Airfix North American P51D Mustang

[topgazza]

I definately have the bug. Just finished the Bristol and now I'm already underway on the P51D. Is this normal I ask ? Should I have a break for a few days ? It's great fun though.

This is a level 2 model so shouldn't be hard but it has a good number of parts. The P51D is a nice kit and very detailed which shouldn't surprise me me but I am pleased. I won't show the sprues but they are well made with no splash or molding issues that I can see. The wheels have tread and the panel lines and rivets are very clear. I've already fitted the cockpit and that went together well and although not on show I took the time to carefully detail the dials and controls. For me this is part of the relaxation and on this kit is very relaxing.



The cockpit feels solid when built. I've done a dry run on the fuselage and wings and it all looks good with a minimum of sanding. More on that later

[papa 695]

A very nice start Gary.

[topgazza]

Thanks Ian

Getting a lot of satisfaction doing the fine detail painting. Tonight I've been priming the P51 with Black Stynylrez ready for the largely silver finish. Plane went together well with only a couple of gaps filled, and some "adjustments" to components to ease the fit. Wings were a slight issue but thats not unusual but in the end they lined up OK. Very pleased with what is a fairly easy kit to build. Nice looking plane and I guess you can make it as challenging as you want. For me it was fixing any gaps and making sure everything was just right.

[Guest]

Nice work Gary and great to see that the modelling bug has swiftly burrowed itself deep into your brain. Welcome to the land of the possessed.

[topgazza]

It really is a bug as well. I'm already looking at my next model which will either be a 1/350 warship or a Luftwaffe plane. But this Mustang is a suprisingly good build despite being rated 2 by Airfix. I'm going to focus on the painting a lot. Hopefully that works out OK. Still learning lots on that.

[colin m]

A new tool Airfix, that caught my eye. It looks like the build is going well.

[topgazza]

Thats what got me Colin. It shows as well in the detail like panels and rivets as you can see even when primed. Not a complex build as I say but its OK. Here it is with some nice black primer. I kind of like it as it is :flushed:

[topgazza]

First top coat gone on. It's a complicated paint job with some odd shapes and several colours. I wont attempt the odd looking tail camo but will make it a bit simpler. I'm spaying mainly aluminium for the first coat and will overpaint the topside camo on top of that. Otherwise the masking was a Rubiks cube. I have masked the engine cowling which will be yellow as on the box but I could have left that as well and just over painted onto the aluminium. Lots of decisions to be made........

As you can see the detail is holding up and is quite superb on the panel lines etc

[papa 695]

Very nice work so far Gary.

[topgazza]

It's amazing how fussy you get doing this. I can see a couple of joints that aren't quite right so I'm doing a bit of filling but its in an area that is being overpainted so thats OK.

[Fernando N]

Looking good Gary, the new Airfix ones are great in crisp detail indeed:smiling4:.

[topgazza]

I was very impressed by the detail Fernando. Makes it more enjoyable to work on. Only possible issue was the undercarriage which wasnot very stable having just the single leg supporting it. Maybe if I'd left it longer for the cement to dry but it was wobbly so I created a couple of supports out of sprue and its now very strong. Very enjoyable aircraft to work on. Yellow paint is a pain as it never seens to give a good solid colour. Interestingly when I applied the final matt varnish the aluminium coloured underside changed colour slightly so now it looks less shiny and more aged. So that was an unexpected effect but wlecome anyway.

I added some very slight weathering and exhaust stains but didn't go mad. I can strongly recommend this kit

[adt70hk]

Gary

That's looking very good indeed. Very well done.

ATB

Andrew

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Great work Gary. love the color combo.

[topgazza]

Thanks Steve & Andrew.

The colours were one of the choices between a modern airshow colour scheme and an actual 1940s colour scheme. I like to get close but I'm not obsessive about exact matches and I like a bit of creative licence from time to time. But this is pretty faithful. On the tips of the lower wing on the underside you can see three little silver circles. They are masking 3 coloured lights, masking now removed. but overall a really nice kit. Good challenge and enough detail to make it interesting.

Tip, avoid yellow unless you do a matching primer. It's a pig to get a solid colour. My daughter, an artist, avoids yellow like the plague on her stuff for the same reason. Persevere and its OK, just