Peter W Posted December 13, 2011 Posted December 13, 2011 The first of my entries for this group build is going to be the 1/48th Tamiya P-51B with a few extras. It's going to be dressed as Lt. William Whisner's 'Princess Elizabeth' based at Bodney in 1944. The actual aircraft was lost during the Normany invasions on June 6th whilst being flown by Lt Robert K Butler but lives on with a beautifully restored warbird being flown in the US. UK airshow visitors may remember it being based at Duxford for several years too, as it was owned by the Fighter Collection from 1996-2007. On to the pictures: - The Kit The Bits The Extras The Goal There's a little bit of tweeking to do to the markings as mine will carry the original tail code - 106449 but hopefully something good will commeth. Pete
Tim T Posted December 13, 2011 Posted December 13, 2011 That looks great. I am doing the RAF version and used the Aries cockpit set as well. I found it easier to remove the lugs on the fueslage that the cockpit is supposed to sit in at the back (there are grooves in the resin). Also, there is no control column in the Aries set!
Peter W Posted December 13, 2011 Author Posted December 13, 2011 Thanks for the heads up Tim. Odd that Aires didn't provide the stick but the kit one isn't bad, so that will have to do. Pete
Martyn C Posted December 13, 2011 Posted December 13, 2011 The first of my entries for this group build is going to be the 1/48th Tamiya P-51B with a few extras. It's going to be dressed as Lt. William Whisner's 'Princess Elizabeth' based at Bodney in 1944. The actual aircraft was lost during the Normany invasions on June 6th whilst being flown by Lt Robert K Butler but lives on with a beautifully restored warbird being flown in the US. UK airshow visitors may remember it being based at Duxford for several years too, as it was owned by the Fighter Collection from 1996-2007.On to the pictures: - The Kit The Bits The Extras The Goal There's a little bit of tweeking to do to the markings as mine will carry the original tail code - 106449 but hopefully something good will commeth. Pete Oh Lord, a proper racer
Peter W Posted December 13, 2011 Author Posted December 13, 2011 Martyn - a racer but what a beauty it is, probably my favourite of all the Mustangs I've seen (should say P-51's really). Do you remember it at all? Pete
Ian Posted December 17, 2011 Posted December 17, 2011 Got the decals for this one too... No1 daughter is called Elizabeth, was always going to build it for her, unlikely to get the time now before we go-away in the Spring... Ian - Co-host, Britmodeller 2011 P-51 STGB -
Peter W Posted December 30, 2011 Author Posted December 30, 2011 I've managed to get a small bit done on this one. The internals details of the kit need removing in order for the Aires bits to fit. It's a fairly easy task though, so no real pain. Not much to show but at least I've made a start. Pete
wellzy Posted December 31, 2011 Posted December 31, 2011 (edited) Hi Peter Nice choice good to see a blue nose. wellzy Edited December 31, 2011 by wellzy
AnonymousDFB1 Posted December 31, 2011 Posted December 31, 2011 (edited) Looking good Pete Edited December 31, 2011 by Mish
oldhouse Posted January 2, 2012 Posted January 2, 2012 Great pick for this STGB ! enjoy the build !!!
Peter W Posted January 14, 2012 Author Posted January 14, 2012 I've been pressing on with building this one along with the Accurate Miniatures one and finally have something to show for it. The cockpit is done and ready for installing along with the undercarriage bay. The Aires cockpit really is a lovely looking bit of resin and, surprisingly, not too bad to fit. The only thing that needs addressing is shortening the location tab for the back of the tub. The slot in the Aires set is too far forward and you need to trim some off of the back of the kits corresponding part, pretty simple. On with the pictures: - Back with more soon Pete
erikmuntz Posted January 14, 2012 Posted January 14, 2012 Great work on the cockpit and the wheel wells! That seat especially looks the part!
Peter W Posted January 15, 2012 Author Posted January 15, 2012 Thanks Erik, I'm pleased with how it turned out. The only shame is that the photo's don't completely do it justice, it looks much better in reality. I guess enlarging the bits on the screen has a negative effect. However I have got a bit more done today and am nearly ready to glue the fuselage together. A few of the cockpit being brought together: - The shame is that I spent ages making some of these bits look better, in my opinion anyway, and now they will be all hidden. The document holder is hidden completely by by the seat and I even made an attempt at a woodgrain effect on that. Ah well, the photo's can still be seen even if the rest will soon be hidden. One last dry fit of everything before I glue the halves together. More soon Pete
Ian Posted January 22, 2012 Posted January 22, 2012 Excellent progress, Pete. Ian - Co-host Britmodeller 2011 P-51 Mustang STGB -
Peter W Posted January 22, 2012 Author Posted January 22, 2012 (edited) Thanks Ian & Mish, much appreciated. No photo's tonight but have been making progress and should have something to show soon. I've been trying to get this one ready for paint so masking away and should be able to give it a wash tomorrow and primed soon after. Cheers Pete Edited January 22, 2012 by Peter W
Peter W Posted February 3, 2012 Author Posted February 3, 2012 Time for a long overdue update but haven't been idle. I have got this one moved on quite a bit but not without trials and tribulations. I did my usual primer coat of Alclad Gray followed by sanding with 2000 grit paper. Next came 3 light coats of Alclad Aluminium and a sealing coat of Klear, all good so far. I then masked up for the Invasion stripes and sprayed the white first followed by another masking session for the black. It all looked great until I took the masking off and lifted lots of little bits of the Alclad, right back to the plastic. I have never had this happen before and it took a lot of will power not to put it in the corner and forget about it. But, as they say, no pain no gain so I set about repairing the damage which hasn't worked out too bad. After another sealing coat of Klear I masked and sprayed the Blue nose and added another 3 coats of Klear. It's now ready for decals. The result of a few coats of Alclad: - And a few wearing her colours: - Since I took these I have added some decals and it's looking good, back with results soon. Pete
Paul J Posted February 3, 2012 Posted February 3, 2012 Look forward to seeing the end result. Its a pity that the B, Princess Elizabeth, that was at Duxford in the recent past is no longer here but back in the States! Itw ould still be a crowd pleaser and make a nice contrast with the amount of D models here. And better still if it were finished as one of the RAF schemes perhaps Polish?
Peter W Posted February 3, 2012 Author Posted February 3, 2012 (edited) Thanks all, Paul - The photos in my initial post are of the plane that used to be based at Duxford. These pictures were taken when I went to the Planes of Fame airshow at Chino in 2010. She flew as part of the Horsemen display team that day and looked incredible against a blue sky, something we didn't see very often whilst she was in the UK I think that it's actually a P-51C-10NT, just painted in a 'B' scheme. It really is a stunning looking plane though and, as you say, a shame that she's not still here. It's odd as well though that I don't ever contemplate modelling a P-51 in anything other than US schemes, it's the same with Spitfires where I wouldn't model a foreign one. Just an odd personal thing that I like them modelled in their home colours. That might all change if I ever see one at an airshow though Pete Edited February 3, 2012 by Peter W
Greased Lightning Posted February 3, 2012 Posted February 3, 2012 Coming on very nicely indeed! I'm watching with interest.
Jaffe284 Posted February 3, 2012 Posted February 3, 2012 Very nice indeed! What color type and make have you used for the blue on the nose?
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