The P-51"mustang" Group Build. 2008

Jmart,

While the subject is definitely interesting the build is not, it's more frustrating than anything else.  All that's going to be left of the original kit is the fuselage, spinner and decals.  Like I said in an earlier post, if I'd paid full price for the kit I'd be really upset.  Unfortunately, they're the only game in town for a kit.  As for pics, I'll see what I can do. 

Raptor,

Looks like she'll be late.  Unless I can find a stateside vendor for some Aeroclub parts, I've got to get them from across the pond.

Alright fellas! Here's the finished product. Had some decal problems (both with the originals being crap, and the replacements not fitting so well) which were probably my biggest issue with the overall build. The scheme is pretty nifty, gotta love checkerboard anything!

Dupes,

Nice job on the B.  Shangri-La was always one of my favorites.

Placed the order with Hannants early this morning for the props and exhaust.  Only problem with ordering from them is there is fifty british pound minimum on overseas orders.  Fortunately, they had a whole bunch of Tiger Meet decals I've been lusting over.  This is turning out to be a very expensive little build.  Pics of where I'm at so far can be found at http://public.fotki.com/lewbud/fine-scale-group-builds/p-51-group-build/  I think I'm going to use the unshrouded exhausts from the Hasegawa kit just so I can get the fuselage sealed up.  Not like the fullsize a/c, but a darn site better than the worthless kit pieces.  Will leave the props and spinners separate so they can be replaced by the aeroclub pieces when they arrive. 

Dupes Nice build :) Your canopy came out very nice and I really like the paint chipping. Sorry to hear about your troubles with the decals believe me I feel your pain on that one.

Lewbud Looks like a good start you have going there, I do have to ask a question though. Are you building the Red Baron air racer ?

Got the most scary part of my build done today, I must admit it took a couple of days to work myself up to going for it and getting it done. I foiled the plane a panel at a time and was to be frank very worried about burnishing it with 0000 steelwool. I was very worried about the steelwool picking up the edges of the foil, well I was all worried and stuff for not. The burnishing went much better than I had expected, infact I think the finish came out better than I had expected. So after burnishing I wiped the 51 off with an alcohol dampened cloth and brushed future on and the finish just popped for me and Angel.  I will airbrush the antiglare panel tomorrow and if I am lucky will put some decals on tomorrow evening.  I will try and get a couple of pictures to post tomorrow before I paint, I almost hate to cover the nose with paint.

Vetteman,

Yup.  Looking forward to seeing pics of your bird.

So glad to hear your finishing effects went so well, Vetteman.  I know whatcha mean about taking your time before starting a new technique, but I think it's important to take the time to think it out before digging in.  You must have taken the right amount of time if it went so well.  Very much looking forward to seeing the results.

What color are you planning to painting the anti-reflect panel?  black, or olive?  Either will surely make the aluminum look great on your finished bird.  Waiting with much anticipation.

Dupes, That's some terrific work on your P-51B. You've finished her very nicely, I always thought the 4th FG birds looked sweet with just the basic white stripes.  Nice finish on a historically significant aircraft: Shangri La!  Did you know that Don Gentiles crashed that bird in a runway flyby?  He flew so low that he clipped the prop on the runway, then had to pull up and bail out, as the engine was dead stopped.  Funny that he won so many victories in that plane, but he crashed it 'showin off'.  Funny story I think, only because he lived to learn teh lesson.

I've been really eager to build a Duane Beeson 51B of a similar scheme.  Ol' Boise Bee had the misfortune of getting shot down by flak, then taken prisoner!  Both Gentilles and Beeson flew with RAF Eagle Squadron, I beleive.

Great work on your airplane.  Thanks for sharing

lewbud

What a cool subject I cant wait to see the pictures of your Red Baron, its one of a number of other racers I want to build one day. The kits in 1/48 are it seems very hard to find, I do have Miss America by Revell and I have a Testors Bearcat destined to become the Rare Bear. My skills at scratch building will have to improve a bunch before I take on that one. I hope you will post lots of pictures.

IL2windhawk

I am thinking a dark OD for the antiglare, most of the display P-51s I have seen had high gloss dark OD, but that could change ya know. If I dont do some boneheaded thing this should be the best model I have built to date. Just hope I can get it done by Friday, pictures taken and posted.

Hey guys, thanks for checking her out!

IL2 - I wish I knew more about aviation history, specifically individual aircraft...didn't realize that this was a "special" plane! Interesting story about the flyby - how ironic. What was his kill total in Shangri La? 

Congrats on the finish (half the battle in a GB!).  Paint looks great, can tell somewhat the decals fought you (a little silvering). 

Nice work!

Randy,

Mine's 1/72.  High Planes offered a 1/48 kit but it doesn't look like it's in production at the moment.  They do have a bunch in 1/72.  As I've said in previous posts these kits are rough, but they are the only game in town if you want a kit.  www.hiplanes.dragnet.com.au  If you can find it, Revell did Bob Hoover's yellow P-51 and a T-6 in race livery as well.  If you want more racer fun, go to www.redpegasusdecals.com   I wonder if Darren and the boys over at the Fleet Air Arm/Naval Air Wing GB will let me do a Sea Fury as the Spirit of Texas?

dupes - very nice job on the P51~  16 victories

Capt. Dominic S. Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron 4th Fighter Group 8th Air Force 27.

there is another "Shangri la" , D-version, still survives:

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/survivors/pages/45-11553.shtml

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY8A22lSWNs

dupes wrote:

Yeah, thought I had the silvering under control, then I sprayed the flat coat...and it re-emerged! Aaaack! Wondering if I need to start laying down heavier coats of future?? Multiple rounds of poking the decals with the tip of an X-Acto and coats of Solvaset didn't cure it as well as I thought.

Been there so many times I'm thinking of getting a t-shirt made....

As with most survivors, the markings are bogus.  Especially in this case as Gentile never got to the D as far as I can tell.  He was grounded and sent home after he banged up his B (not that it matters, his tour was up and he was sent on a War Bonds tour).  He was killed on a training flight after the war.

lewbud Thanks for the links, took a quick peek and both look like they do have possibilities I will take a closer look later this evening.

Heres a picture of what I was able to get done today, got the antiglare painted and the masking off the windshield. This is the very first time I didnt have trouble with paint bleeding under the masking tape. The canopy came out well too I think the best I have done so far, and the first time I have used a vacuformed canopy. Many thanks to IL2windhawk for all the help and advice with the canopy. Its gettin closer to being finished, however lotsa detail work left. As always all comments or advice are welcomed.

Dupes great work, I can see you didn't want the $35 fine. I myself personally like OD schemes on a mustang.

Vett- That is a   very shiny. Be careful you could probably blind someone with that!

raptordriver wrote:

Dupes great work, I can see you didn't want the $35 fine.

Shoot, that's like 2 kits right there! Perfect motivation to get the build on top of the queue!!!

Thanks man.

Thanks IL2windhawk 

Well looks like I will make the deadline tomorrow I put the decals on lastnight and the final coat of future on this afternoon. So tomorrow I will take care of the few final details and call it finished. OH wait !!!!! I have to post the finished pictures, then I can call it finished thats what I was forgetting I have to get done.

raptordriver wrote:

Dupes great work, I can see you didn't want the $35 fine. I myself personally like OD schemes on a mustang. Vett- That is a   very shiny. Be careful you could probably blind someone with that!

Thanks for the complement dupes

raptordriver

There is a means to my maddness ya know, figure if I blind ya with bright foil you wont be able to see my mistakes hehehehe

Heres a picture of the noseart I think it came out quite well. I drew the lettering with photoshop and printed it with an HP720c printer. Oh and Angel saw the plane  so the pony is outta the bag so to speak LOL. Told me to take a pic rigth now and post it here.

Finished pics tomorrow sometime

Randy,

Looks good so far.  Looking forward to seeing her done.

Randy, you got lucky, just barely made the deadline. It looks great and your right, its to shiny to see any mistakes if they are there.

Lewbud, sorry looks like your not going to make it. Seriously though, hope to see some pics.

Well as we all know, tomorrows the end of the build, the reason I had it end on this particular date is that its my birthday.

raptordriver wrote:

Randy, you got lucky, just barely made the deadline. It looks great and your right, its to shiny to see any mistakes if they are there. Lewbud, sorry looks like your not going to make it. Seriously though, hope to see some pics. Well as we all know, tomorrows the end of the build, the reason I had it end on this particular date is that its my birthday.

Yeah, I know.  Check's in the mail.

Bummer lewbud have been looking forward to seeing your build

raptordriver the checks in da mail lewbud said so maybe you could ummmmm........

raptordriver HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well Finally finished my build this morning and took pictures to share this afternoon. Some one had sugested I take pictures of this one outside with a delayed flash to keep the reflections down. All I can say is I wish I could remember who it was because these came out pretty well, considering I am truly a camera dummy.

This forst pic is the one Angel likes the most

Like I have said this P-51 is called Angels Playmate for my better half Angel she allows me the time and space along with putting up with me building models. I have to admit she puts up with a bunch too. The nose art decal was printed with a HP720c printer on mircoscale clear decal sheet. Let me tell ya it behaved much better than the kit decals of which 3 exploded on me so I had to scrounge some more from other kits I had on hand.

Foiling the prop was really a problem. I did try foiling an uncuffed ultracast resin prop but the blades were just too brittle for ham fisted me to work with after having broke two of them, I gave up and used the kit prop.

I did use PE in the cockpit for the first time on this build, with the help of a few of the builds here it worked out ok. I will have to try PE again sometime. I also used a vacuformed canopy for the first time on this one and to be honest was at a complete loss how to work with it or glue it. Someone here came to the rescue and walked me thru the whole thing from trimming to glueing and even sugested masking methods. This I have to say is the best canopy I have built to date I am pleased with it. I must thank IL2windhawk for his help and advice with it, I thank you sir.

This is my first GB and I have had a blast building with you and have learned a huge amount, and I hope made a few friends along the way. As usual any comments at all are welcome, as I learn from all of them.

Hope you enjoy the pictures and thank you for looking

dupes wrote:

Dang. Sweet home-made decals, Vetteman!

Thanks dopes this is the second time I have made them and let me tell ya once you figure it out it isnt all that hard to do.

PS raptordriver does this mean I get to keep my badge now ???