Mustang Build

plasticjunkie

I don't want to discourage you so go on ahead. I'm sure it will be a stunning display piece.

Well it will be interesting and a lot of work, but like you said, it should make a stunning display.

MC

Go for it man!

Just remembered another alternative to the wheel tool. Try going to a sewing supply place and see what size of pattern tracing tools they have. May be cheaper than Micromark.

MC

I have a 1/24 George that may just get some of that stressed skin effect. See what you are making me do now LOL!

plasticjunkie

I have a 1/24 George that may just get some of that stressed skin effect. See what you are making me do n

I figure what the heck, I need to stretch my abilities, and it may just turn out stunning. I was researching pounce wheels and rivet making at that one website last night,

http://www.ratomodeling.com/articles/riveting1/riveting1.html  (I hope that one works)

It looks pretty involved at first, but then after doing some research, it may not be so bad. I just may make my own "Steve the Riveter" tool.

Question for you Mustang crazies. Does anyone know if the photo recon mustangs that were based on the B/C always had a camera in the rear window. I read somewhere that factory builds had 2 cameras in the fuselage one oblique and one vertical. I know the Ds and Ks were that way.  Thanks

tempestjohnny

Does anyone know if the photo recon mustangs that were based on the B/C always had a camera in the rear window.

The only real reference I can find is that the F-6 was converted from the P-51C. The only difference between a B and a C is that the C was built in Dallas. The B and C are identical otherwise. As far a where the cameras were mounted, I'll have to do some more research.

I'm sure you already knew about the B/C thing, but I found it interesting.

EDIT: Doing some more research, I found the F-6C was based on the C model while the F-6D was based on the D model.

Found some more,

F-6C

A total of 91 aircraft from the Block-10 production lot (71 P-51B-10-NAs and 20 P-51C-10-NTs) were fitted with two oblique K24 cameras, or a K17 and a K22, to become F-6C-NA or -NT photo aircraft. Most of these aircraft retained their guns. In each case the cameras were immediately in front of the structural break ahead of the tailwheel, looking out the left side.

F-6D & F-6K

A total of 163 P-51Ks were completed as F-6K photo-reconnaissance aircraft. 126 Inglewood-built P-51Ds from blocks 20, 25, and 30 were converted after completion as F-6Ds. A few others were similarly converted near the end of the war. All of these photographic Mustangs carried two cameras in the rear fuselage, usually a K17 and a K22, one looking out almost horizontally off to the left and the other one down below looking out at at an oblique angle. Most F-6Ds and Ks carried a direction- finding receiver, serviced by a rotating loop antenna mounted just ahead of the dorsal fin. Most F-6Ds and Ks retained their armament.

Found this info here,

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2000/01/stuff_eng_p51late.htm 

Wow, learn something new every day. I love this hobby.

Steve

I am 100% in.  I will be building the trumpeter P-51B/C (I have the Mustang Mk III boxing) and will be adding AM main gear wells, cockpit and decals.  WIll get some pictures to you tonight.  I shoud be starting on this soon as I am almost complete with a 109 for that GB, and would like to build something with stars on it.  

I am also thinking of a P-51D as I have the tamiya D in the mail right now.  Both kits are 1/32 scale.

<Matt

Matt, I got you down buddy, (Check to see if I have the box art correct)

You may want to think about checking into the "Going Big" GB as a crossover with those scales.

Thanks Steve that helps a bunch

Thanks all for the kind words; hopefully I'll be able to get some bench time this weekend and have some progress to report.  Until then, in the previous vein of "not quite the norm" Mustangs:

Naval Mustangs

Groot

Interesting Idea.

Does anyone know if the markings are available for Lil Margaret in 1/32.  I searched but nothing yet.  I have some good information on Butch Shroeders restoration and always thought I'd like to build one in this scale.  No shortage of pictures on this bird

Thanks

John

John,

Apparently Dragon makes or made a 1/32 F-6D Lil Margaret, so there are some somewhere. I'm not finding just the decal set alone. I found some for 1/48.

Steve

Steve

Didn't know about Dragons offering.  I'll check it out

Thanks

John

It's a 2007 kit and I found a couple on eBay in the mid $50's, without shipping of course. Looks like it might be a pretty nice kit.

I think Squadron had it on sale for $20 a couple of weeks back but I did not buy it cause I read somewhere about fit issues but overall makes a decent model with some TLC in a larger scale.

This old Monogram Mustang has a few fit issues with big gaps and parts that are troublesome to even up the join. I'm using Perfect Plastic Putty to fill in some of the gaps. This stuff is great.

I ended up with large gaps on both wing roots. I closed up the gun doors which left small gaps. I filled them with PPP and let it dry a couple of hours.

Then I use a wet Q Tip to smooth out the filled areas. I actually have more control when its dry than when wet and soft. Then just wipe the area to remove any grit.

The bottom fuse was sanded cause of the ill fit in this area.

The fit is really bad and it's probably better to leave this panel off to expose the bottom of the engine but I wanted a clean look of the pony. More PPP was used to fill in the gaps.

Since this build is requiring filler, I won't be using Alclad cause any tiny imperfection will be magnified under the Alclad finish so I will be using Floquil Old and Bright Silver along with Platinum Mist. I managed to grab several bottles from a couple of LHS as it was being discontinued. It's a shame as Floquil is just a joy to work with.

Ouch PJ,

sometimes I think Revelogram doesn't want a builder to cover up their fancy detail work so they make the panels ill fitting on purpose. My Monogram kit has the same open panels, which leads me to suspect they are the same mold.

I was working on that Hase 1/32 stang last night and couldn't quite understand how the engine fit in the fuse. I then came upon the thought that Hase has the engine "float" inside the engine cavity and just hang on the exhaust stacks which are glued to the fuse openings. Not real happy with that as I was going to try to detail the engine and compartment and I'm a little disappointed that Hase didn't supply any engine mounts.

Here is an update on my attempt to complete the Model Craft F-82. So far I have sacrificed 2 Monogram P-51Ds. I have used the cockpits out of both of the kits.  As you can see the instrument panel and the seat are from the kit are not much. The Monogram offerings are next to them 

The Monogram P-61 drop tank is next to the kit drop tank. I have found photos on the net that show the P-61 style drop tanks mounted on F-82s, so I am confident that they will be just fine. Once again a big difference. Here are some of the gaps that I have been dealing with.

This one shows the cockpit in place and as you can see they fit just like they were made for the kit.

Actually I am making good progress. I have everything together as far as the fuselages, wings and tail plane. The hardest part will be getting the kit ready for NMF.

MKelley,

Your moving right along. Nice! That is quite the mod your doing. It's going to look sweet.

plasticjunkie

This old Monogram Mustang has a few fit issues with big gaps and parts that are troublesome to even up the join. I'm using Perfect Plastic Putty to fill in some of the gaps. This stuff is great.

I ended up with large gaps on both wing roots. I closed up the gun doors which left small gaps. I filled them with PPP and let it dry a couple of hours.

Then I use a wet Q Tip to smooth out the filled areas. I actually have more control when its dry than when wet and soft. Then just wipe the area to remove any grit.

The bottom fuse was sanded cause of the ill fit in this area.

The fit is really bad and it's probably better to leave this panel off to expose the bottom of the engine but I wanted a clean look of the pony. More PPP was used to fill in the gaps.

Since this build is requiring filler, I won't be using Alclad cause any tiny imperfection will be magnified under the Alclad finish so I will be using Floquil Old and Bright Silver along with Platinum Mist. I managed to grab several bottles from a couple of LHS as it was being discontinued. It's a shame as Floquil is just a joy to work with.

Well Rob, I may toss this one into the trash too. I'm not happy how it's coming out so far. I need to shoot some primer to see how things are. I love some of the older Monograms like the Century Fighter Series and even the old Phantoms and Tomcat but this Mustang is becoming a problem.

The Tamiya Mustang is looking darn good and have heard only great things about it so that may be another way.

PJ,

Would that be the Tamiya 1/48 or 1/32? They both look excellent.

Yeah, pj, apples and oranges between Tamiya and ye ole Monos for sure. The biggest difference, obviously, is price.

MC

Would be 1/48 though the new 1/32 is a beautiful kit too but too rich for my pocket.

I understand about the price PJ. Both are too rich for me, that's why I'm rebuilding that 40 year old Hase kit. I got it used for $20 off eBay.

Even the 48th hasegawa is a good kit.  

I gpt a little model time this weekend and did some paint prep on m 1/48 Tam F-51d

I shot MM interior green to the cockpit, still need off and then do the black and plywood floors , the wheelwells are zink chromate.