Two 1/32 scale Revell of Germany P-51-D5 Mustang builds. One as ”Cripes a Mighty 3rd” and ”LOU IV”

Started by Louis Gardner · 366 · 1 month ago
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    Stephen W Towle said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    Louis,

    When you start to paint that blue ...remember the plane was at altitude and ultraviolet light and the elements would lighten or fade the blue.

    Another fact toid I came across some folks have complained that the Tamiya kit has the wrong spinner or nose cone. I came across a gaming site selling P-51 skins and the site pointed out that P-51D's with cuffed props (Hamilton) had a different spinner (Nose cone) than P-51 K's fitted with a aeroproducts prop. I don't know if this is true...however, Eduard has produced two nose cones for their 1/48 kit. I believe the Tamiya kit has the shorter nose cone when should be the longer. This esoteric and picky,picky. However, if its history and you want to do it right...

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    Erik Gjørup said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    Louis, lots of effort and thought going into your build as usual - very informative reading!

    Now, the 1/48 racer - sign me up for that one when it comes along!

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    James B Robinson said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    Wouldn't it be fun to have a Reno Air Races Group Build?

    I'll just leave that right here...

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    Louis Gardner said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    James, @jamesb
    I think that dog would hunt ! I have a few in the stash that would fit the bill. A few P-51's and F2G Super Corsairs... I even have a P-39 in the stash with some race decals... Hmmm

    The gears are turning... Where there's smoke, there's fire !

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    Louis Gardner said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    Hey Stephen,
    @stephen-w-towle
    I was aware about the props, but didn't know about the difference in the spinner. I have a 1/48 scale Hasegawa P-51K with the Aero Products prop if the resin one I just ordered isn't exactly what I need. I can aslo look into the new tool Airfix Mustangs in the stash to see what they have to offer in the box.

    Great point on the shade of blue. I'll most likely try to duplicate the color that Dana Bell pointed out in his images. To me it looks an awful lot like "Insignia Blue". If I have to I can custom mix something up when the time comes. I will also keep in mind the points you mentioned about exposure to UV light... one last thing to consider would be the "scale effect" and how it would most likely need a little bit of white added to lighten things up just a tad...

    Thanks for the information about the prop and spinner. Once again you have saved my bacon with these little known "factoids". The most recent one was the frame (or the lack thereof) on my recent B-25 J model in regards to the top turret... Thank you very much my friend !

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    Louis Gardner said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    Erik, @airbum
    In the event we do indeed run with the idea of a Group Build for Air racers, do you have anything in mind ? You could build Udet's record setting Bf109 V-14.


    Would you paint yours red or blue ?


    Tempting isn't it ?

    Thanks for the kind words and for checking in...

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    Erik Gjørup said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    @lgardner, the Bf109 racers are definitely on the screen, but they would not quite fit the reno theme 🙂
    There is the golden age group that is in need of revitalisation too, but a general racing group would be welcome. We have seen a few racers in "work in progress" that would do well in a Reno-theme. Anyway, a friend of mine had my small pocketcamera with him to Reno 2019, and boy is there room for a lot of planes - highly specialised racers, oldtimers, C-17's and whatnot


    One of the smaller jets at Reno 2019

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    Keith Waterhouse said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    Hi Louis,

    I know you was going to use the kit decals (nice decals but a lot of carrier film) for the Lou IV build, but have you looked at HGW wet transfer decals for this build?
    https://hgwmodels.cz/en/wet-transfers/720-p-51-dk-mustang-stencils-markings-132-232025.html

    The nice thing with these is they have no carrier film so great for over a natural metal finish, when you remove the transfer film, when dry, they only leave the print behind, looking truely sprayed on. I've gone with them for my Lou IV build.

    True you need Mr Mark set and softener for them, Micro sol and set isn't strong enough...extra expense, but the results truely are worth it. If you're ever forced to use Tamiya decals these products work well with them.
    I've previously used them, made the mistakes, learnt and now have perfected my application method and ofc I'll share my method if anyone needs advice with these.

    Just a suggestion and I thought you might like this option

    Keith

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    Keith Waterhouse said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    An example of HGW, sorry it's not the best photo...light here. As you can see, no carrier film.

    The No Step needed moving, sets to surface faster on metals...another mistake and another lesson learnt. As long as I learn from mistakes (best thing we need to do) and can cover this with weathering. Maybe FOD from an aircraft in front of it...all is good

    1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

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    Louis Gardner said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    Erik, @airbum
    If we end up doing the Air Race Group Build, we can set it up to include any aircraft that was ever raced. I have some very cool pictures showing old Curtiss Jenny's that were racing against cars right here on the beach at Daytona back during the Barn Storming era right after WW1 ended and these planes were sold as military surplus.

    So keep that in mind and you might want to start making plans for a rather colorful 109 to add to the group... Something tells me this will fly, I just have that gut feeling. I will post an article and see what kind of response we get for it.

    I also will wait until several other current Group Builds end, so as not to distract from them. I have several ideas for future GB projects.

    They range from this one about the Air Racing, which in all honesty was the brain child of James Robinson @jamesb

    to a "Yellow Wings" era GB, "Korea- The Forgotten War, and even "Wings of the Emperor" for anything that was flown by the Japanese. Time will tell how these all pan out... and I don't want to commit to anything I can't follow through with.

    I like the picture you posted with the mini jet... going to Reno is on my bucket list. Someday...

    Thanks Keith @keithwaterhouse

    for the information on the decal sets. I have heard of them before but I have never tried them out. However, I do have a set of the seat belts this company offers for use on this build. From what I can see, the belt harness really looks nice, and should be a good upgrade to what the kit has to offer.

    Your drop tank looks fantastic ! I see what you mean about the lack of carrier film. Wow.

    Earlier today I visited my friends and did a little Mustang homework and research on various things. It’s great to have access to several full sized ones for a reference.

    That’s me standing there on the wing. I’m like a little kid in a candy store here !


    As soon as the resin parts arrive in the mail, I’ll post a little "mini review" using the real thing as a comparison. I was very fortunate today and I took a lot of pictures, especially where it counted...

    Thanks for sharing this information about these transfers. They may end up being an option, as I am planning on using various shades of Bare Metal Foil on the fuselage, and a few locations on the wing. The rest of the wings will get painted, just like the original was.

    Those transfers look fantastic !

    As always, comments are encouraged.

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    Erik Gjørup said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    and even “Wings of the Emperor” for anything that was flown by the Japanese

    @lgardner, sorry to drift a bit off here; that GB would include 109's or as you already know a jap with a DB engine. . . (that might add a tiny bit of 109-taste to the build)

    Annoying with those kits crawling all over the plane - right? 🙂 To get back on track, I have some HGW wet-transfers for some 109's that I am looking forward to use - sure they might be great stuff for BMF.

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    Keith Waterhouse said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    To help anyone thinking of using HGW decals I've done an How to Article, sorry if it's basic...but sure you'll get the jist

    HGW wet transfer Decals, some tips on using
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    Louis Gardner said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    Hello Keith, @keithwaterhouse

    Thank you for posting this... I also left a comment in the headlines section for you too. Those transfers look very nice indeed...

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    Louis Gardner said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    Erik, @airbum
    You’re absolutely correct about that. The "Wings of the Emperor" GB would include numerous other Luftwaffe planes besides the 109. Just last night I ran across a few photos of a FW-190, and it was wearing Japanese "Hinomaru" markings...



    A few months ago, I found a few neat pictures that showed an American F6F Hellcat,

    and then I ran across another similar picture of a P-40 that was also wearing Japanese markings...

    There are a lot of great possibilities for this GB.

    Good catch with that one !

    Last night I ordered the Eduard “Look” instrument panel for the second Mustang. Up until now I was planning on using the kit supplied part here. Having second thoughts about it, I decided to pull the trigger and get the Eduard IP. It looks great in the photos they posted online


    and it has an added bonus of coming with the photo etch seat harness included. I’m fairly certain that the harness is painted.

    Previously I did a review for the Yahu panel and I just might do the same thing again but this time I will include the HGW fabric seat harness and the items included in the Eduard “Look” set too.

    Maybe I’ll just do a complete new article and compare all of the items mentioned above into one.

    One Mustang will use the Yahu and the HGW aftermarket sets, while the other one is going to have the Eduard parts exclusively.

    Anyhow thanks for the comments and as always comments are encouraged.

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    Keith Waterhouse said 4 years, 3 months ago:

    Hi Louis,

    I bought the Eduard resin Instrument panel...think the Yaho is probably better unless you weather the flat black as I did. HGW seat belts are for the square backed seat and the Eduard are for the seats you're using according to instructions though sure you could adapt the HGW for your seats. Once weathered with any enamel type filter they "flop" reasistically unlike PE belts.

    I simply applied a wash of abtilung 502 smoke with enamel thinners, they instantantly flopped into the seats by gravity looking truely realistic, unlike the PE belts you need to bend to shame. The PE belts are indeed pre painted and do look very nice. For a limited budget the resin instrument panel with belts is an excellent upgrade (mine cost me £7.50) but if you want the best upgrade, the HGW belts you've gone for are the best and not too fidely to use (btw remember to remove the backing paper off the belts 🙂 ). I know you're awating delivery on Eduard props and exhaust, another excellent upgrade which I'm sure you'll appreciate.

    Nice thing with the Revell P51 is you can spend more on extras, it's a nice budget kit. For £4 I also bought the brass 0.5 cals, not a big difference, but the cowled inner gun does look a lot better and I can paint it seperate and add to kit at end of the build.

    Just checked my costings £35 for kit + £32 extras, so for £67 I'll get a kit that will stand side by side with the Tamiya closed up and thats a £120 kit for me. With this years kit release listing, it looks like Revell are suffering for problems from difficulties 2 years ago (its caught them up) but hope they'll bounce back as Airfix appears to have done after their problems. Revell do some nice budget kits and it would be nice for them to do more new molding releases instead of reboxings.