Revell 1/32 P51D WIP (COMPLETED)

I bought this Revell 1/32 Mustang when it first came out a while back. I was hoping to find colorful markings for a NMF non filleted tail scheme but was unable to find one I liked. There is a huge selection for the filleted Mustangs so I opted to get a resin filleted tail from a company in the UK called  Aircraft Models. 

The resin parts are on solid and have good fit on the fuselage sides.

Preliminary dry fitting this morning revealed a small gap on the fillet spine. Once the sides go together, I will use thick CA and baking soda as a filler on the resin allowing sanding the area to a thin sharp edge along the spine.

Drilled out the guns

And the exhaust pipes, before

And after

The flaps, ailerons and elevators are all missing the riveting so, out came the RB Riveter and spent a few hours roling the missing details. Just enough to busy up the metal skin.

The parts before detailing.

After rolling the riveter.

Topside completed, the bottoms will be next.

The rivets are subtle and hard to see in the pictures but will be more visible after paint and washes.

 Got the pit completed. I used the kit decals and placards but were not enough so I dug into my spares for anything looking close to what the pony used. The wood floors were painted black and would show some foot traffic From use. I simulated this effect by dry brushing dark brown on the worn areas.

I wired up the radio battery.

The pit sides after paint and decals.

I used some Verlinden 1/32 seat belt buckles and wine foil to make the seat belts 

Used The kit decals for the instrument faces then added clear parts cement for the glass.

Looks great PJ! I built this last year and really enjoyed it. While it may not be Tamiya standare it's still very nice and for a fraction of the cost. 

V-e-r-y Nice work PJ!

Jim 

Stay Safe.

Great progress so far.  I have this kit in the stash too.  Revell has produced a great kit at a very reasonable price.  I like the markings that you've selected.  Checkered boards just seem to go so well on Mustangs, like sharks teeth on P-40s!

Thanks guys. I’m enjoying building and detailing this kit very much. It’s well made and is easy on the wallet. 

Nice work, PJ!  You're really adding polish to the stock kit.

Did you scratch the oxygen hose, or is that the kit part?

That resin conversion set looks very well-engineered, too.  It looks like they molded a flap to fit inside the fuselage?  That looks like it provides a really strong join.

I have this kit in my stash and intend to have it on the bench soon.  I will use your build here as a guide.  Great photography on your details.

the Baron

Nice work, PJ!  You're really adding polish to the stock kit.

Did you scratch the oxygen hose, or is that the kit part?

That resin conversion set looks very well-engineered, too.  It looks like they molded a flap to fit inside the fuselage?  That looks like it provides a really strong join.

 

Thanks Baron. The hose is a kit part and very well made. I dry brushed it to pop the moldings.

Yes the resin tail has some very solid reinforcing tabs making it very secured to the fuselage sides.

rocketman2000

I have this kit in my stash and intend to have it on the bench soon.  I will use your build here as a guide.  Great photography on your details.

 

 

Thanks. You will have a blast building yours.

Verynice work, PJ.  Does your main canopy have distortion on the sides?  Both of mine do.

Outstanding work.  Those little details count in this scale.  I've hear this kit is actually quite good.  I'll be following this one.  

jeaton01

Verynice work, PJ.  Does your main canopy have distortion on the sides?  Both of mine do.

 

Thanks John. Hey glad you asked, just looked at mine and yes both sides are slightly distorted. So is the windscreen which I have read about tons of complaints. I wonder if they corrected the issue with the newer releases?

EDIT: I just emailed a parts request to Revell for replacements. Let’s see where this goes.

Thanks LD. I do agree it’s a very nice kit and priced at a fraction of the Tamiya kit. Yes Tamiya is rated superior in many things but I just don’t quite like the price tag. My only concern up to now is the distortion with the clear parts. May have to look into am parts if available or even contacting the new Revell for replacement or purchase of clear parts.

plasticjunkie

 jeaton01

Verynice work, PJ.  Does your main canopy have distortion on the sides?  Both of mine do.

Thanks John. Hey glad you asked, just looked at mine and yes both sides are slightly distorted. So is the windscreen which I have read about tons of complaints. I wonder if they corrected the issue with the newer releases?

EDIT: I just emailed a parts request to Revell for replacements. Let’s see where this goes.

 

I did get a new one from them for the first kit I bought and it was no better.  I'm thinking vac canopy at this point, I have some Squadron sets for the D canopy.  Or maybe a spare from one of my Tamiya kits.  I think they have several types in them.

jeaton01

 

I did get a new one from them for the first kit I bought and it was no better.  

Thought of the same thing . Just discovered the same company that makes the resin tail makes a replacement canopy so that is another solution.

What distortions are you referring to guys?  I built the kit in 2020 (same year I bought it) and I didn't note any distortions or imperfections to the clear parts in my kit.  Just curious.

murph

What distortions are you referring to guys?  I built the kit in 2020 (same year I bought it) and I didn't note any distortions or imperfections to the clear parts in my kit.  Just curious.

 

If you casually look at the clear parts they appear to be ok but, look closely at the front windscreen panel and is not flat but looks like a clear puddle. The canopy sides distort in a wave pattern. 

Here is a perfect demonstration 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A664rUqiW7I

Also some caution during joining the fuselage halves. I like to dry fit parts to test the waters before using glue and the pit side frames, front and rear bulkheads MUST be sanded thinner to allow the fuselage to close. I read about this issue in a review and sure enough I experienced the same problem. Some sanding with a coarse sanding stick fixed the gap issue.

I guess I lucked out.  Like I said, I don't notice any of these imperfections in mine.

murph

I guess I lucked out.  Like I said, I don't notice any of these imperfections in mine.

 

That's good to hear. Which one do you have, the 5 or 15NA?

plasticjunkie

That's good to hear. Which one do you have, the 5 or 15NA?

Same one you're building.

murph

 

 

plasticjunkie

That's good to hear. Which one do you have, the 5 or 15NA?

 

 

 

 

Same one you're building.

 

I guess there was a bad batch made. I hope the issue was resolved with so many complaints they got.

Finally got a response from Revell about the canopy and windscreen issue and replacements will be sent free of charge. The massage said it will take up to 6 weeks for the parts to arrive so hopefully these will have no distortion.

And some progress done with the pony. Got the fuselage closed up after sanding down the thickness of the pit side frames and both bulkheads otherwise the fuse halves will have a slight gap.  

I drilled out the carburator intake panels

Working on the main gear wells now.

Wow! Looking great PJ. Following along. 

Hoss WA

Wow! Looking great PJ. Following along.  

Thanks Hoss. 

The main gear area was sprayed Humbrol Metalcote polished aluminum and after drying was buffed with a Q Tip. Next I spent a couple of hours masking to spray the stringers and crossmembers zync chromate green. This is how things look with the parts unglued and waiting for the Fundekal red stencils that go on the NMF sheet metal between the stringers.

The two visible mold marks will be covered up by the main gear struts once secured on. Lots of plumbing to come.

Fantastic work PJ! 

Jim 

Stay Safe.

fox

Fantastic work PJ! 

Jim 

Stay Safe.

 

Thank you Jim!

The stencils finally came in the mail. Added the red stencils to the NMF sheetmetal and busied up the area with wiring.