Accurate Miniatures, 1:48 scale, P-51 "Mustang"
Another one kicked off the "Shelf of DOOM!"
Like the others I managed to finish, this one sat for a little while, not as long as the A-36 or the P-51B, but it too sat for a couple years. I think I just have the P-51A left to build...and it sits unmolested as I have never attempted to build it.
At the risk of copying a line from 'Sesame Street', "This here kit is just like the others..." (I'll stop that now...) I found the biggest issues with any of these kits was;
One: fitting the nose section. If you're not paying attention you're going to have a step there, and it's in a really noticeable location and difficult to fix. Adding the nose as one piece, as the instructions would have you do, is really taking a chance on having problems. I glued each nose section, (Port and starboard), to each corresponding fuselage half, (Port and starboard). It was easier to do seam work down the middle of the nose than to try and fix a seam down and around the fuselage front.
Two: The canopy glass can only really be posed in the closed position, unless you use a Vac canopy or are REALLY good at cutting up the kit's part.
Three: The instruction sheet sucks. There I said it...it sucks. Illustrations are unclear and I think there are like five steps (?) and they all involve a lot of parts which add to the confusion. (Probably why they all went on the shelf of doom in the first place...).
Four: The prop is just wonky. I am hoping there is an aftermarket replacement for it when I build the 'A' variant.
Still...I like the kit in spite of it's issues and will build that P-51-A sometime in the coming months.
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that you'll have a Happy and Healthy New Year in 2025!
Thanks for reading my post and as always...So many models, so little time!
Regards,
Freddie from Palm Beach Gardens
Absolutely gorgeous plane, Frederick @fjs3. Love the look and yes, so much plastic and so little time! Happy new year in advance!
Thanks, Felix
Excellent result, Frederick!
Wishing You and Yours a happy, prosperous 2025!
Thanks, Spiros! Happy New Year!
Great build Frederick (@fjs3). The Accurate Miniatures (and Academy repop) of the early Mustang is one of those kits that you just have to do at least once to get a good example of the early "Stang" regardless of any issues with the kit. I too had builds of this years ago that never reached to completion stage, but that was as much to do with other distractions in my life at the time as it had to do with the kit. I have several now that I will build someday.
Thank you, Carl!
Looks very nice, it was worth the wait .
Thanks for the tips on its problem areas, I have the A-36 to build.
Thank you, Jay.
Frederick,
I now can stand and raise my right hand and join the ACA/Accurate club. Your comments about building this kit are spot on. Comic books have more words than the instructions. Which are ideal for people who don't need instructions. I now have a better appreciation for Allison powered Mustangs after building this kit and your build is a excellent affirmation of that.
Thanks, Stephen.
I added a fourth issue; the prop. Hoping someone out in plastic land has made a resin replacement.
This "Mustang" turned out wonderful, Frederick @fjs3
Glad you saved it from the shelf of doom.
Best wishes for 2025.
Thank you, John!
Looks great Frederick. I have one in the stash. Thanks for the heads up
Very nicely done. And I agree, the instructions lack in specificity. The new normal, for me anyway, started with the Trimaster kits, studying the instructions before ever removing any parts from the sprues. Catering to a multi lingual audience necessitates diagrams rather than text to a large degree. Regarding your desire to replace the propeller on the A model, Ultracast offers three very nice options depending on the application. And a little off topic, I just found a replacement prop for my 1/32 Hobby Craft P-51. Aeroplane Models in the UK has what I need. I think it was TC in LA that said the Hobby Craft kit is an up-scaled Accurate Miniatures design. So the prop is just as wonky.
Thanks Russell, I will look into that Ultra Cast prop when the holiday dust settles. Thanks again and Happy New Year!
Frederick, this is a great looking Mustang! You put in excellent work into this once shelf of Doom build! đź‘Ť
Nice job Frederick on the early Pony. Like you I discovered that it's better to glue the nose to the fuselage first rather than as the instructions direct. I always enjoyed building those AM kits, the detail is very nice considering their age. I usually add an Ultracast seat, sometimes the exhause stacks or wheels. The prop I believe is pretty accurate for the Allison Mustangs, check out pics of the A-36A that's on display in the USAF Museum. I took the bold step where no man has gone before and sometimes cut open the canopy, call me crazy but it can be done. Got a couple of 51A's and A-36's in the stash if you need another one to build. Again nice job on the Pony
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
G’day Frederick (@fjs3),
This is a great build.
I replaced the propellor blades with unused ones from an Eduard P-39 when I built both my P-51 and P-51A.
I still have an A-36 to do.
Liked!
An excellent build! I need to get around to some of the early Mustangs... Happy New Year!