Yup it is warped but not too badly so your eyes aren't playin tricks on ya. What Mike (Thunderbolt) above said works well as I have used the method my own self. I have also tried it with a hair dryer instead of hot water and that worked too. Its a slow process though because you have to be careful you dont get things too hot. One more trick I have used with success is to assemble both halves and tape them to a straight edge before gluing the halves together  then once satisfied they are straight I use thin liquid glue. 

Vetteman, I'm wrapping up work on my Mustang so please add another entry for me to the group build list: 1/48 Revell AT-6/SNJ Texan. Box top shows a yellow drab version but I'll build the alternate SHINY version instead. Note: You have my Mustang listed as a Tamiya kit but it is a Revell kit. I will post a progress pic of the Stang once decals are on.

Cheers for the help guys, my migs on hold till i can get decals that fit so ill start on this tonight.

NiceFit Im looking faward to your texan build, my partner has the same one in her stash (which ill probly end up building) so im keen to find out if there are any issues with it.

MaxFax - I'm a little late in responding but I really like the NMF on your plane. Nice! I wish my Stang's finish looked as good. Sorry to hear about the decal mishap. Painting a checkerboard? That can't be easy. Or maybe it is, but I don't know the secret!

ScorpioMikey - I will keep you posted on the Texan. I may start preliminary stuff on it right now …

Nicefit dont make us wait too long as I cant wait to see your Mustang finished. From your WIP pictures its gonna be a nice one indeed. Sorry about the mistake about your build I will correct it and add your Texan to the list.

BTW Nicefit and Scoripomikey I have that same Revell kit the AT-6/SNJ so I will be watching your builds, I was planning on doing mine as a yellow wing with NMF fuselage.

Looking forward too seein some finished builds, more pics guys

Randy, I have to apologise buddy....."Dirty Old Man" is finished but work has dragged me away for a couple of days so no pics till Friday i'm afraid Well Thursday your time

NiceFit

JMart - Thank you for your input too. I'm intrigued by the approach you mention for painting a spinner. It sounds simpler than the "hardware gauge" technique I outlined. Let us know how it turns out. Where did you buy the rubber sleeves? A hardware store?

Here is a pic of heat-shrinkable tubing set, various sizes. I got it either from MicroMark or the other online tool store, can’t remember the name. You can also buy individual sizes, but it is much cheaper to buy the bulk set.

You simply find a sleeve of tubing that fits your cylindrical object, and insert it to a snug fit. I am using the fuel drop tank as an example; very good technique to paint markings on ordnance, for example.

The Revell P-51D 1:48 kit is “good enough”, and usually found at half the price of Tamigawa offerings. However, several parts have sink holes that must be filled. The prop assembly also needs filling/sanding.  Ready for priming:

No, you are not seeing double and I am not kitbashing a twin P51 : ) I am building two at the same time.

 The exhaust part has a center mold line that I usually sand down. However, I found pics in the Kagero P-51D TopShots book that show a large weld line on the exhausts:

\

Therefore, I decided not to sand that line this time, see how it works out:

I did bore out the exhausts with the tip of a new blade (on the right; left is OOB):

Currently, I am about to spray primer on all the parts that I fixed.

Great tip on the heat shrink tubing for painting spinners and drop tanks, thanks!

Wish I had thought of that last week while painting the tip of some AIM-9M Sidewinders.

JMart, Thanks for the info on the tubing. I will look for it online. That is an excellent technique which I look forward to trying.

Regarding your Mustang build, I'm working on the same Revell kit, but didn't do the filling and drilling you did. Next time! I can't wait to see more progress pics. Which version are you building?

Jmart she's looking good so far!!!!

Thanks for the tubing tip!

Vetteman, I am now delayed on the P-47. I have painted it in the colours appropriate for the decals I have ordered (yellow cowl), but the guy at the decal place now says they are out of stock, so I don't know how long it will be. I may have to look around now. I have started the Revell 1/48 P-51 D, and want to add that to list. Bought it for about $9 at a hobby shop closing sale.

Rob

Julez72 No problem buddy I just couldn't help myself and had to rattle your cage a bit. Hurry up Friday I wanna see !!

Jmart thats a great idea using the shrink tubing, I have some here but never even thought of using it. BTW you can get the shrink tubing at Radio Shack and most electronics stores and Harbor Freight also carries it. Also thanks for posting the pictures of the exhaust stacks I never knew they were welded like that. I saved your pictures in my P-51 file for future use.

Jmart, Julez72, and Maxfax that kit is one I really like to build, I have 3 of them waiting in the closet. I think the worst part of the build is getting the lower cowling to fit right. Took a bit of filing and sanding in the inside of that cowling to get it to sit down right. Heres a picture of one I built last year.

Well 2 pictures then

Maxfax no worries about your P-47 goin on the back burner I just hope it doesn't have to stay there too long as I am anxious to see it finished. Your Revell P-51D has been added to the roster, one can never, I mean NEVER have too many P-51s ya know.

Randy she looks great!!! Is that foiled?? Very nice job!!!

Vetteman, man that is one shiney mustang. Did you use foil or Alclad? I had a look at that lower front cowl, and with test fitting it, well..it doesn't. I also have huge gaps and prominent grooves on the fuselage that will no doubt be a pain to fill. I don't think I have enough guts to separate the flaps  from the wings, although this would be the model to try that. I think I will leave the ammo compartment exposed, though.

Thanks guys. I used foil for this build, I havent even tried Alclad yet, all my shiney builds have been foil. I have been toying with the idea of trying Talon paints, especially after seeing one of Soulcrusher's builds that he used it on in the first NMF group

I got Going a tiny bit on my B-47, I mocked it up to see how it scaled out. I placed it next to a B-17 for reference:

I checked out the decals, too. Dad Worked at AFWA (Air Force Weather Agency), and really liked the day-glo orange "weather" markings the kit came with. But I noticed that one sheet of the decals was fine while the other one had yellowed a bit. Why would only one of the sheets do that?

I put the cockpit together to see what I got...and it is not much. can you cay bare-bones??  The seats came with ejector marks right in the center, luckily, adding the pilot figures livens up the interior---barely.  I'm definately gonna have to spruce things up a bit.

OWL

Randy- Now THAT is stunning my friend, absolutely stunning!  Now I HAVE to try the foil method.  Great work!

OWL- I have always loved the B-47, can't wait to see what you do with yours!

CallSignOwl I cant wait to see what you do with this build, ya gotta love the big models in NMF.The markings should look fantastic on her too

Daywalker thats huge coming from you, I thank you sir. I'll tell ya, I would love to see what you could do with foil and plastic.

[quote user="JMart"

Here is a pic of heat-shrinkable tubing set, various sizes. I got it either from MicroMark or the other online tool store, can’t remember the name. You can also buy individual sizes, but it is much cheaper to buy the bulk set.

You simply find a sleeve of tubing that fits your cylindrical object, and insert it to a snug fit. I am using the fuel drop tank as an example; very good technique to paint markings on ordnance, for example.

[/quote]

Cool idea for round masks, the snug fit and straight cut ends = perfection! Thanks why I like these GB's.. always some new Kung Fu to learn, I will be sure to get a set one day.

Wow, great work all around guys!

Owl: I was hoping that even if I didn't have the best aircraft I'd at least have the biggest! Your B-47 trumps my B-29 by a country mile I'm looking forward to seeing these colourful decals on her.

I have to admit I haven't gotten much done. It's been so humid and hot I've been coming home from work, turning on the AC and just reading or watching TV or a DVD instead. The MiniCraft kit is well molded with good detail but like Owl's kit its full of injection mark holes. The cockpit/interior is close to being done though. Then I get to clean up and paint about thirty bombs.

I'm happy that I was able to track down a set of the decals I want for the P-47 from Roll Models, so hopefully I will get those in a week or two. Here are some WIP pics of the Revell P-51. I'm making this one OOB, no extras added. Today I also got my PE set for the 1/32 Revell ME 110C- I've got several things I want to get started on, but if I do that, I will end up finishing nothing!

Rob

OWL looking forward to seeing your B-47 build!!!! Is that the 1/72 Hasegawa kit!!!???

Max, you Mustang is looking great so far!!!!!

Randy, Nice Pony It looks great in foil....Thanks for sharing that one I'm not sure if you have noticed but i'm kinda of a P-51 fan....Oh yeah this page is a little photo intensive so i'll wait till we turn a new page before i post up my finished pics.........

Rob, Sweet looking office I know what you mean with all the builds, i have an Eduard 48 110 and a Mirage111 in 48scale on the go.....

Maxfax WOW!! You have done wonders with that Revell office, your detail painting is amazing.

Julez I am not much of a 51 fan either, can you tell ? Thank you for the complement on Angel's Playmate. Ok so lets get this page to change so we can see Julez's finished pictures, cant wait too long for these.

It's those classic Mustang lines hey Randy

Bugger it i'll put a couple of pics up.....Hope you don't have dial up

Fellow group builders......"Dirty Old Man"

Julez another stunning stang to add to the stable!!!!!! WELL DONE mate!!!!

You guys are setting the bar awfully high, I don't know if I can see it from down here anymore.  Seriously, stunning work you guys!

MaxFax, nice detailed painting of the cockpit. Way to go! Keep posting more progress pics...

Great looking Mustang!!   Man I love the looks of the Mustang!!  Got nine of 'em myself, with more unbuilt.