Don Gentile was a leading Ace in WW2.
On April 13, 1944 he was stunting for the press over an airfield in Briton when he crashed and totally destroyed his P-51 Mustang.
This is my journey to model that aircraft. So buckle up and join the ride.
Before:
After:
A quick seardch told me a detailed Merlin engine was going to cost me more than I wanted to pay for the project so I was very happy when I found This:
This allowed me to plan things out
Not surprisingly a kit with the appropriate markings was available.
So time to dig into the plastic
So everything that needed to be mangled or missing is cut off. Pretty much doubled the parts count of the kit!
Then put it back together. Sort of.
Since the aircraft was only in service a few weeks before he crashed it the cockpit was done up loking new(ish)
All closed up and interior painted. Brace in place to throw tarp over. Torn skin not on until ready for exterior paint.
Since the cowel will be off I need someplace to put the nose art. Sooooo
Base coat on. Bubble canopy is for masking purposes only
Torn and buckled aluminum is made from ... well ... torn and buckled aluminum. It is the heavy aluminum tape used for duct wok. Base coat is covered with tinted Future (Pledge) to start weathering and give a good foundation for decals.
Decals on and more weathering added.
Standing on her legs.
All tarpped up and prop in place.
And with canopy. Most of a canopy. Half of a canopy?
Tail.
And salvage pile of removed parts on a dirty tarp.
And done! Or so I thought.
