Airfix 1/72 P-51B
Airfix first released this in 1978, kit No. 020066-6. Before this, we had two choices on building a P-51B, Monogram and Lindberg. So it was nice to see a new kit of this aircraft.
This is another of my old builds, it was done in 1984.
I recently pulled this out of storage and it needed a good cleaning. I also had to replace the broken radio mast. After the cleaning was done I decided to tweak the weathering a bit, I highlighted the flight control hinge lines and some of the other fine raise panel lines details.
The following is the 1984 build:
- I remember it being an easy build, it was straight out of the box.
- On the main wheels, I used Monogram's P-51B wheels instead of what came with this kit. Around that time I was also working on Hasegawa's 1/72 P-40N. I needed a wider wheels with no hub cap for my "Skull Head" P-40N and this Airfix P-51B wheel was the best match so I took it. This is how it was done during the days before resin replacement parts were available.
- I used Poly-S paints and the gloss clear was Future and Poly-S for the flat coat.
- I ended up using a sheet from Microscale, No. 72-365. The Microscale set went on a lot better with no issues.
- the markings is for the following: P51B Mustang,SN 43-12214, Rebel Queen, flown F/O Fred Glover, 336th squadron 4th fighter group at RAF Debden 1944.
This is a nice little kit, may not be perfect but it looks nice next to my other builds.
A fine blast from the past! It holds up well after all the years.
Thanks Robert, yes a real blast from the past. I am glad to have it displayed again.
Great job, Bob!
Thank you Gary.
Beautiful job, Bob!
Thank you Spiros.
Cute as can be bob,liked it a lot!
Thanks Marcus, it looks happy next to my recent Airfix P-38 Lightning.
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
A nice pair Bob.
Thank you Allan. I like the way they look together.
Your Mustang Looks great , Bob @v1pro ! Nice to see these old kits built up and looking as good as the newest wonderkits.
Thanks Jay @ssgt. Most kits in my stash are the older kits so that's pretty much what I'll be making for a long time. I am glad that I do like the older kits. 😊👍🍻
A well deserved clean-up, Bob @v1pro
She is ready to been shown for many more years.
Thank you John. It does look happy now.
Hi Bob @v1pro, i think this is a very beautiful build of a good looking Mustang. I particularly like the subtle weathering. Wish Airfix did a modern version of the P-51B!
Thank you Felix. Yes that would be nice to see Airfix with a new tool P-51B but I doubt they will do this. Arma and KP have released a pretty decent kit of the P-51B which leaves Airfix to focus on other subjects.
Great to see a well built 1/72 scale Airfix kit, Bob, it’s what so many of us started out with.
Thank you George, yes we started with these kits, they do look better when made in our later years.
You sure have shown that some of these old kits still have merit and deserve to be built. Even in a world of Arma type kits. You even used Polly S paints! Super job! Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you Matt, in the last 3 years I've been involved with a group of modelers that mainly focus on the older kits. We have done many group builds on the older Airfix, Revell, Matchbox, KP and odd ball multimedia model companies. It is amazing to see what can be made by using what we know now on how to build these kits versus how we did it as beginners. Not all of the older kits can be saved but many are pretty nice.
In regards to Poly-S, I no longer have them. Too bad, I really like their products and they have worked very well for me since I hand brush a lot.
Good one Bob, nicely refurbished.
Allan, thank you. I am happy to have it displayed again.
It has aged incredibly well. Great scale, too!
Very nice! The fastback Ponies are my favorite. Nice to see another old kit looking great!