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

[SwissFighters]

8 hours ago, JayW said:

 

Yeah - Perhaps you can see that there are three zones of surfacing - the leading edge, the middle (where you have highlighted the two curves), and the aft end where the transition to the wing lower surface takes place.  Also the middle and aft zones are split by a water line (WL -39 actually).  Incidentally, the surfaces were generated on the LH side, and then mirror images were created (easy to do in Rhino) along the airplane center plane (BL 0).   In complex areas, I have found that you have to tackle it one bite at a time, and then combine. 

 

Anyway - the middle zone has some wacky looking contour lines, as a result of where I placed control points on the several cross-section curves I used to generate the surface.  It appears then that the contour is wavy, yet it is not (I think it is not - I have submitted it to some pretty good curvature analysis, but I will make a test part just to make certain).  I could have been more careful in where I placed control points, but it would not have resulted in anything really different.  Without getting into the weeds (and boy can you get into the weeds in primary surfacing techniques), complex surfaces can be generated by connecting a series of cross-sections where each cross-section is created by a curve or joined curves (I did this for all three of the zones above), or by creating an array of 4-sided patches where each edge is a curve generated in the same fashion as for cross-sections, and then the patches are "stitched" together carefully, using special commands which control tangency and assure patch edges are "water-tight".  I have used the latter technique for the fuselage, which is why it looks like a square-pattern sweater in my pictures.

 

BTW - what I am doing here is not particularly expensive.  I had a one-time expense purchasing Rhino (several hundred $), and then it's free forever, unlike some other programs which have an annual renewal fee.  My 3D printer was $300 and change, with a bit more for the cleaning/curing station.  And the resin is around $25 per 1000 gram bottle.  Bottles last a while too.  Oh, and I do subscribe to Aircorps Library which has an annual fee, but it is very reasonable. 

 

Thanks for your interest Tony!       

 

Yep, thanks for the explanation, Jay - I think it makes sense to me now. In other words, it would be a very hard and probably pointless exercise to try and place the control points at the intersections between cross sections and waterline curves, which would produce the traditional lofting plans? I suppose you are working from some NAA table of offsets (had to look up the right term!), or are there drawings with the same data points? I agree, Aircorps is an amazing resource, I am subscribed there but haven't yet come across the information you must be referencing. I really appreciate your advice re cost break down - thanks for that. Worth thinking about.

[JayW]

"I agree, Aircorps is an amazing resource, I am subscribed there but haven't yet come across the information you must be referencing. I really appreciate your advice re cost break down - thanks for that. Worth thinking about."

 

There are a number of ordinate drawings for P-51A/B/C, and P-51D.  The only ordinate drawing I have found in Aircorps Library is 106-00006 for the wing.  The others I am using have been obtained by hook or crook from a few sources - the old P-51 SIG provided some.  But they are no more, as I understand it.    

[rafju]

Terrific work! congrats

and I am thinking your files should be very useful for any company who will get into making an injected (1/32 ;-) model 

[JayW]

Assuming that this effort is going to be a P-51B/C, it is becoming time to select a subject, with a serial number.  So I can model the right parts.  Here is my tentative choice:

 

 

 

"Beantown Banshee"  FT-O, P-51B-7-NA s/n 43-6833.  This selection checks a number of boxes:

 

1.  It had plenty of natural metal - since this model will be skinned with thin gage aluminum, it would seem a shame to completely paint it when so many P-51's sported natural metal finish.  

2.  It had a Malcolm Hood.

3.  It had unshrouded exhaust stacks (my preference).  Although the drawing/painting shows shrouds, the period photo shows otherwise.

4.  This aircraft was assigned to the same squadron that my late uncle flew with (354th FG, 353rd FS).

5.  The nose art might be do-able.  Important - some nose art schemes are beyond my ability to reproduce, either with home-made decal or stencil.  If I can get some help with a stencil, it could look very convincing.

6.  It is not a particularly well known subject, although it has been modeled before.  And it was squarely in the middle of the intense action that was bomber escort and fighter sweep duty in early to late '44.

 

Not a box to check, but still interesting - it has a full set of invasion stripes.  Top and bottom of wings, top and bottom of the fuselage.  I could do that.

 

Another 353rd FS example "Julienne Hi!"  FT-X would have been a fine example - my uncle actually got his first two aerial victories (he had 5.5) in that aircraft - it was borrowed from another pilot that day. 

 

 

 

Alas - it doesn't sport a Malcolm hood.  So I'm not going to do it.

 

I am certainly accepting suggestions, as long as the example is an ETO aircraft.  Please advise.....   

 

[Woody V]

Beamtown Bamshee?

 

Edited October 18, 2023 by Woody V

[JayW]

I like this one too - 361st FG is one of my favorites:

 

[easixpedro]

4 hours ago, JayW said:

I am certainly accepting suggestions, as long as the example is an ETO aircraft.  Please advise..... 

Me? I'm partial to the Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney i.e. the 352nd FG.  A quick scan shows that George Preddy flew a Malcom Hood bird from April-June 44. "The Mouse's B" (HO-P 42-106451).  Nice tie in to Preddy, but not the standard "Cripes a Mighty" 

 

You might have to make more than 1 mustang, I'm just sayin'

[Thunnus]

Very cool, Jay!  The nose art for all three would be relatively simple to produce as masks.  I'd be more than happy to assist!

[JayW]

5 hours ago, easixpedro said:

"The Mouse's B" (HO-P 42-106451).

 

Peter - I could not find anything on this aircraft.  You got anything you could post?

[JayW]

4 hours ago, Thunnus said:

I'd be more than happy to assist!

 

Yay!!!  Thanks John!  If we live so long.  This project is going to take some time, although hopefully not as long as the Corsair took.  Perhaps I will complete the section forward of the firewall early, as a separate unit,  And if so, I will be in touch soon. 

[easixpedro]

On 10/17/2023 at 7:55 PM, JayW said:

 

Peter - I could not find anything on this aircraft.  You got anything you could post?

Well…I retract my statement! I can’t find it anymore. Saw it at work and our machines don’t save any history, and I sure can’t find anything other than his standard markings… 

 

Still partial to Blue Nosers though  

[cmayer]

Hey Booger - This site for artist Troy White has some photos of HO-P, 42-106451, with a Malcom hood, full invasion stripes, but with the standard Preddy aircraft name, "Cripes A' Mighty," which were his (Troy White's) references for his painting of that aircraft in mid-June 1944, just before Preddy got his Block-5 D-model, 44-13321, the famous "Cripes A' Mighty 3rd."
 

See photos and artwork here: https://www.starduststudios.com/george-preddy.html

 

I like the blue-nosed bastard Mustangs, as well...and this one is natural metal with invasion stripes, plus the Malcom hood and eight German cross victory marks, as well..

 

Good Hunting Jay!

 

Cheers,

Chris

[JayW]

18 hours ago, cmayer said:

Hey Booger - This site for artist Troy White has some photos of HO-P, 42-106451, with a Malcom hood, full invasion stripes, but with the standard Preddy aircraft name, "Cripes A' Mighty," which were his (Troy White's) references for his painting of that aircraft in mid-June 1944, just before Preddy got his Block-5 D-model, 44-13321, the famous "Cripes A' Mighty 3rd."
 

See photos and artwork here: https://www.starduststudios.com/george-preddy.html

 

I like the blue-nosed bastard Mustangs, as well...and this one is natural metal with invasion stripes, plus the Malcom hood and eight German cross victory marks, as well..

 

Good Hunting Jay!

 

 

 

Oh my Chris - this has thrown a monkey wrench into the selection process.  I also like 352nd FG aircraft, and this one is interesting indeed.  I look at the nose art however, and wonder how I would pull that off.  If I use a home-made decal off my printer, the yellow will be too faint.  I would need a real decal maker.  A stencil would seem to me very difficult (Thunnus - please chime in if you read this).  It could be possible to just write it but I don't know how I would do that.   Other than that - we would enter into the world of blue colors.  This aircraft was painted with the lighter blue that preceded the much darker blue we see later on.  I would have to get that color just right - not a deal breaker.  To my fellow LSP-ers - how could I pull this off?

Edited October 20, 2023 by JayW

[geedubelyer]

In 1/18th scale a mask should work without issue Jay. 

I had custom mask made for my 1/32nd scale model of "Miss Helen" and they worked very well. 

I don't think the font is any more complex.

Edit* As for the blue, why not go with what looks right without relying on FS numbers etc?

Are there any colour, period photos of Preddy's bird?

 

 

 

Edited October 20, 2023 by geedubelyer

[Shoggz]

I found this to be a great resource when I built Preddy’s D a few years back - as much, if not more, for the beautiful booklet as the decals!

 

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/EAG32100