XP-51
Here's my latest build - The XP-51 from Halberd Models. It's all resin, and is probably the nicest resin kit I've encountered so far. A fairly easy build. I used a PE instrument panel from Eduard for an AM A-36 because the instrument decal just didn't do it for me. I also added Eduard belts. I sanded off most of the very nice rivet detail on the one-piece wing and puttied and painted it like the real thing. I also built it with the inner gear doors closed because being Allison powered the gear doors did not droop down like the Merlin powered Mustangs did while sitting on the ground.
I painted the wings with Tamiya flat aluminum followed by a clear gloss coat. The rest was painted with Alclad II Hi-Shine Aluminum. I painted the rudder stripes. The kit decals have the white star in the blue circle without the red center, so I used Yellow Wings national insignia decals. My ham-fisted efforts to modify the prop so it would spin broke a blade off the resin prop. Fortunately, I had some spare props and spinners from AM A-36s - a perfect match, identical in every way to the resin parts.
I like outdoor photos in natural sunlight, but I haven't seen the sun in awhile, so I spent some time experimenting with indoor lighting. I found it hard to get the colors quite right. It will have to do until Springtime rolls around again. I have a couple more Halberd projects in my stash, looking forward to them!
Happy Modeling in 2024!
Nice looking pony Chas, she really looks the part.
A real beauty!
Excellent build! I hope to start mine in the next... decade or so.
Inspiring build, Chas.
That came out looking really good. Even with the North American squared-off everything.
Haven't seen the sun much round here neither.
I really like the way it looks, Chas.
Excellent result, Chas!
Happy 2024!
Very nice design. I haven't seen it built in this version yet.
Happy New Year 2024.
Excellent result on this pony, Chas @chasbunch
You made working with resin look easy this way, but I know it is absolutely not.
Happy New Year
Very nice work @chasbunch. The Mustang I/XP-51 is definitely one of Halberd's nicest all-resin kits.You've gotten a great result with this.
Rarely seen bird, and grate looking model. NMF is excellent.
Thank for sharing.
Regards
Beautiful Mustang, Chas!
That's an excellent build Chas. Don't see many builds of these on the interweb, nice one 👍
That looks awesome Chas. I didn't know that anyone made a kit, resin òr otherwise, of the XP-51. I knew about the Mk-1 they do, so I should have figured. It sounds like a wonderful build. I'll definitely be checking them out.
That is a beautiful build.
Dang need to order this kit to build a Mk I.
Great build! Don't see those built often.
Nice looking build. @chasbunch
Very nice! I'm toying with buying Halberd's post-war racer the Beguine. Do you think it is worthwhile?
Thanks, John. Yeah, based on the quality if the 3 things I've got from Halberd, I'd say you won't be disappointed.
🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
That model of the XP-51 Mustang is a very good eye-opening piece of art Chas.
Good work on the NMF.
Very Unusual!