Official Natural Metal Finish Group Build

Much better luck with photos today.

an overall view of the cockpit parts  and fuselage sides

A view of the tub

instrument panel

and a few views of the tub with the IP and seat in place

Hi all,

I thought I'd give a progress update on my Revell 1/48 Mustang P-51D. The fuselage is assembled, the wings and stablizers in place, and the canopy is masked and partly in place. The landing gear and inside of doors are painted and washed. The propeller is painted. I've decided to build the Miss Marilyn II version of the kit, which is not the box art version. The version features a mostly dark green topside and metal finish elsewhere. Instead of used the provided decals, I've choosen to paint the red fuselage stripe and the black wing stripes.

The colors I'm using are:

• NMF Base: Alclad Gloss Black Base (ALC305)
• Non-NMF Base: Plastikote Gray Sandable Primer
• Fuselage/Wings/Stabilizers: Topside - MM Enamel Euro Dark Green (FS34092), Elsewhere - Alclad II Aluminum (ALC101) with selected panels highlighted in Alclad II Dark Aluminum (ALC103)
• Rudder: MM Enamel Gelb (RLM 04)
• Fuselage Stripe: Tamiya Acrylic Flat Red (XF-7)
• Wing Stripes: MM Enamel Flat Black (FS37038)
• Propeller: MM Enamel Flat Black (FS37038) with MM Enamel Gelb (RLM 04) tips
• Spinner: MM Enamel Gelb (RLM 04), green mixture (10 p Tamiya Acrylic Green X-5, 6 p Tamiya Acrylic Flat White XF-2, 1 p Tamiya Acrylic Flat Yellow XF-3)*
• Zinc Chromates: MM Acryl Green Zinc Chromate, MM Acryl Yellow Zinc Chromate
• Landing Gear Struts: Tamiya Acrylic Flat Aluminum XF-16

* This seems close enough, but not an exact match for the green on the green/yellow checkerboard decal. Does anyone know of an exact match?

The photo shows where I am now, which is, about to paint the dark green and the NMF.

Here is the ejections seat. I need to touch up the seat belts, but otherwise all is ready on it. The other pics I took of the cockpit came out poorly so I will take new one tomorrow and get them posted.

Well after two months of no real progress on my Thunderjet as of today I have finished all the interior painting I need to do before putting the fuselage halves together. Within the past week I applied a wash then did some dry brushing of a lighter green over the interior green and some aluminum on high use areas and console switches. I used an off white dry brushing over instrument faces then applied a drop of Testors' clear glue to each instrument dial. I found some WW2 PE seat belts that I painted up and added to the ejection seat so tomorrow I will get some pics done prior to further assembly, then get it all glued together. I should have pics up tomorrow evening.

Kermit now thats a bummer, I know just how you feel Rchard. Best to walk away from it for a few days then come back to it.

I got my new decals from Testers yesterday, a huge thank you goes out to them. Sent an email to them lastweek and didnt hear back from them so I thought oh well. Anyway they are here and free of charge too. So I removed the torn decal and applied some future over the spot where the new decal will go, will let that dry and apply the new decal tonight. I should be able to call the Starfighter finished tomorrow afternoon.

What do you guys think shall we do round 2 for another year ?

YESSSS!!!!

Hey guys,

Have a yucky post to write.... Randy's mishap with the decals must have triggered something as the decalling on my mig has to be just about the worst modeling experience i ever had...

Sprayed on the NMF.... came out great... futured it...went perfect...

Soooo, filled a cup with warm water and started decalling with the set and sol usual blah blah...

The sheet with the decals already looked a bit yellowish so it must have been a kit that had been sitting there at the LHS for a while, but i never paid much attention to it... WRONG!!!

Almost every single decal that i used broke up the moment i wanted to move it off the sheet or relocate it on the model.

No harm done you think, theres decals for two more versions.... So i removed the decals and resprayed the mig with aluminum.

Just took off the masking of the canopy and the one decal that survived my clumsiness and yes, that decal broke up when i gently tore off the masking tape...

So, to make a long story short, i kinda had it with this model for now... so im gonna put it away for a bit and order some decals once i have the mood to finish her up. Calling this one quits for now; my sincere apologies....

Richard

kermit

Question for you though: Now that the end of the GB is nearing i thought i might try to be bold and pop the big question....

Will the NMF GB have a second term???? (just say yes and ill get out of your hair)

 

Richard In answer to your question, there has been interest in continuing the group and I have been thinking of doing a NMF part 2. This one has been so much fun and has turned out some fantastic builds. What do you guys think shall we do round 2 for another year ?

Richard if you thought about doing a Koeran War ground scene, ICM makes a set of 1/48 Russian WWII VVS ground personnel. The equipment and uniforms should be the same as it pretty much was for USAF peronnel.

Supressionfire aww man sorry to see your troubles with the canopy fogging on you. However it seems to me maybe you took 3 steps forward in reality. Your new vacuformed canopy looks great, and to build a machine in a day is really fast. Me thinks you will find this lil setback quite usefull in the future. Oh and I dont think anyone makes vacuformed for the 51's in 1/32 scale.

Richard if you thought about doing a Koeran War ground scene, ICM makes a set of 1/48 Russian WWII VVS ground personnel. The equipment and uniforms should be the same as it pretty much was for USAF peronnel.

One step forward... 3 back!

Was polishing out the canopy rear bubble piece useing automotive medium cut cleaner which worked well then I applied the fine cut cleaner which reacted with the plastic turning it all foggy! In a panic I ran it under the hot water causing a crack! The first option became the last and I spent most of the day rigging up a vacume former. Had almost perfect results yet will run a few more over the origional untill a perfect one is formed.

The clear plastic is the kind toy find candeles packaged in. The debth of the canopy or not being fast enough ment I ran it over 3 times to get a good fourm. Here are a couple of pictures, even considering a vacume formed canopy for mini-Me now

Still decideing if the front windscreen would be easier vacume formed or continue with the bent piece of plastic? If so the 'origional' to form over will need to be scratch built as the kit origional was warped by accident from heat.

Great save on that Canopy Suppressioinfire! Can't wait to see the next progress pics.

Thanks to everyone for their comments and also the picture of the Mig. I have chosen to finish it in the Korean markings and it looks much the same as the picture, without the red nose.

Yesterday i have completed the NMF spraying job with my trusty airbrush ready Revell paint (same i used before with good results). Didn't want it to be too shiney and this revell paint has a bit of aged "grainy" feel to it.

Will future the lot and start on the decalling. Stay tuned

Richard

P.s.: Randy, i have considered a sort of dio with ground crew but couldn't find any suitable (korean-ish) ground crew stuff at the LHS so i will compromise and finish it like this and put it on my shelf like that.

Question for you though: Now that the end of the GB is nearing i thought i might try to be bold and pop the big question....

Will the NMF GB have a second term???? (just say yes and ill get out of your hair)

Just folded it over. The challenge will be the frame work and the rivet detail. Thinking lead foil will suit the job nicely. Nothing acomplished today as girlfriend and son had a snow day off. Tomorow I should get most of the day to build.

Supressionfire nice save on the windscreen. Did you use heat to get the bends in it or just fold it over.

stikpusher cool looking Mig markings.

Kermit Thanks, its helpful to be comfortable scratch building parts. This should be a fun one to pull off.

It was one of them days... took out the canopy to dry fit and discovered the wind screen was deformed from heat!Well not a suprise as the kit was stored to close to a base board heater for a stint untill I found it warm to the touch and decided to store it else wear. Least the rear bubble window wasn't effected.

Anyhow not wanting to fuss with ordering a new clear parts frame I decided to scratch build the wind screen. The obvious way would be to build a template and vacume forum a new part. I found a clear plastic sheet used to seperate tea lights (mini candles) and folded it around the damaged part. Traced the outlines and progressivle trimmed it down. Probally will make another similar one and shape styrene to fit the base around the curvature of the hood.

Almost there Richard... just about ready for the base coat of whatever NMF you are gonna use.

As a side note here are the markings for the Russian top ace of that war, Col Yevgeni Pepelyaev which he used for 17 of his total of 19 credited kills.

Kermit I am quite happy to see you chose to build the trolly and show off that engine, would have been unfortunate to hide that fine work.   Now for the markings And hehehe are you going to make a base for it ? Sorry couldnt resist myself there Richard.

The mig is looking great!  Keep up the good work!

Suppressionfire,

Your office is truly an inspiration to many of us who have never tried their hands on scratching details. I take my hat off sir...

Randy and Stikpusher,

Still thinking about it but right now i am inclined to agree with Stik... The Korean (often russian piloted) Migs just have so much more "glamour" and history... On the other hand the decals for the russian one look stunning with a big red lightning bolt on the tail....

But while im relentlessly torturing my three braincells pondering over this dilemma i do have some little news to share:

I have finished assembly of the engine and mounted it to the front fuselage. After that i have assembled the rear fuselage and the trolley on which it will rest.  After that i have installed our pilot friend into his seat and masked the canopy (which can be opened and closed at will, even after finishing):

Getting close to the paintbooth now.... stay tuned peeps and thanks for watching

Richard

Heh fellas!

Looking forward to getting the foil out...LOL reminds me of my favorate sports movie 'Slap Shot'

'Putting  the foil on coach'

..anyhow the fuselage is together! Pictured is the outlet fitting up. Painted with brush first enamels then with arcylics. Next is the final look of the right hand side of the cockpit. Touched up the red controls with flat red after the halfs were together.

Raptordriver Wow really ??? thats great PM inbound my friend.

Kermit Glad to see you making some progress there bud I can not see from the pictures where you over did the white wash, the engine looks great to me. Then again aluminum and mag that has been taken to high heat and cooled many times does take on a white color in real life ya know. Richard personally it would be hard for me to hide that engine as there is too much nice detail there also I kinda lean toward the Russian finish on the MiGs dont know why that is.

looking nice so far Richard!

I say make it in the North Korean markings. Those were the main ones fighting that made the MiG famous and they were often piloted by Russians or other Eastern European aviators.

Hello peeps

I've been following your various builds and have to say that the various builds are, as always, stunning and worthy of my envy. Makes me consider purchasing some evergreen sheets and rods and start my own scratchbuilding someday. The use of a dremel constructing the ammunition is very creative. Also the Mig and the Starfighter both look amazing! Hope your decal problem is solvable in the end Randy.

Been awhile since i have last posted progress on my Mig 15... Severe case of modeling block..... Just kept starting and putting away models for weeks... But i have finally found the inspiration to work on the build i have committed to on the forum...

Today i have continued work on the Mig some more... Basic engine assembly, painting...washes and a flat white drybrush later the components look like this sofar

Artificial lighting... (my camera likes to exaggerate artificial lighting to the yellow band of colours somehow):

Flash...:

Regretfully i went a little overboard with the white drybrush but i still like the results sofar. This kit provides you with the option to depict your model with fuselage halves separated with the engine on a trolley or closed up with the engine being hidden from view...not quite sure yet...

Also not sure whether to finish it in a North Korean finish or a Russian one... Both look great and are fully NMF...

Richard

Vetteman, I have a untouched Testors F-104 decal sheet I do not need. Just PM me.

Suppressionfire your placards look great and add a bunch to that 1/32 scale cockpit, however you know I just gotta ask how you made them. I have an old Revell 1/32 P-51B on the shelf waiting for attention, and will be ummm borrowing a few of your tricks that is if you dont mind.

Ok guys now for an F-104 update. I finally got the final clear coat on it after some weathering, BUT............. well I had a bit of an accident so to speak. I had my thumb where it should not have been, on a tacky star and bar insigna. Of course my thumb was covered in a latex glove and as close as I can figure there was some over sprayed future on that glove on my thumb that was on the decal. Well when I decided to remove my thumb from the model I noticed my thumb had a brand new shiney decal attached to it ( glued really is the correct term). Future is also a great adhesive as I found out. Its also a good thing no one was around to hear the kind words coming from my mouth. So with that said I cant call this one finished I dont have a spare decal in my parts box so I guess I will email Testers and see if I can get a decal sheet from them. On hold again sheesh

Doh! wrong picture... here it is only the right hand side. Guess I never had the left hand side pictured after the ID. plates.

Thanks buddy! I jazzed up the cockpit a bit more with information plates that I seen fermis paint on his 1/72 P-40 I was going to make them out of lead foil but came up with a better idea.

Kind of like a before and after picture. They don't jump out at you yet I feel the ID. plates look right.

Supressionfire not being biast or anything like that but looking really really good. Scratching those screens is the only way to model the cooling system. Your throttle quadrant is a masterpiece too I am quite impressed. I bet those 50 cal shells are really tedious to make but will be worth it. The P-51 is my fav aircraft ya know, cant wait to see more of yours.

Turned out another twenty .50 rounds today and fit the photo etch screens on the bottem intake and exhaust. The kit provided a boxy oval shape for the front and a square one for the rear. Both were 'visable' as the kit came with clear halfs. Decided to keep the pieces for the spares box and scratch what you see here to hold the PE details.

Turned another nine .50 rounds first today. Figure if i can do 10 a day it will help with the repetition of the task. Gret progress on the right throttle body. Scratch built all the controls and the main RPM regulator.