The P-51"mustang" Group Build. 2008

Sweet!

When I built my P-51H kit, I was debating between that one
and the classic airframes.  Both were supposed to be nice kits,
but ultimately I settled on the CA box.  I'm looking forward to
seeing what my alternative would have been.  I hope you're
post lots of photos :)

My grandfather flew the P-51H in Alaska.  He loved that plane.
My build was actually a birthday present for him in 2006.

I did not open the plastic wrap yet, but the sprues look really nice. There is small PE set incliuded, not eduard but contains seatbelts and IP plus few other parts.

The kit has markings for four aircrafts.

Guess what am I going to use ?

Yes, you absolutely right... it will be a "Polish Squadron" ... shocked ? LOL

The plane will be from Westfield - home of Mass ANG of "Polish Squadron"  

I just got inspiration to build quite few more airplanes

Glad you got it Greg I just typed in P-51H on evilbay I never heard of the brand.

 OOOoo looks really cool..!! From what I can remember, that kits turns out a pretty nice build. Greg please let me know how the build goess..!!

 What markings will you be using?

Flaps up,

Mike

Rangers Lead The Way 

I got this today ...

 Hey Navy,

 Sorry,but just go to VIEW THE GALLERY that should put you in there.

 Enjoy,

 Frank

Ollie: sorry man cant help you there but you might get luck checking in the Decal forum

Gigatron: glad everything finally came

Well, looks like everything is back on track.  Finally got my paint, my book and even a new airbrush .

Last night I drilled out the gun ports for the steel replacements and primed all the cockpit pieces.  Now all I need is some time so I can start painting the cockpit.  I've modded the wings to take new AM wheel wells, so it looks like the build is not too far off.

Maybe I'll have some time to snap some pics of the mods tonight, so that these threads of mine are a little more helpful

-Fred

arki30 wrote:

gzt, what would the resin kit be of?  A big section of exterior fuselage around the cockpit with the rails molded in?  Or a resin canopy with separate rails?  Either of those seem a little....difficult to make and market.  If a manufacturer did make a resin canopy they would have to provide a vacuform clear piece, so why not save the effort and just stick with vacuform? Anyway, I've spent a lot (as in too much ) perusing through PE and resin aftermarket accessories looking for that next great thing I just had to have and I truly cannot recall stumbling across a resin Malcom hood.  Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but I can't remember seeing it.  For what it's worth, my or less help.

It is a cockpit resin kit for tamiya (yikes) but the only reason I would replace base tamiya cockpit would be the reails

I looked after this set for a long time and could not see anyone having those rails within a set, on another hand I do not want to spend $25 (with shipping) for something I am not going to use. Tamiya cockpit is very nice.

Probobly a nice PE set would be a perfect addition to this kit, anybody ... ? is Eduard listening ?

thuds1 wrote:

HELLO ,  THIS MIGHT HELP YOU, I WENT TO www.littlefriends.co.uk .THEY HAVE 2 PICTURES OF PIERCE MCKENNON'S P51'S ON THE 4TH FIGHTER GROUP SITE . IF I'M CORRECT ONE OF THEM IS #414221 ,IT HAS ONLY 1 MIRROR.   FRANK   GO GIANTS!!

well i found his plane on the list but how do i view the pictures you mentioned? i don't see any links.

gzt, what would the resin kit be of?  A big section of exterior fuselage around the cockpit with the rails molded in?  Or a resin canopy with separate rails?  Either of those seem a little....difficult to make and market.  If a manufacturer did make a resin canopy they would have to provide a vacuform clear piece, so why not save the effort and just stick with vacuform?

Anyway, I've spent a lot (as in too much ) perusing through PE and resin aftermarket accessories looking for that next great thing I just had to have and I truly cannot recall stumbling across a resin Malcom hood.  Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but I can't remember seeing it. 

For what it's worth, my or less help.

IL2windhawk wrote:

gzt wrote: tamiya has P-51 Mk III however, there is no open cockpit option. The problem is with Malcolm canopy, because kit does not have canopy rails. Any information what is the right resin set that contains malcom hood rails is appreciated   Squadron makes a vacuformed malcolm hood that's a nice fit for this kit. You could easily scratch-build those canopy rails if you wanted too.

I know and I did , but few people mentioned they used a resin kit with the rails. I am looking for this particular kit and no manufacturers references at all.

gzt wrote:

tamiya has P-51 Mk III however, there is no open cockpit option. The problem is with Malcolm canopy, because kit does not have canopy rails. Any information what is the right resin set that contains malcom hood rails is appreciated

Squadron makes a vacuformed malcolm hood that's a nice fit for this kit.
You could easily scratch-build those canopy rails if you wanted too.

  HELLO ,

 THIS MIGHT HELP YOU, I WENT TO www.littlefriends.co.uk .THEY HAVE 2 PICTURES OF PIERCE MCKENNON'S P51'S ON THE 4TH FIGHTER GROUP SITE . IF I'M CORRECT ONE OF THEM IS #414221 ,IT HAS ONLY 1 MIRROR. 

 FRANK

  GO GIANTS!!

question for P-51 fans -

tamiya has P-51 Mk III however, there is no open cockpit option. The problem is with Malcolm canopy, because kit does not have canopy rails.

Any information what is the right resin set that contains malcom hood rails is appreciated

IL2windhawk wrote:

Navy, I really like that Ridge Runner scheme.  Did you notice the small fins on the wingtips?  I'm generally a Mustang purist, but those look really sweet on a P-51!  It would be a neat detail to put on your model.  Very subtle.   Our group build is really shaping up nicely.  I'm excited :)

i haven't decided if i'm going to try to put the modified tips on it or not. i want to have it be just like Mckennons plane but i don't want to have to fuss around with the spitfire style rear view mirrors, so..... here's what i do know: the engine cowl will be opened showing off a RR Merlin Mk.22 and both of the gun bays will be opened showing the guns and ammo belts. i might end up also opening the scoop in order to view the radiator, now i just have to find a picture of that so i'll know how it's done.

Il2 great work your coming along well. That looks like a pretty tough paint job. Also one I havent seen before sky spinner.

Raptor,

I like to join with an Airfix 1/72 Mustang in Swedish markings!

Cheers,

Azgaron

Butz wrote:

Your build is coming along nicely.. What scheme are you going to dress her in?? I see what you mean in terms of the seams. Even for this type of kit, stranger things have happened..

Thanks.  Here's kind-of what I have in mind:

Source: http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2000/01/stuff_eng_profile_mustang4.htm

I want to make an RAF recon bird with Normandy invasion stripes.  
I really like the idea of the old-school P-51A still being quite useful
in June 1944, long after the Merlin Mustangs took their glory.  I
recently did a bit of research on the Allison Mustangs and learned
that at lower altitudes they could generally fly at the same speed
as their Merlin brothers.  So recon must have been a natural role for
the otherwise limited P-51A (or rather MustangII for RAF)

A MustangII flying in 1944 would be at least three years old, and
probably would have seen a lot of action by then.  There are lots of
things about this scheme that have me interested in it.  I hope it will
come out well in the end.  Should be a challanging paint scheme.

Hey IL2,

 Your build is coming along nicely.. What scheme are you going to dress her in?? I see what you mean in terms of the seams. Even for this type of kit, stranger things have happened..

 Looking forward to your progress... Thanks fer sharing..!!

Flapsd up,

Mike

Rangers Lead The Way 

Progress pics

I've got the fuselage mostly assembled and puttied.  I was suprised
to find some nasty seams on this otherwise excellent kit.  See the
lower radiator for an example.  I wasn't expecting to do much 
re-scribing on this kit, JMart.  But it appears that I will need to
re-do some of the lines on top and bottom after some aggresive
sanding over the seams.  When I get there, I will try to snap some
pics of how I like to do it since you asked. 

I put a few decals on the camera, which I think kind-of makes it stand
out a bit.  I didn't mention it before, but I glued a small length of plastic
straw over the kit's camera lens to improve the appearance.

Navy,
I really like that Ridge Runner scheme.  Did you notice the small fins on
the wingtips?  I'm generally a Mustang purist, but those look really sweet
on a P-51!  It would be a neat detail to put on your model.  Very subtle.

Our group build is really shaping up nicely.  I'm excited :)

raptordriver wrote:

Butz That'll be some markings you dont see everyday I looked at Squadron and you decal possibilities are endless.

Hey Drew,

 That is for certain, my choices are endless.. I probably have to date about 50 various decal sheets on the Strang alone..

 Matter of fact, I might even build a Stang that a good family friend flew... Then Maj. Richard "Dick" Hewitt flew w/ the 82ndFS, 78thFG. Went from Jugs to 51's. He started flying Stangs on his 21st B-Day... Now thats a really cool Birthday gift.. Ya think?  He grew up and still has family in a town called Lewiston NY which is about a 20 minute drive from me.. It's pretty cool that every week he and I exchange either emails or calls... Now he's a true Pilot to me..!!!

 So again it's a tose up b/c I am really a big fan of the 357thFG "Yoxford Boys".. Geez...

Flaps up,

Mike

Rangers Lead The Way 

navypitsnipe - Thats a great story, and great pics, look forward t othe build! Thanks for sharing..cheers, James

GO BIG BLUE NY GIANTS

Thanks for posting Pics NPS It looks real nice.

Butz That'll be some markings you dont see everyday I looked at Squadron and you decal possibilities are endless.

the reason i want to build ridge runner III is because about 2 1/2 years ago my dad saw it up at the reno air races, where he found out that it lives about an hour north of him. so in the summer of '06 my mom paid for him to take a ride in it (for his 50th Birthday) with dan martin at the controls. i'm hoping to be able to build up a stained wood base and have a plaque with all the "vital" info about the plane along with Dan's signature on the base itself. 

No arguements, this is one of the most gorgoeus mustangs flying today.

You'll have a hard time not finding decals for Ridge Runner III!  I seem to recall that being a popular scheme. 

Try Great Models, Squadron, Meteor Productions, etc. etc.