 1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; Kitty Hawk 1/32 P-39.

Completed: 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Mustang - 'Show Bird', 1/32 Dragon P-51D Flying Tigers 'What if'; 1/32 Tamiya P-51D Big Beautiful Doll

Group build:1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Show Bird

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Loydb

Member since
December 2015

Posted by Loydb on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 5:10 AM

Gorgeous!

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Devil Dawg

Member since
March 2005
From: Lancaster, South Carolina

Posted by Devil Dawg on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 11:28 PM

Great job on your Mustang, Chris! I just bought this kit as well, and am looking forward to starting on it soon.

One thing I noticed in the pictures is that both ailerons are drooped like flaps. Is that the way the kit instructions have you build them?

Devil Dawg

On The Bench: Tamiya 1/32nd Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zeke For Japanese Group Build

Build one at a time? Hah! That'll be the day!!

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CNicoll

Member since
January 2003
From: Chantilly, Virginia

Posted by CNicoll on Thursday, January 21, 2016 6:51 AM

Devil Dawg

Great job on your Mustang, Chris! I just bought this kit as well, and am looking forward to starting on it soon.

One thing I noticed in the pictures is that both ailerons are drooped like flaps. Is that the way the kit instructions have you build them?

Hi and thanks for your comments. No, actually, they are just very loose and do not stay in position very well. I ended up just glueing them back into the neutral position to keep them in place. The flaps work pretty well and the elevators stay in any position easily.

Good luck on your build. Do you have the Tamiya book by Brett Green on building this kit? It was full of really good ideas. If I can help in any way, let me know.

Chris

On the bench: Academy 1/72 B-17G 'Blue Hen Chick'; 1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; Kitty Hawk 1/32 P-39.

Completed: 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Mustang - 'Show Bird', 1/32 Dragon P-51D Flying Tigers 'What if'; 1/32 Tamiya P-51D Big Beautiful Doll

Group build:1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Show Bird

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lawdog114

Member since
February 2012
From: Olmsted Township, Ohio

Posted by lawdog114 on Thursday, January 21, 2016 9:11 PM

Outstanding. Thanks for sharing.

"Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

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allan

Member since
June 2003
From: Cavite, Philippines

Posted by allan on Thursday, January 21, 2016 10:02 PM

Beautiful work on the Mustang. How do the engine cowling pieces and landing gear attach to the plane? Pins?

No bucks, no Buck Rogers

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CNicoll

Member since
January 2003
From: Chantilly, Virginia

Posted by CNicoll on Friday, January 22, 2016 7:52 AM

allan

Beautiful work on the Mustang. How do the engine cowling pieces and landing gear attach to the plane? Pins?

Hi!

Magnets actually embedded in the engine and the frame, and there are very small pieces of metal glued to the cowling pieces. Those cowling pieces are VERY thin plastic. The landing gear uses a small screw to stay in place. Interesting way to do things!

Best,

Chris

On the bench: Academy 1/72 B-17G 'Blue Hen Chick'; 1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; Kitty Hawk 1/32 P-39.

Completed: 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Mustang - 'Show Bird', 1/32 Dragon P-51D Flying Tigers 'What if'; 1/32 Tamiya P-51D Big Beautiful Doll

Group build:1/48 Tamiya Mustang III; 1/48 Tamiya P-51D Show Bird