Mustang Build

Steve,

I think you're right - this does make 5. Hard to believe. Thanks for letting me join the group. It's been a blast hanging out with all the very accomplished modelers who took part and I learned a lot.

Best to all,
Larry

From where I sit it looks great, and the NMF looks dandy as well.   The checkerboard came out great.  I know I wouldn't replace it on my shelf.

Thanks, goldhammer.

I think the fuselage came out pretty well. It's the wings that turned out to be a problem. When I stripped the model after my first attempt at NMF failed, the putty I used to fill the panel lines came off as well. I refilled them, sanded again, and resprayed the whole model with Alclad Aluminum.  Apparently I didn't wait long enough before moving on. I masked the wings off with frisket film (I thought it would be less sticky than masking tape) so that I could paint the fuselage with Alclad Airframe Aluminum. When I removed the mask, though, it pulled up big bits of the paint on the wings . I was so frustrated at that point that I just resprayed Aluminum on the wings, but - in person - the surface of the wings looks like the aircraft has some kind of nasty skin disease. I was in too much of a rush to finish I think. AlClad clearly needs over 24 hours drying time before it's safe to mask. Live and learn.

Best,
Larry

I hear you on the frisket.....used it to mask off the green crosses on the Betty, pulled the white acrylicright off the bird.  Had scuffed her pretty well with a gray scotchbrite (=to about 320 grit)  Didn't prime her though and that is where I think it reached around and bit the afterburner.  So disgusted at myself, it has set for a year, got to get on it and redo the areas, and finish it up.  Only about 4 hours left once I get the paint fixed.

Might let her sit for awhile and come back in a few months and see what you can do to repair to your satisfaction, other than an M-80 as a drop tank and a short flight out a 4th story window.

I haven't tried to use Frisket since the 80s, so I probably cant help with any comment.

Goldhammer and Larry, they are both nice looking models,  I enjoyed reading through them.

I did realise last night that the deadline for this GB is rapidly approaching, and I'd better get started. I commenced with spraying the interior with interior green, early this morning , before work. The interior green that I use is Gunze H61 Interior Green.

Cheers

Tony

LOL Tony, you are cutting it close. 

The deadline for this group build is getting close, isn't it?

This was the first group build that I've ever been involved in and I just want to thank all of the other participants. You made it a great experience. It's been a real pleasure learning from all of you and I feel honored to have my work displayed in the gallery with yours.

Best to all,

Larry

lzdaily@comcast.net

The deadline for this group build is getting close, isn't it?

Yes, July 31st. I was a real pleasure having you join us Larry.

Yeah, better get in there taxtp! I'm sweating my own self right now. 

Larry, it's good to have you on board. You can't make a group build work unless you get participation. You definitely carried your water. =D

I do have a quick update. I'm about to put this canopy down finally. Just about done with the interior. It's been so difficult to get the time I need to have to appropriately spend with regard to the fiddly parts. Here's what I have so far.

I scratched out all my canopy parts: mechinisms for the windows, handles, mirror, backup reticle sight, vents on the dash, wire for the K-3A gunsight...I still need to make a couple of cabin lights and a locking mechnism for the canopy, and that'll be it.

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

See. Tiny. The reticle was most finikky. Obviously, less fooling with it than more was the way to go. In the future I'll make it all one length and punch a hole through the lead foil. 

This was masked with Montex masking but was insufficient for the Squadron canopy so I had to fill the gaps with Tamiya tape. Primed, painted, and sealed in a flat.

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

I know these pictures aren't the best, but they do start to show some of what's going on here. Once completed, I'll take some better ones. Next, I'll secure the IP to canopy and glue this bad boy on. =]

Then it's a rush to the finish!

You make it look easy Britt. How you thought about building ships 

Well, thank you. =] Some things are easy, but some things do become a bit of a challenge to either fit/attach without messing up what you've already finished with, so those parts take a bit of planning ahead or some imagination with regard to how it's going to build up.

I have given some thought to it. I have a concept with a sub surfacing around a lot ice, some carriers, but I have no experience with making water. Thought about it without the water and just making a pretty base. I just haven't taken the time to stop PTO aircraft to start one. I guess I'm also afraid some of that stuff is too tiny for me to accurately paint and weather properly, but I suppose it's like anything and I just need to jump in and do it. Then I'd have to put it somewhere. =D  

Do you have any experience with ships? Pros...cons...?

Here's the latest I'm working on. The "USS" Prinz Eugen at Bikini

Before rigging

After rigging.

I love doing ships, they are my favorite subject. But, they thake a lot of time and you can really get carried away with all the details, especially where is so much AM for them

The Indy I completed last year.

I have a Submarine Warfare GB starting Aug 1st. You ought to jump in.

Damn! I would love to attempt a water scene like that. Very impressive. I don't know if I'll be available for a submarine build. I don't quite have my workshop in order (that's why you see my dinner mats in photos =]) but I will definitely be watching. It'll at least be a good tutorial to catch me up on what to expect.

Steve,

Amazing ship models. Just amazing. Love the water effects.

Quick question for the group: does anyone have a decent photo or dimensions of the AN/APS-13 TWR that was installed on the tail of some P-51D's? Weaver's Mustang had one (which I didn't find out until after the paint was on) and I'll need to model it on the new model (which is underway, by the way). I'm assuming that the antenna bits appeared on both sides of the tail - is that correct?

Also, the EagleCals decal sheet mentions that Weaver's Mustang had fuselage formation lights. I have over a dozen books on the Mustang and none of them mention such a thing. Can anyone provide any information on those? Were they in place of the lights under the right wing?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Larry

lzdaily@comcast.net

Steve,

Amazing ship models. Just amazing. Love the water effects.

Quick question for the group: does anyone have a decent photo or dimensions of the AN/APS-13 TWR that was installed on the tail of some P-51D's? Weaver's Mustang had one (which I didn't find out until after the paint was on) and I'll need to model it on the new model (which is underway, by the way). I'm assuming that the antenna bits appeared on both sides of the tail - is that correct?

Larry

 

Larry, I've got a few pictures for you, and a solution for building it. =] I did the same thing a couple of years ago...after closer examination I found these little antenna sticking out precariously through the vertical stab. Here's the pics:

P-51DK_05 by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

aps-13-components1-70% by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

Top view:

aps-13-ant1-70 by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

I haven't been able to do this yet but I think the easiest way to pull this off is to drill some tiny holes marked according to photos where the antenna will go. A thin strip of plastic with holes to match will help hold them into place and will slip in between the vertical stab. I plan to make the antenna out of then brass rod. Sure up one side first to the inside of the stab. I plan on using Tamiya Extra Thin Cement. Then, carefully fit the other half of the fuselage into place through the rods and tape off your fit up the fuselage until you can secure the stab/rudder. For the curved piece, I plan on doubling one over itself until the ends fit back through the stab to secure it. So it would just take 3 rods. A couple dabs of CA glue will anchor them to the plastic strip. Once you have matched the other fuselage into place, just snip off the excess rod to match the length you need. Not too nerve racking huh? =]

I think this way is much more secure and will last much better especially with moving and such if you're ever taking it to a show or what have you.

Don't forget the on the second picture there's the indicator up on the dash on top of the IP. It was a little red light that would light up and a horn would sound along with it. There's a control box for it as well and an on/off switch but I have no idea where the SOBs go. You could probably get away with just the light indicator....there's always so much going on in a cockpit that nobody sees.  Makes me wonder why I spend so much time with mine. LOL.

My guess is the control box (transmitter/reciever) would be mounted along with the radio gear boxes.

To late to do for this GB, but found Revell's 1/32 P51B with decals depicting "Berlin Express" at HL the last night when looking for something else and grabbed it.  Did some dry fitting on the wings and fuselage.  Gun ports will need to be redone and planning on the brass tube deal seen here.  Molds are showing some age, quite a bit of flash in places, but nothing really evil from what I have seen.  Pit is sparse, and pilot is terrible. 

Going to use it as a break in the other two GB's.

Britt, goldhammer,

Thanks for the info. I think the control box mounted on the right side of the fuselage; I've seen a couple of pics with one small papel labelled for the TWR.

Still trying to figure out what the EagleCals folks meant by "fuselage formation lights." The only ones I've ever heard of were the ones under the right wingtip.

Best,
Larry

Well, I don't think I can complete another build before the end of the group build, but I have started my replacement for my model of Weaver's P-51D. I think I've worked out what the aircraft actually looked like. You can find my evaluation of the photographic evidence here: http://www.larryzdaily.net/P-51D/P-51D.html

I'd appreciate any comments (or other photos) that anyone would want to share.

Best,
Larry

Yeah, it'd be somewhere mixed in along that right side of the cockpit. I'm just unsure of precisely where. It may have varied some depending on mission specifics if certain transmitters were updated or swapped out.

Unfortunately, I don't have any other Weaver pics. It seems he kept a pretty clean plane huh. Damn!

I have finally closed up this cockpit for the P-51A and I couldn't be happier about it. =D I took my time with the loose ends and made double sure to get my seams nailed down tight and it all worked out pretty well. Here's where I'm at:

I finished up the bells and whistles of the cockpit that I saved for last as they were so fiddly. They were going to get picked up and put away over and over again until I could actually close this so I thought it best to do them just before. Most of this includes the IP lights, canopy window locking handle, throttle and oil mixture, gunsight, wiring to the gunsight, and vents. The K-3A gunsight was a little modified from the kit part. 

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

Once everything was complete, I sized everything up one last time to be sure of the canopy's fit. I next cut some strips of tape to have ready to secure the canopy as I attach it. I started from the back and allowed that to settle in first since those tabs were most prominent and sturdy. Taped it down...and moved up the fuselage. A white glue that I found at my LHS (which has proven to be very strong) was also used to help stiffen the front while allowing some play at smoothly settling in.

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

All in all, not a terrible ordeal. Worth the time and effort. Next time I will be a little braver and open the canopy to better see the fruits of my labor. On this one, I really wanted to see some clean looking lines and I was concerned how a moving part on a vacuformed canopy would work out. 

Now I can move on to the fun part. I'll rivet this mother up and get the wings on. I have only to fool with fashioning a landing light and dressing up the MGs and this baby will have some primer. The F-6D is already on deck and waiting for it. =]

If anyone has any questions about the Squadron canopy for the P-51A, please don't hestitate to ask. 

Brit,

All I've got to say is wow!

Britt,

Amazing job. Absolutely amazing.

Larry

The cockpit is one of the best I have seen in anything.  Very, very nice.  I'll never have the patience or ability to do that kind of detail in 1/32 let alone 1/48.

Much appreciated guys. =] I've got to open up the throttle now though. The 31st is around the corner.

Okay, for anybody still watching...I'm about to mad dash this SOB to the finish line!! Here's a few last things I managed to tie up this -A before priming.

I redid the MG barrels with albion brass tubes. I'll be doing something similar for the -D. I saw Lawdog do this a while back and it seemed a whole lot better and cheaper than another AM part. The picture collage is fairly self-explanatory. I glued a 3/32" plastic tube to receive the albion tube combo. This allows me to paint them separate and close up the wing now. A lot easier for cleaning up these seams and saves me masking this part later. =]

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

The prop for this kit in reviews I've seen in the past looked really big to me. This one here came in a different color plastic than I've previously seen and this particular prop doesn't appear as bad, but...still pretty thick for my taste. So I got to sanding. Here's the difference.

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

In the top two frames the top blade is the original unsanded part compared with the two I've sanded. I based them off a Squadron walkaround for Allison engine Mustangs. The bottom left frame shows the thickness of the blade while the bottom right shows the corrected scale thickness (as best as I could make). So in just a few minutes I've gone from a boat oar that you'd paddle with, to a pretty sharp looking prop fit for a Mustang. =]

I did my usual elevator piece which was the same as the Tamiya kit...a one piece...much less fuss. The elevators slipped down in the -As just as they did for all Mustangs.

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

I've riveted the plane, but it's pretty much the same. I try not to go too heavy with pictures. You can kind of catch it in some of these pics.

I opened the radiator scoop a little wider. The opening is now a better fit to the kit part and there's no plastic protuding into this space...and you can see the radiator front that I built way back. =]

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

And here's just a quickie of where I'm at before priming with these two.

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

Tomorrow, Paint!

GO BRITT GO!

Looking good, Britt. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Hello guys.  Sorry for the dissappearacne.  Job is nuts and no time at home.  I believe I have everybody's finished builds on the wall.  If not, please let me know.  

You guys have made amazingzing builds and I try to view them on my phone as often as I can.  Takes too long to type replies on the phone and tough to get on while working (which I am right now.. heheh).  Awsome work again folks and I'm looking forward to seeing the ones still to come! :)

Cody J