Old Dog Flying

Best advice that I can give you is "keep it simple" for the first one. Don't try some exotic big model because you will , in all probability never finish it.
 
See my thread "Scratch-building A Fleet Canuck". Have good three-views, plenty of styrene, a sharp knife and plenty of patience. You will probably make each part two or three times before it fits right but when it does you'll feel great. I'm just finishing the wings on the Canuck...the cores were carved three times and the skins were version 4.0 before I was satisfied.. I'll have more photos posted later today.
 
Good luck
Barney

After being scolded for my choice of "Blue" trim it was very satisfying to find that photo of 443 Hornet Sqn RCAF Mustang IV at Jericho Beach, Vancouver.   The blue trim is Testors BLUE #1708 in the small bottle.
 
"Big Jon" at www.modeldecaldepot.com printed the lightning bolt/code in 1:32 for meand I'm certain that he could print it in 1:24 scale.  You would have to give him the length of the complte bolt .
 
Don't forget that you need lettering, GY B for the top side of the wing and VC  GYB for the underside..I missed this on the original photo..dummy!
 
Barney
 
I was going to add a photo of Mustang 9600  but Photobucket is really screwed up
 

Nice looking decals Richard!  I've made a few on my Epson 680 Ink Jet and after drying for 24 hours, I brushed on a coat of Micro Scale Liquid Decal Film.  I trimmed the pieces quite close and after they dried on the model the edge od the decal was very hard to spot.
 
I have that very old Airfix kit and if my eyes were better I would love to build it as BA*U, Dennis Bradley's private Mustang.
 
Barney

Here's a pic of the Monogram DC-3 aka RCAF 1000.  Lots of sanding here as well
 
Barney
 
\

Richard:  Sand should not pose a problem.  Start with 600 grit wet with a few drops of liquid soap then work down to 1500 or finer, again wet with soap..  I did this procedure with a 1:48 scale CC-139H and it worked out great.  My last Big Mustang received some sanding with no ill effects
 
Barney.

Richard, you have a BIG project in hand but an even bigger dilemma with all those Airfix Titanic rivets.  The majority of these were Flush type rivets including those on the fuselage and once set left very little, if any, gap around the head and most would be no more than 5/32" in 1:1 scale.  On a Bare Metal finish they would appear as small round dots of aluminum.  I've done quite a bit of this type of riveting on my own aircraft and the head, under a coat of primer and paint is barely discernible.
 
Keep up the good work..I'm lurking!
Barney

Bcause of the putty filler the wings and stabilizer were , like many RCAF aircraft, painted with aluminum lacquer.  The Mustanger control surfaces were also painted the same way...mainly for corrosion protection.
 
Barney

Looking good Richard..just remember that those blades were Flat Black.  The Alclad Clear finiches are superb.
 
Barney

Hi Richard:  Welcome back!  I was wondering were you had gone to.  If you want the 443 Sqn decald, Big Jon has them on file at the Modeldecalshop in the stle of my 1:32 Mustang and he was able to colour match the lightening bolt. Only one of 443 Sqn birds had the blue canopy skirt and that was s/n 9600 which was flown by the CO, W/C Barker.
 
Regards
Barney

Welcome back Richard!  You"ve done a beautiful job on the Mustang.  My modelling days are over as I seemed to have P...d-off Mother Nature and now all I can do is watch the progress of others.  I.ve got another of the original Airfix kits if you need.
 
Barney

Richard:  Sorry to be so long in responding about the Mustang kit but computer problems and health situation have caused the delay.  Apparently the guy that I had bought the kit from had started painting and test fitting bits and cutting sprue.  The box has fallen apart and is in no shape to ship.  It is really an ugly mess!
 
Regards Barney
 

Hi Richard.  I have a 1/24 scale Mustang in the stash and it is yours if you want to do another.  Very nice work by the way!
 
Regards Barney

Richard...that is one beautiful Mustang!  What are you going to do for decals?
 
Barney
 

Looking very nice Richard!

Slow progress with the Sparrowhawk but the end is near. Decals all on with only one small glitch; the Black outline stripes for the chevron and fuselage bands are one piece with a clear carrier between the stripesl but that carrier turned out to be milky white which turned the red areas a real ugly pink. The fix was to use some 30 year od thin single stripes from the spares box.
 

 
Now the fun begins with rigging; I used steel wire inserted into the predrilled holes in the wings and fuselage
 

 
Filing and fitting the notches in the lower wing leading edge was a challenge and although the wires fit properly while dry fitting the lower wing and wires
but the notches were not aligned once everything was glued together
 

 

 
Still more to do with small parts but that is for later
Barney

No! I'm not going to build a 1:32 scale Macon! The engine is ready for paint as is the cowling. The drawing showing the engine is quite primitive but I finally figured it out and interestingly, the valve push rods are on the back side of this engine.
 

 
The landing gear is really a mess with more flash and no good locating instructions. I managed to fumble the main strut, "V" strut and wheel fairings into a semblance of what it should be but it took plenty of #$%^&@ and Tamiya putty to make them look reasonable
 

 

 
Barney

Richard:  That is one lovely Mustang!!!!  I just wish that I could finish my Big Mustang in Dennis Bradley's markings  BA*U.

Looking very nice Richard!

Richard...that is one beautiful Mustang!  What are you going to do for decals?
 
Barney
 

Richard...that is one beautiful Mustang!  What are you going to do for decals?
 
Barney
 

Richard:  Sorry to be so long in responding about the Mustang kit but computer problems and health situation have caused the delay.  Apparently the guy that I had bought the kit from had started painting and test fitting bits and cutting sprue.  The box has fallen apart and is in no shape to ship.  It is really an ugly mess!
 
Regards Barney
 

Hi Richard.  I have a 1/24 scale Mustang in the stash and it is yours if you want to do another.  Very nice work by the way!
 
Regards Barney

Stunning Bill!  Just Stunning!!!!!
 
Barney
 

Hin Bill:  I have over 50 photos of the one here in Vancouver..formerly Race 80...if you need any detail shots.
 
Barney

Once again the Master Plastic Manipulator has produced a winner!  The winters at Rivers, Manitoba...-40*F with a 40 knot wind..would freeze the balls off a brass monkey.
 
The last statement has a true story behind it
 
Barney