'Just Hanging Around' 78th FG P-51D 1/48 scale.

[Scratchbuilder]

Good stuff Michael. Lee's GB has proved quite popular - that must say something about the Mustang.

Thanks for the compliment, just fancied building a lost in the stash of time Mustang.

[Scratchbuilder]

Update,
The weathering of the cockpit is now complete...



And today have been sorting out the odd bits that need cleaning up/assembling and priming - here are the exhaust pipes getting the drill treatment...

...Before and after.... Tomorrow will be back to painting.
Cheers
Mike.

[minitnkr]

Beautifully executed.

[Tim Marlow]

Nice!

[Scratchbuilder]

Paul and Tim, many thanks for your comments.
Just dropped in to say work is still progressing well with pics to follow later today.
Cheers
Mike.

[The Smythe Meister]

Certainly looking the business Mike!
Very nice indeed

[Scratchbuilder]

Cheers Andy for the comment.
Update,
So from this morning - the fuselage sides are now together although I did need to do a bit of cutting away of the resin side panels to get the instrument panel to fit and really it only took away resin that cannot be seen...


Sorry about the blurred image on pic 2.
The fuselage is now in filler mode along the joint line. Wings have been tried for fit and fit like a glove (great!). The drop tanks are now in primer so are the undercarriage legs who have also had some etch added as well as fine wire for the hydraulic line. The drop tanks have had some detail changes and new filler caps and fuel lines added although not shown in the pics.


And that is where I am today, waiting for stuff to dry and then I can get on with final assembly, cleaning up and onto the priming and painting.
Cheers,
Mike

[The Smythe Meister]

Blimmin Eck....
That cockpit is AWESOME !!.....
Maybe I ought to "Tint" my canopy Gloss Black!!

[Neil Merryweather]

Absolutely droolworthy ,sir!

[JR]

Hells Bells Wibble that's some neat work.

[minitnkr]

Office is amazing.

[Jim R]

Totally agree with the above. That cockpit ain't half bad

[Geoffers]

You are doing some seriously good work here Mike, it’s looking very nice indeed :thumb2:

Geoff.

[Ian M]

Looking very nice that.

[Scratchbuilder]

Update,
Many thanks for the comments...
Andy, mine is not finished yet so there may be two with tinted black canopies....
Neil, Many thanks,
Wobble, Still with it....
Paul, Pleased you like it.
Jim R, Ditto above.
Geof, Many thanks, and only dropped it on the floor once!!!!
OK, so off we go with the priming...

... All done with 'Hycote' car primer - if it is Grey, then it gets painted today....
Time for the undercoat...

... The raggy ended brush is used to clean out the airbrush bowl of unused paint, then used again with whatever thinners, again washed around and poured out and then a bowl of clean thinners sprayed through....

... And finally the painted items, the prop blades have been painted NATO Black to take them away from the black of the spinner, the undercarriage legs, drop tanks and just out of the picture the flaps, are in AK Matte Aluminium. The fuselage, cocpit canopy, are in AK Polished Aluminium and the wings, undercarriage doors are in AK Aluminium.... It may just be me but at the moment I cannot tell the difference between the shades. Still got the anti-glare Olive Drab to paint ahead of the cockpit and then some varnishing to do before the decals....
Cheers
Mike.