Bonkin Posted May 23 Posted May 23 Hello all. I present for inspection my 1/24 P-51D Mustang kit No. A14001V, built from the re-release of the 1970's mould. I'd like to say it was enjoyable but it has really tested me. When I purchased it somebody made rather derogatory remarks about the kit being just a pile of plastic waiting for the trash bin... and quite honestly it nearly went that way a few times. Nevertheless I persevered and I'm happy to have finished it. There are a number of things I wish I had done better, the engine side cowls in particular. Modifications made along the way include: lowering the flaps adding a wingspar and undercarriage bay thinning and polishing the life out of the canopy cutting out the front air scoop, plus adding in the internal "flu" between the radiator and the vent constructing undercarriage doors (inners and outers) detailing the bomb racks replacing the guns with aluminium tubing, and remodelling the undercarriage with a combination of plastic and metal parts I also used the following aftermarket parts: Airscale Harness Airscale Cockpit instruments and placards Airscale Pro P51 Parts Set Model Monkey Upper Cowling Model Monkey Wheel Well Model Monkey Rudder Pedals Scale Aircraft Conversions Metal Landing Gear (designed to be used with Trumpeter kits) Thanks for looking. Polecadt, Greif8, Lee White and 28 others 31
geedubelyer Posted May 23 Posted May 23 Love it. Happy memories from my yoof having built that as a kid with the help of my Dad when it first came out. I confess it has crossed my mind more than once to buy this re-release and revisit it. You've done a splendid job of that. Well done Bonkin and Martinnfb 1 1
Martinnfb Posted May 23 Posted May 23 Absolutely incredible amount of work on this one. People don’t realize what it takes to bring the ancient Airfix kit to this level. Bravo! Martin geedubelyer, Bonkin and Palm-tree 2 1
Cicchino Posted May 23 Posted May 23 What a beautiful build! Ever since I saw Mason's This is It! in Freeman's Mighty 8th book it has been one of my must do's. Well that was 50+ years ago and it's still in the 'to do' pile although I am inching closer with some 1/32 Silhouette masks I've recently made up. I only hope when the time comes (and I do hope it's soon!) I can do it the same level of justice that you have. Love it! Regards John Bonkin and Martinnfb 1 1
Mark Robson Posted May 27 Posted May 27 Good grief! What a lovely piece of work! I was asked to build this model when I was about 12 for a local R/C model guy who had plenty of money and wanted something to copy so he could build a flying model. I remember trying and failing to get the dihedral right. I was thrilled though; he was pleased and I could never have afforded it myself. Wonder if HIS model had the correct dihedral?? What a lovely nostalgic trip down memory lane! Thanks! M geedubelyer, Bonkin and Martinnfb 3
rafju Posted May 27 Posted May 27 1 hour ago, Mark Robson said: Wonder if HIS model had the correct dihedral?? M Hi Mark HIS? Martinnfb 1
Mark Robson Posted May 28 Posted May 28 Rafju; I mean the guy who made a flying r/c model. He was using the Airfix kit that I built as visual reference. This was in about 1977. My model definitely did not have the correct dihedral, and I wonder if he had plans to show him how it should look. M Martinnfb and rafju 1 1
Phartycr0c Posted May 31 Posted May 31 Amazing build of a more than difficult kit. you are to be congratulated Martinnfb and Bonkin 1 1
LSP_Ray Posted June 2 Posted June 2 On 5/23/2026 at 9:18 AM, Bonkin said: Hello all. I present for inspection my 1/24 P-51D Mustang kit No. A14001V, built from the re-release of the 1970's mould. I'd like to say it was enjoyable but it has really tested me. When I purchased it somebody made rather derogatory remarks about the kit being just a pile of plastic waiting for the trash bin... and quite honestly it nearly went that way a few times. Nevertheless I persevered and I'm happy to have finished it. There are a number of things I wish I had done better, the engine side cowls in particular. Modifications made along the way include: lowering the flaps adding a wingspar and undercarriage bay thinning and polishing the life out of the canopy cutting out the front air scoop, plus adding in the internal "flu" between the radiator and the vent constructing undercarriage doors (inners and outers) detailing the bomb racks replacing the guns with aluminium tubing, and remodelling the undercarriage with a combination of plastic and metal parts I also used the following aftermarket parts: Airscale Harness Airscale Cockpit instruments and placards Airscale Pro P51 Parts Set Model Monkey Upper Cowling Model Monkey Wheel Well Model Monkey Rudder Pedals Scale Aircraft Conversions Metal Landing Gear (designed to be used with Trumpeter kits) Great job on an old kit! May I post it on the website? Bonkin and Martinnfb 1 1
Greif8 Posted June 2 Posted June 2 Excellent build of a really tough kit! The NMF and blue look very good together! Ernest Martinnfb and Bonkin 1 1
rafju Posted June 3 Posted June 3 FYI, a drawing for a corrected 1/24 spar has been given in 1973 in the Airfix book "Classic Aircraft N°3" P-51 Mustang. Bonkin and Martinnfb 2
Bonkin Posted June 4 Author Posted June 4 On 6/2/2026 at 3:38 AM, LSP_Ray said: Great job on an old kit! May I post it on the website? Really?! Gosh - yes of course! I'm sorry I'm not set up to take "studio" pictures - but I feel quite humbled you're happy to put it on. Thank you. Martinnfb 1
Mark P Posted June 4 Posted June 4 Great effort placed into a kit that really needs a tremendous amount of TLC! Mark Proulx Martinnfb 1
R Palimaka Posted June 5 Posted June 5 Magnificent build of a difficult old kit. Very much worth the effort, you've executed a very impressive model with what I know is a lot of work. The kit itself gets a lot of criticism, but even at 50+ years old it's still a better rendition than the Trumpeter. You just need patience and fluency in profanity. I've been through a very similar build, and am crazy enough to have started another one. Well done! Richard Bonkin, Martinnfb and Shoggz 2 1
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