forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
Modelers Lounge => The World of Scale Models => Topic started by: Brad Cancian on April 22, 2020, 07:09:32 PM
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Hi all,
The Australian Capital Territory Scale Model Society (ACTSMS) here in Canberra runs an annual competition called "The Kittyhawk Cup", where all participants must build the same kit, out of the box. This year, the kit selected is the series of Airfix 1/48 Mustangs (any of the boxings). Kits must be built OOB, with the option to utilise other decals. I haven't entered the competition for a very long time, and have no real idea about Mustangs, but I decided to enter anyways (and I also needed a nice OOB build after my last build, the Lindberg Bristol Bulldog, also in this folder). But not only that, I also foolishly decided to build not one, but two Mustangs, both at the same time (insert recipe for disaster here). I've selected their P-51D and Mustang IV, and will build a USAAF and RAF/RAAF machine respectively.
(https://i.imgur.com/eUvme5W.jpg)
So far I have been very impressed with Airfix's engineering. The parts fit together nicely (including the separate vertical stabiliser), and the cockpit seems nicely detailed. I am not sure how accurate the seat back or seat belts are, but as this is an OOB build, there's not much I can do. I have followed the painting guide in the instructions, so I make no apologies if I have the colours wrong somewhere (did I mention I pretty much know nothing about Mustangs?). Here is where things are at right now - the cockpit is painted up and ready to go. The instrument panel was done with a combination of decals and dry brushing, and I applied a splash of white glue on the dials to represent glass faces. I think i'll be able to get away with fitting the seat / seat back and radio boxes after painting is done (to aid with masking with the canopy off). here are some pics:
(https://i.imgur.com/QYlYCZv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yNJxDoX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ki8Eq78.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/mjWi8bq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/G84Bey1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zexQtiJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1Ph9F2I.jpg)
The interior colour was Gunze Interior Green, with a bit of dry brushing. Humbrol Leather was used for the seat back as per the instructions, and the wooden floor was done with oil paints. Next step is fitting the interior, radiator / coolers and getting the fuselage together. It looks like this should be relatively trouble free from my test fitting.
Anyone have any tips with building the Airfix Pony?
All comments and feedback welcomed.
Cheers,
BC
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Looks great, Brad. Your Mustangs are coming along nicely- colors of the structures and components look accurate and your techniques for creating depth, shadows, and highlights really make the details pop. The "P-51 purists" might point out that "most" of the wooden floors were painted flat black at the factory and in vintage photos of operational machines you can often see a matching scuff marks in front of the rudder pedals with the wood showing through. However, I personally wouldn't want to see you cover that lovely wood grain just to appease the potential nitpickers.
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Well , you know I be following your ponies , which both are off to an excellent start . I have built this kit already and didn't have any fit issues over all , test fitting will take care of this . Only trouble with the kit is the rear canopy doesn't sit right when in the open position , rear tail sits high in the air and doesn't rest on the fuselage . Other then that she builds up nicely . Can't comment on the decals though . I used aftermarket to do a checker nose bird of 383 FG . Looking forward to the next up-date Brad .
Terri
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Outstanding detailing and painting as always Brad! Looking forward to the next update!
RAGIII
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A minor update - fuselage halved are now together, and I have painted the gear bays. Colours for mustang bays appears to be a point of contention, so I went with what I could find online... in the end I settled on natural metal doors and roof, and interior green spars. No idea if it's right, but oh well...
(https://i.imgur.com/dwqMejD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/f4ZLAD9.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gQ5BDvP.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3fpqmaQ.jpg)
Wing halves are now together and drying as we speak. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get them mated onto the fuselage (always a big milestone).
Cheers,
BC
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These are looking great Brad, I am a huge fan of both the P51 and the kits Airfix are now making. Your metal work and interiors looks amazing.
Richie
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No matter from which era the originals of your models come, they all look great! The coloring and aging is incredibly pleasing.
And I really like the Mustang. This is one of the most beautiful planes ever built.
Cheers,
Frank
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Hi all - finally got some paint onto them... I wasn't originally going to do two natural metal finishes (one was going to be a USAAF OD green and grey) but found a NMF scheme I wanted to do, so they're both now silver. I tried my hand at a few Alclads (well, 7 in total), and they came up ok... surface prep is so important with these, as you can see every little scratch (annoyingly). I'm probably going to flat coat it in the end as from what I can tell, the aircraft weren't generally polished, plus I want to use an oil wash... which means that it'll probably just look like 'silver' in the end, and i'll probably lose most of the tonal variation ...unless someone can suggest a good clear coat to help preserve some of the 'shine' of the finish?
(https://i.imgur.com/CHoFMqk.jpg)
Cheers,
BC
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Ponies are coming along really well Brad . I use Vallejo Metal Cote and seal this after it is fully dried with Tamiya clear , apply the decals seal with clear again . Do my wash and other weathering and seal with a final coat of Tamiya semi gloss . Don't use flat coat at all or you will lose the semi shine of the metal effect .
Terri
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Looking really nice!
I don't have direct experience myself, but some modelling friends use Alclad clearcoats that as far as I can see only slightly mute the effects.
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Your usual beautiful work Brad! I am sure you will come up with a solution to preserve the tonal variations.
RAGIII
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Well, after spending several hours masking, spraying, and going cross-eyed, I think I can say that i'll never want to play checkers ever again....
(https://i.imgur.com/7b6OSMx.jpg)
Cheers,
BC
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Terrific masking! Did you use small squares or did you mask them with longer tape twice?!
/FAf
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Thanks FAf - all were done with small squares. The white went down first, then the squares, then the black, then the red. The nose of the mustang is a compound curve, so it took a bit of time as the size and shape of the squares changes from front to rear. It's far from perfect, as everything was a bit difficult to align, but most of the sins are on the underside of the nose where the misalignment is a bit harder to spot :)
Cheers,
BC
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Brad , really nice job on masking the checkers :)
Terri
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Astonishing masking job Brad, that must have taken many hours of very careful work. Beautiful result!
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Not bad for a beginner,now pick a difficult scheme for the other one Brad. ;D I did something similar on a Roden Albie (just a square each side of the fuselage) and that had me throwing stuff,but all those curves,I dips me lid!
Cheers,
Dave.
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Thanks gents - Dave, i'll try something more difficult next time, compound curves aren't tricky enough ;D ;D
The ponies are almost at the finish line, more to follow soon...
Cheers,
BC
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Finished sooner than I thought.... :)
....the two ponies are now across the line! Onto the final results…
(https://i.imgur.com/uU9vkMp.jpg)
The P-51D was originally going to be an OD / Grey camouflaged machine, but eventually was built to represent “Contrary Mary”, 44-474251, flown by Lt.Col Roy Blair Caviness, Commander of the 78th Fighter Group, Duxford, England, August 1945. The decals came from the Lifelike Decals set 48-052. These decals were fantastic, conforming nicely and responding very positively to decal softener. All of the checkerboard markings were masked and sprayed… though I now have a new-found appreciation for compound curves, the result was less than perfect, but it’ll do. The NMF was attempted by using Alclads (6 or 7 different shades in total), which looked lovely, but various clear coats dulled them down a little so it all now just looks ‘silver’. Oh well. There is only one known photograph of this machine, and it wasn’t heavily weathered, so I kept it relatively clean.
(https://i.imgur.com/7fo0kom.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Hm6OFh2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/tKtqw0S.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/LCb10FJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QC1BVyG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MT4GnsU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/eVdLhpd.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KHeKNyP.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1WIsqC2.jpg)
The Mustang IV was built to represent KH745 “BAE”, flown by Group Captain Brian A Eaton, previously of 3SQN, Royal Australian Air Force. This was his personal aircraft while the head of Number 239 Wing, based in Cervia, Italy, April 1945. He flew this aircraft frequently with 3SQN, RAAF. This machine carried the perforated engine grills, similar to US machines. The decals came from the Freightdog Models “Keeping the peace Pt.I” set, FSD48009. Again, these decals were lovely. NMF was again Alclads. The pictures of this machine also show relatively little weathering, so I dirtied her up a little, but not too much.
(https://i.imgur.com/mcp7XwZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/S1KYZtF.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4hF82Ok.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sOwJELC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bT3KAcH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hkqkFj7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Kny3W2U.jpg)
So, the two ponies are done. Apologies to all of the Mustang afficionados out there – I know very little about Mustangs so there is no doubt I mucked up plenty of things. I feel the need to paint something drab now…!
Thanks for looking, and all feedback welcomed!
Cheers,
BC
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Two of the nicest P-51s I've seen Brad,and both with really appealing liveries,I've never come across that 3 Sqd scheme before.Congratulations,
Cheers,
Dave.
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Excellent pair of ponies Brad ! I have never see anyone else do Contrary Mary . i have the lifelike decals for this scheme and it is eye catching with the yellow rear canopy frame .
Terri
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Spectacular pair of Mustangs Brad, a lovely job on both and the NMF looks mighty fine to my eyes on both subjects as well. Super clean and detailed as you always present with your models, compliments all round!!
Cheers,
Lance
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Both of your Mustangs turned out beautifully, Brad. When I saw the penultimate 78th FG checker pattern in your progress photos I was thinking that you were gunning for "Contrary Mary". Well done!
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WOW Brad! Those are Stunning Mustangs. Your finish is perfect to My eyes, No SHINY metal plated Toy look like many do. Superb Modeling and painting as always!
RAGIII