1:72 P-51D Mustang (Academy) Alclad 2 experiment.

[colin m]

Having bought some Alclad stuff, I needed a suitable model to experiment on. Hence the Academy 1:72 Mustang retailing at about £5.99 fitted the bill perfectly. This would have a polished aluminium fuselage and normal aluminium wings.

The polished aluminium needs a gloss black base to make it work, so, to make life easy I thought I would use the Alclad gloss black primer. What a waste of time. What ever surface I sprayed this on, it remained matt black. In the end I used a large tin of 'average everday' gloss black which worked great. Unfortunately, after so many coats of the Alclad 'gloss' black I lost a lot of detail on the fuselage.

As we know, surface prep has got to be 100% with alclad, and so I went over and over the model again and again. But still a couple of small seams still showed up under the alclad ! I'll use a magnifying glass next time.

So, there was no WIP thread, the kit goes together very easily with a nice level of detail for the price.

If you think the landing gear doesn't quite line up, you would be correct, after finishing the model, I dropped the thing ! Anyway, I have now discovered what many before me have already done so, alclad is brilliant. I thought a NMF model could be a bit plain (no pun intended) but, I'm converted. Well, what can I do next, can anyone recommend the Tamiya 1:48 Mustang ?

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Colin M........

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[yak face]

Fantastic results colin! Ive finally got my grubby little hands on some alclad too so your experiment has been very useful to me . I think i might use it on the Tu 22 blinder if i ever get the conversion up to a good enough standard . As for what next for your alclad , how about a nice B17 , the new tool revell 1/72 is supposed to be a beautiful kit ? Top work mate , just try and keep hold of it next time!!! (btw , i couldnt see anything wrong with the u/c anyway!!) cheers tony

[Ian M]

First attempt or not that is a great result. Well done Colin.

Now about this black base....They do a Black primer, which is matt and a Black base Gloss. So either I am not reading this right or you have maybe crossed a wire somewhere alone the line.

I have used both and have to say that the Primer is very black and very matt. The black base goes on like a black wash and the gloss builds up with subsequent coats.

Regardless, you have made a great job of it and as I said, for a first attempt with Alclad II and as a polished surface, it has really turned out a treat.

Ian M

[colin m]

Ahhh well then Ian, I wonder if the bloke sold me the wrong stuff ?? or simply picked the wrong tin up and handed it to me ? So it looks like I have a tin of matt black primer - No wonder I lost a bit of detail - automotive primer, then a number of coats of matt black primer, and then a gloss coat !! Well, it was an experiment after all !

Colin M.......

[Centurion3RTR]

Nice First attempt Colin, looks absolutely spot on mate. Can i give you a hint for your next attempt? Flying Fortress hehehe. Big five mate.

Have fun, John

[papa 695]

Hi Colin i've never used alclad, but looking at your first attempt i'm tempted to have a go.( I did say tempted) a great build well don

[colin m]

Thanks all for having a look. So, two votes for the B17. I have to say the Revell B 17 does looks very nice..............................