The P-51"mustang" Group Build. 2008

I don't even know if I know how to build anything straight from the box anymore

-Fred

Gigatron wrote:

I don't even know if I know how to build anything straight from the box anymore -Fred

LOL - I know what you mean!  
I ask myself when did that happen? :)

Did someone say "P-51H"? Put me down for the Classic Airframes P-51H. I started research and a little correction to the kit a couple of months ago. 14 months should let me complete it and learn how to use Photo Bucket.

Tony

if its not too late,

put me down for a 1/48 scale mustang mk. IIII from icm.

i have one in my stash and now is a good time to build it.

thanks.

Fyuri - I just built the Revell P51D, posted some pics couple weeks ago. It is not an easy build, just take your time and DRY FIT a lot. Cockpit has some detail, you can build it up without AMs. I painted the MIss Marylin markings; decals are OK, but looks better if you paint the black markings instead of the decals. Panel lines are raised, only a problem if you sand some off during fuselage assembly (like I did). Anyways, Im not an expert by any means (the Revell P-51D was my FIRST completed build in 25+ years ;) but I can try and answer any questions you may have.

IL2windhawk - nice job so far, looking forward to morepics... scribing the panel lines? Look forward to learning how you do it, never tried it.

Gigatron - Fred, I know what you mean, have been waiting for weeks for some paints I need for  a ship and a/c. Also I cant use my spray booth, too cold outside... Reason I have multiple kits on my workbench, you can always sand off armor track wheels :)  Look forward to your build

GO BIG BLUE NY GIANTS

  Count me in for a Revell "Big Beautiful Doll" with an open engine cowl and aftermarket engine, just have to figure out which one to use.

PS- anybody know why my GB icon won't show up???

Double check to make sure the link is in between "img" and "/img".  The apostrophes should be replaced with brackets.  The easiest way to link to Photobucket is to simply click on the last of the 3 or 4 lines beneath the picture.  A little flag will come up noting Photobucket has copied the link to your clipboard with everything required.  Paste into your signature and voila!

Howdy ya'll,

 Well this is the Tamiya P-51D by Tamiya that I will be using for this GB.. As for the markings, I am not sure yet..

 It's a tose up between Lt. Zacharie's "MOM SMITH'S Lil "Angel"" or Lt. Bowles "Mountaineer".

Kind of leaning towards Zacharie's mount myself..

 Than again a NMF'd Stang would look rather kewl in my collection. Don't have many of them thats fer sure... Also I am not sure if I want to do this OOB or have a lil fun with it..!!  We shall see......

 Flaps up,

Mike

Rangers Lead The Way 

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.

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.

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.

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

GO BIG BLUE NY GIANTS

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 

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 :)

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 

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.

Raptor,

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

Cheers,

Azgaron

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

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.

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

  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!!

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.

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, 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.

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.