After an extensive project on my AMT A-20 inflight diorama, and then a lot of upgrade work still in progress on my box scale Constellation, I knew that I needed something to keep me from getting burned out. What better than Tamiya's P-51B Mustang in 1/48 scale.

This kit is so well engineered and goes together very easily. Even, better, there are not a huge number of parts. I will be adding a few upgrades in the interior (seat belts, instrument panel, and a small amount of photoetch), but my goal with this build is to make it easy, keep it relatively simple, and use it as a means of further practicing my olive drab painting and weathering (interior and exterior).

First up, a test fit. Like I said, well engineered. Everything just clicks together. BTW, this is not only my first ever Tamiya P-51 build, but it's the first P-51 period that I've built since I was a teeenager back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. I know there's a few issues with accuracy on this kit, but certainly nothing I am going to worry about on this build.

After some preparation work (including determining which PE I wanted to include) and removing detail that would get in the way of the PE, I started painting. One of my goals after the A-20 build was to do a better weathering job on the interior and to make it less dark. Everything was painted with Tamiya paints, adding some lightening into the colors after base coats were applied. Parts were masked as needed and additional colors were painted. Afterwards, I added a wash, and some oil color weathering including a shades of green (highlights and mottling of the paint) and tan (to simulate dust).

And now assembly begins. First is the wings which I will complete including any seam clean up before working on the fuselage. I will not be adding riveting nor worrying about panel line filling on the wing surfaces. Like I said, mojo restoration.

I'll have more photos soon as I get more work done.

Definitely an amazing kit, Carl @clipper
Recently finished this same kit and I enjoyed every bit out of it.
From Tom @tcinla, I got the information that you need to remove the "zits on top of the wing which were present on a postwar configuration of a restored warbird used by Tamiya as a reference.

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

Looks awesome, Carl (@clipper). It is hard to go wrong with a Tamiya Mustang. Looking forward to the paint and decals.

Excellent work on the interior, Carl @clipper

All the small detail work is completed on the Mustang and I've masked off and pre-painted (and installed) the canopies. Then further masking today and the first coat of primer. I have a few small ghost seams to deal with on the underside but the rest of it looks ready to go.

Sorry there's not more to show yet. Life keeps getting in the way!

You are progressing nicely, Carl @clipper
Lookinjg forward to the next step.

The Tamiya P-51B is such a great kit and can be the basis of versions with a huge variety of paint and markings. This one is the second version of this kit I have built and is a Mustang III in RAF, 315 Squadron markings. You are doing such a great job on yours I can't wait to see it. Thank you for sharing the build with the rest of us!

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

Thanks everyone. It is definitely nice to have something getting done quickly. I changed up my building process last year because I was averaging 1 to 2 models per year (usually 0 to 1). What really helped me was to get more organization so that set up and modeling sessions could focus entirely on building.

Two areas were particularly vexing for me before. Getting models out so I could continue on them (or finding a way to store them while I waited for things to dry / cure) and setting up for airbrushing. Airbrush setup was a real show stopper for me.

I organized my builds by buying several of the clear plastic containers that have been in my photos. I found these at Michaels craft stores, but they are also available online. THe beauty of these is they keep everything together, provide me with the ideal way to put a model away for paint curing without having to worry about dust, and they are stackable, so I can have several projects going simultaneously. It's simply a matter of pulling down the appropriate plastic case to do the work. This has been a real game changer for me because I can now work on several models without having to try to figure out where to place them when working on something else.

As for airbrushing, I overhauled my spray booth to get better airflow, added a window exhaust fan to aid in keeping the smell down, and organized my painting supplies so that everything was easy to get to and to use. I stared using small disposable pipettes for portioning out paints and mixing. I can now be setup to airbrush in less than 10 minutes, usually 5. Cleanup was modified to make sure I thoroughly spray out and wipe out residue after every session, which means I don't have to break down and clean my airbrush every time I use it (I used to do this). Now I will do a breakdown after a lengthy paint session or after an extended period of time.

All of this has improved my building to what may be 2 to 3 kits per year. If they were all like this Mustang, it would be higher but several of my projects are dioramas so they take longer.

Waffle mode off.