1/18 Scale P-51B 3D Print Build

[Serkan Sen]

21 hours ago, JayW said:

BTW - a 1/72 SR-71?  Wow.  You are detailing it (or already have) as well as a large scale effort.  Nice.

I was expecting that copper wire wrapping method is not new for you with your master skills 😇.

I am mainly building in 1:72 and 1:48 scales and I have already modeled the entire Oxcart/Blackbird family except SR-71B and C (which are still ongoing). But only for my curiosity I decided to scale up the YF-12A to 1:32 scale (and reduce the panel line and wall thickness to have more realistic view and lighter model). All tiny cockpit and seat details became nicely visible. But I don't know yet where to place such a big model when finished. 🤔

 

Serkan

Edited March 17 by Serkan Sen

[Oldbaldguy]

I think we need to see Jay work his crazy magic on an early jet next time out.

[KiwiZac]

I just don't have the words to express how I feel about all this. In a good way!

[JayW]

It's been a busy time for "Cripes A Mighty".  Especially today.  First, let me show you progress on the middle wing/fuselage fairing.  It's pretty cool.  The wing/fuselage fairings need some back-up surface, so I designed and printed off exactly that, the two RH side parts shown already bonded to the fuselage and wing:

 

 

 

Like nearly all of my aluminum skins, I first trace the outline of the part onto tape, then apply that tape to the aluminum.  Here is the aluminum sheet trimmed up and ready for forming on the form block:

 

 

Shown with the cool engineering drawing defining that fairing.  Formed on the form block:

 

 

 

And from there, bonded to the fuselage:

 

 

Note that it joggles over the aft fairing already installed.  The mid fairing was infinitely easier to do than the aft fairing.  Before I could do the forward fairings, the engine cowl would have to be installed.  But first a couple of other items:

 

It was time to get with the flaps.  First, painting of the invasion stripes, some weathering, and dull coat:

 

 

Plus the fancy little drive links:

 

 

I should remind everyone that the somewhat inadequate coverage of the white stripes (underlying color shows through) is intentional.  The actual aircraft was that way.  And bond onto the wings:

 

 

 

 

I had originally intended the flaps to be movable, as you may recall.  But it was just too much to ask.  Positioned permanently at flaps 50 deg.

 

And you know what?  It was also time to get the radiator outlet door installed:

 

 

 

 

No problem.  That door had been sitting around for many months - I am glad it is now part of "Cripes".  BTW - the actuating rod is a piece of .015 x .04 inch Evergreen plastic.  Finally something easy.

 

All this progress paved the way for another big milestone - engine cowl install:

 

 

Yes - believe it!  You all know how long that engine cowl has been sitting around.  It was one of the first components I made.  

 

 

And finally, with the engine cowl installed, I could finish that forward wing/fuselage fairing.  Form it first on the form block:

 

 

Trim it umpteen times until it fits, and bond to the airplane:

 

 

 

 

I have to tell you, getting a good match of contour and trim where the wing leading edge, the forward fairing, and the engine cowl meet is one of the biggest victories I have to show for this build.  Huge sigh of relief.

 

A bit of a whirlwind I know, compared to the snail's pace we are more accustomed to with this build.  I still have to do the RH side forward fairing.  That's next.

 

And then I do believe that it will be time to finish off the landing gear, and adding the gear doors.  And then it is going to be the aft fuselage and tail.  Wow - is the finish line coming into view?   Really no.  The tail, tail gear, and aft fuselage are going to be pretty involved.

 

Thanks for looking in; til next time. 

 

 

Edited March 22 by JayW

[geedubelyer]

I've said it before and I'll say it again....... utterly remarkable! 

 

She's looking brilliant Jay. 

[Jim Barry]

Head rush! Wow. So amazing 

[Thunnus]

Ahhh... it's coming together now, Jay!  Intentional or not, I love the wear that has been imparted onto the NMF along the wing roots.

[scvrobeson]

It's almost a full airframe!  Great milestone Jay, really loving this project.

 

 

 

Matt 

[Oldbaldguy]

For some reason, this model does not get my pulse to thumpin’ like the Corsair did, but, Good Lord, Jay, this is epic in every sense of the word.  It might even be too much in that there is no way anyone who has not followed along here on LSP can ever appreciate what you have done - there is too much perfection to see and we simply are too big to see it all anyway.  Could you have done this were you an ordinary man on the street and not an engineer?  

[Gazzas]

HOly smokes, Jay!  that's fabulous.

[dodgem37]

BRAVO!, Bro!

 

Sincerely,

Mark

[rafju]

Terrific!

I hope Eduard' Team is looking at your post to make their 1/32th scale.

Rgds

[TAG]

Yo Jay, CONGRATS on reaching this huge milestone, Cripes a' Mighty is looking mighty indeed!

 

A modeling tour de force, you and Peter Castle are leading the charge on the 3D front and it is absolutely glorious to watch, cannot wait for the next installments to see you work your magic on the empennage.

 

- T

 

[JayW]

22 hours ago, Thunnus said:

I love the wear that has been imparted onto the NMF along the wing roots.

 

Well John - thank you my friend but there is not much too it, unlike the science projects you make of your wear and tear efforts!  You could surpass it so easily.  No, all that the unpainted area is is Tamiya weatherine oil stain or mud stain randomly rubbed or dry brushed onto wire meshed bare aluminum.  Then dull coat.   If I could do it over again, I'd make this model a bit cleaner, use more wash instead of just brushing on the weatherine, and with semi-gloss instead of the dull coat.  However period pictures do suggest that this subject was not by any means a showroom airplane.  It looks used and abused. 

 

17 hours ago, Oldbaldguy said:

Could you have done this were you an ordinary man on the street and not an engineer?  

 

OBG - engineers ARE ordinary men on the street.  But I get what you mean.  Thanks for the great complement.  Coming from an aircraft structural engineering career certainly doesn't hurt trying to do what I am doing here.  Which involves reading drawings and applying them to create digitally defined models and then makeable 3D printed parts - maybe an engineer has a leg up on that part of the process.  But it doesn't take an engineer to 3D print parts and assemble them.  And the rest is model-making artform.  And that is my Achilles heal when it comes to comparing this to some of the masterpieces we see on LSP.  I try but it is hard to compete with the almost unbelievably beautiful efforts on display here.  

Edited March 23 by JayW

[Oldbaldguy]

Hmmm.  Jay, you mentioned earlier that you wished you’d used a semi gloss topcoat instead of matte finish.  Have you considered buffing the sheet metal with a polishing cloth?  That might smooth out the flat finish somewhat and perk up the finish a bit.