John1 Posted February 27, 2020 Author Share Posted February 27, 2020 21 hours ago, Finn said: John i guess this is better late than never: https://www.docdroid.net/D79iGST/north-american-p-51d-mustang-flight-handbook.pdf Jari Thanks for the info Jari, pretty interesting to note that in the handbook, they refer to the tailwheel as being "non-retractable". Wonder if this mod was more common to F-51's than I originally thought? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1 Posted February 29, 2020 Author Share Posted February 29, 2020 (edited) Spinner installed and final (I think) paintwork completed. Last open task is the canopy interior (anyone have any decent pics that show the inside, the Tamiya part seems much to barren) and adding a couple of antennas and I think this one will be done! Edited February 29, 2020 by John1 Finn, Antonio Argudo, USMC Herc and 15 others 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbetty Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 (edited) i really like it, very good job! Edited June 29, 2023 by blackbetty John1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MustangManiac Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Beautiful bird John! I wish I could put mine together as fast and well as you do every time. It doesn't seem to take you very long at all ever...lol. Beautiful build my friend. Brady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monthebiff Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Very nice, like it a lot. Regards. Andy John1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1 Posted March 3, 2020 Author Share Posted March 3, 2020 5 hours ago, MustangManiac said: Beautiful bird John! I wish I could put mine together as fast and well as you do every time. It doesn't seem to take you very long at all ever...lol. Beautiful build my friend. Brady LOL.. if you call "fast" 9 months (and counting), I guess I'm pretty fast. Can't wait to see if I can break the 1 year barrier with my upcoming Mosquito build. Fingers crossed.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1 Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 So I'm thinking this one is finally done. I added a few bits to the interior of the canopy frame and then used some plastic polish to give it a decent shine. Next on went the dorsal antenna (these later versions didn't have a wire coming off it). Lastly, I added safety wires to to the napalm tank ingniters and the rocket fuzes. They are present in the picture below and were a feature on all underwing ordinance, WW2 to present. If you zoom in on this picture, you can see how the rocket safety wires are secured to that slot in the leading edge of the forward stub launcher. You can also make out the safety wire for the pylon mounted 500 lb bomb/napalm tank hanging down. : These are present on all underwing ordinance, WW2 to present. Whilst on the subject, I'm a big fan of realistic ordinance. It's surprising how many super-detailed, realistically weathered builds out there have immaculate, glossy bombs, with no safety cables, dirt, stencils, etc. Call me weird but I actually enjoy superdetailing ordinance. It's almost like a mini-model. Here is a 500 lb bomb I did for my last build, the Tamiya F4U-1D, Dark Blue Killer. Here's a shot that shows the final outcome. I'll be back to post some final shots and will do the obligatory RFI. dodgem37, blackbetty, Anthony in NZ and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamj Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 (edited) Really wonderful and informative build John..almost complete. The way you stressed and weathered the final finish is perfect. Edited March 8, 2020 by williamj John1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1 Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 13 minutes ago, williamj said: Really wonderful and informative build John..almost complete. The way you stressed and weathered the final finish is perfect. Thank you William. BTW, 2 thumbs up on your profile picture! williamj 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzas Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 Great looking Stang! John1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 Seconded, you’ve done a great job. I’m just at the decalling stage with my 1/48 version, I hope I can do as convincing a job with the weathering as you. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1 Posted March 14, 2020 Author Share Posted March 14, 2020 So Butchie is done and on the shelf. Although a good amount of $ was sunk into this project, if you factor in the months of enjoyment (most of the time) that I got out of this project, it was very cost-effective (again, this is what I keep telling my wife)! I have to say, I think I was spoiled by the Tamiya Corsair I built before this. It was a much more straightforward build. The Mustang has too many toy-like features (retractable landing gear, movable flaps and control surfaces, etc.). that make the build unnecessarily involved. That being said, the quality and detailing of the kit are indisputably some of the best in the modeling world. I was also very happy with the Barracuda cockpit decals, I wish they would offer these for every 32nd scale kit! Also, props to Fundekals and Print to Scale for their very nice decal sheets. Lastly, a major thank you to Dennis7423 for graciously supply the HVAR's. I wouldn't have been able to complete this build without these. Here are some final pictures and when I get around to it, I'll do a RFI. Last note - a sincere thank you to 2nd LT John Irwin who, during his assignment to the 2nd ID for two years as a Forward Observer, would have probably have been calling in Butchie for close air support. You are not forgotten! Thanks for looking! Fanes, Bil, Landrotten Highlander and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 Nicely dirtied bird Fine work John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem37 Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 Take a bow. You've got a great-looking bird, there. Sincerely, Mark John1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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