R Palimaka

The next big step is priming for the NMF finish, and the filled and painted wings. In preparation I've been filling and polishing out scratches and poorly scribed panel lines to try to get it as smooth as possible. Along the way I've managed to break off the tailwheel leg (I knew it would happen eventually), which I've decided to leave off for now. I've drilled and pinned it, so that when it does go back on I'll probably epoxy it together with the metal pins. Somehow I also managed to break one of the arms of the radio rack inside the cockpit. That was an exercise in frustration trying to replace that, but I got it done, painted it matte black and no one is the wiser...except all of you I guess. Some of the smaller parts being created/refined include the rocket stubs (slotted shoes added to the bottom of the front mounting), new fuel filler caps, detailing the bomb racks, new landing light scratch built and painted, and an attempt to rebuild the sliding portion of the canopy. The exhaust shroud, and the exhaust pipes themselves had to be reduced in height and depth to fit the new opening that was reduced to the correct size. The painting of the airframe and attaching the canopy are the two steps that really concern me. The other little bit that I have yet to do is sculpt and polish some wingtip navigation lights out of the toothbrush handles. The colours seem a little weak, but maybe with a bit of clear paint they will look better. Yes, I have four windscreens, because I know that is going to be a bugger to do neatly. I will likely have to sacrifice a couple before I get it right. That's it for now...next time it should be a primed and ready airframe with all the detail bits finished and ready to attach. Richard

Continuing on with refining the panel lines, etc, before painting. I had to deal with a couple of nasty sink "trenches" along the wings, near the ailerons. While I was at it I drilled and sanded the square outlets in front of the cartridge ejection chutes. Finally, for today, I replaced some rivet detail on the landing gear covers, which will be sanded back slightly and primed. Clam shell doors, the one on the right has it's first thin coat of primer:

Way overdue for an update, but again it's just baby steps heading toward painting and final assembly. It's getting all the smaller pieces ready, and making sure they fit the way they're intended to. Biggest task is repairing and replacing all the panel line and fastener detail that was lost in filling, and modifying the shape of the nose. Had to laugh when I saw that as soon as I finished this, ModelMonkey announced that a corrected replacement nose was going to be offered. Oh well, it was a good learning experience. The fastener and rivet detail, and the replacement inspection plates are all Archer resin decals. They are easy to work with, and although I used the appropriate looking 1/32 versions, I see he has released 1/24 scale sheets. Under a first thin coat of primer: Once it is cured and set, some of it will be gently sanded back to look more flush.

Is this the thread? I thought all this looked familiar...

Here is some information from a thread by John Terrell, a Mustang expert who also does flight simulators with meticulous detail, right down to inspection tags. He also assists warbird owners who are concerned with accuracy in their restorations. It's a lot of info on the changes made in post-war Mustangs, including radio fits and associated cockpit control changes. http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/76424-New-WBS-Mustangs Unfortunately most of the photos were stripped out of the thread above but are available here on his flickr account(mostly pages 13-15): https://www.flickr.com/photos/34363610@N08/page14 Here is a photo of "Little Beast" in Korea, and it shows that it might be just the late D-25 radio fit...no radio equipment stacked up above the sill of the canopy. You can also just see the cooling scoop for the battery under the last tooth in the sharkmouth. So that would tell you the battery is moved up into the engine compartment and it'll likely have the SCR-522 and SCR-695. It also looks like it has the cooling slots in the radiator doghouse panels behind the wingroot trailing edge. That's a separate panel in the Tamiya kit, but you're left to your own devices to cut them in and provide the louvres over them. Now there's an item we could use from ModelMonkey... Richard

I'm speechless! That is astonishing. I don't think I've ever been convinced to buy a model kit because of the after-market cockpit before. Richard

Happy Birthday guys. Quite the distinguished bunch today. Richard

True, it sounds like he has his hands very full. Hope I didn't sound like a kid before Christmas. I will behave.

What a happy thread! Very satisfied customers who have been waiting a long time for a very complete product to get their projects going, and a supplier who is in touch and engaged with the customers and what they want...and is very busy as a result! Doesn't get much better than that. Speaking of busy, I know you are working as fast and hard as you can, but any news on new 1/24 Mustang products? Or should I maybe start a new thread? Or should I just be patient? Richard

Yup, Mustang III would be nice...so many I would like to do. I agree with Dave though, there are two promised in the pipelines from a couple of companies with good reputations. I don't see Tamiya doing it. I guess I could start on my Rutman P-51B kit, one of the above will show up just before I finish. Richard

I completely agree with Tomasz. I want to "like" every post. Your threads are pure pleasure and astonishment, everything you bring to it: your approach, your research, your skill, sense of humour and humility. It is very refreshing and one of the first things I check when I sign in. What I also enjoy is that you are not afraid to ask for help if you don't know something, and inevitably someone out there has a detailed answer to keep your project going. I have begun to look at your threads like a university-level course in the aircraft you are building. I absolutely love the Mustang, it's my favourite aircraft, especially the Mustang III (B/C). I thought I knew it well, but this thread is a valuable reference resource that has taught me plenty! Thanks, and carry on!

At almost 80 years after the incident, that is a remarkable and wonderful thing that the pilot is is still with us. At this time of the morning (and before my first coffee) the topic heading made it sound like the pilot had been trapped in the wreckage for 79 years. Richard

At the risk of "piling on", his comment about the "desert" of the Vendor's Board isn't supported by the numbers. The lack of response to his thread about making copies of 1/24 Airfix wheels is maybe more a reflection of the smaller number of people who build in that scale. And also, anyone planning to buy replacements would want something better than what's in the kit, not just a copy. I know in the case of the Mustang, the tires are a bit undersized. I've also been wary of the research ever since he tried to offer a "metal-covered" replacement rudder for the new 1/32 Revell P-51D. It's unfortunate that people seem to have such short fuses these days. I thought the reminder was a pretty gentle nudge. Richard

Thank you Tim! He is quite a force, and has accomplished and experienced so much in his 93 years. Thanks also for posting that article! I'd forgotten about that...you had to have done some digging. Richard

It's a little confusing. There were two movies released last year about 303 Squadron in the Battle of Britain, and one of them changed titles after release. One was filmed in the UK and was originally called "Hurricane". That was the one starring Milo Gibson and Stephanie Martini. It was later changed to "Mission of Honour". The other was filmed in Poland and was simply called "303 Squadron" (or "Dywizjon 303" in Poland) Almost all the actors in that one were Polish. Neither one had a very large budget and it showed in the aerial sequences. I was lucky enough to attend the premiere of 303 Squadron in Warsaw in August. My dad is one of the last surviving members of the squadron, and he was invited to be a guest of honour. It was a pretty surreal experience, on the red carpet with the stars of the film and all kinds of generals and in front of TV crews and reporters. Dad was treated like a hero, and didn't seem nervous at all...took part in interviews like he did it every day! Three generations...me, my son and my dad with my youngest brother. Richard