Accurate Miniatures, 1:48 Scale A-36A-1-Na, 'Apache'
Calling this one, DONE!
Accurate Miniatures, 1:48 scale, North American Aircraft, A-36A-1-Na, "Apache". To be honest, I've no idea how the name "Apache" was tagged onto these aircraft. As far I know, the name was never formally used for them, but I could be wrong on that.
Decent kit with good fit and nice detail straight from the box. I thought the prop was a little wonky but other wise it's a real nice kit of the early Allison powered P-51. I used Ultracast resin exhaust stacks, True details weighted tires and Infini Aero Rigging for the aerial.
Paint is a custom mix of Tamiya Acrylics for the OD and the NG. Decals were from Three Guys Replicas and the markings are for an aircraft flown by Lt. Donald J. 'Button' Smith, of the 527th Fighter Bomber Group, 86th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 12th USAAF, based at Tafaraoui, Algeria, June 1943.
Weathering was by Flory washes, AK Weathering Pencils, pastel chalks and thinned oils.
This kit sat on the "Shelf of Doom" for at least fifteen to eighteen years. I forgot when I got it to be honest. I am pretty amazed I still had the bloody thing to build it. Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin to it.
"So many models, so little time..."
That's what I like to see. Subtle weathering of the airplane. Realism...Not over weathered for dramatic effect. Super job!
Nice, we’ll-balanced job on this. Thanks for sharing!
Wasn't "Herschel IV" Herky Green's machine? The P-47 guy? Just thinkin out loud.
Hey Feitz you bringing that thin up here Saturday for HVMMG? You're gonna miss the big shew.
Hey Bill,
I will not be up for the Hudson Valley Show, but I will be up in November and might hit the Figure Show in Freeport. As far as Herky's machine. he flew a P-40F, a P-47D and finally a P-51D. He never flew any of these early Mustangs (Apaches). I think the name thing is just a coincidence?
Herky Green only flew in the 325th Checkertail Clan, Bill.
Quite the coink-idenk eh,about the name? Tom you should come over and see Poughkeepsie, upstate is gorgeous here in October.
G’day Frederick (@fjs3),
This is a great build and I second the opinion on the weathering.
I have one of these to do, too, although mine was a more recent purchase. I’ve built the P-51 and P-51A stablemates and they were surprisingly fun builds - not having built an AM kit before.
I used spare props blades from an Eduard P-39 kit on mine.
One thing AM got wrong, however, is that the Alison engined P-15/A-36 family had the inner gear doors locked in the up position on the ground. Merlin engined Mustangs relied on oil pressure which eventually bled out and the doors ended up down.
Liked!
Thank you, Michael, and thank you for the tip on the gear doors. It'll make the next one easier if I don't have to play with all those tiny gear door actuators!
Nice work! I can’t believe those kits are 30 years old now.
Excellent job and really nice result on this classic kit, Frederick!
A beautiful Apache, Frederick @fjs3
Weathering and painting is indeed done perfectly.
Sweet! Very nice job Frederick. Love it.
Looks great!
Nice work as usual Freddie.
Great build Frederick I do like the subtle finish that you have achieved and I have a soft spot for this generation of models by A M, Dragon, and Classic Airframes. Lovely job 👍
Well done Frederick, I've build two of these and had fun building both of them. Nice kits and they have some really decent cockpit detail IMHO. Thanks for posting.
Nice looking machine
Thank you everyone for all the kind words.