Hypnobear Posted July 26, 2010 Posted July 26, 2010 Hi all Decided to add my last two projects aswell today, so heres the third, a US Navy P 51D Mustang. Not so much a What If as it did really happen, so Ill have to make the story a bit different in order to make it acceptable for the build... In 1943, the American Navy took an interest in the achievements made by the new Mustang, and requested that trials began to test the ability for Mustangs to be used aboard US carriers. With a range of over 1,600 miles, it could be well suited to the Pacific and long ranged attacks, and its speed of over 430 mph was a great asset. In October 1943, North American sent several P 51D's to the US Navy for service trials, and after naval equipment was added, the P 51's performance was very good and accepted by the authorities. Aircraft were ordered immediately for use aboard carriers, and deliveries started in January 1944. Pilots quickly adapted the the P 51 and respected its ability to take punishment, its heavy armament, speed and range. Many aircraft were also adapted as fighter bombers and took part in the island hopping operations as well as dealing with enemy fighters. When B 29 raids on Japan were stepped up after islands large enough to base the bombers were set up, the Mustang also began escort duties where its range and armament were put to good use. P 51's served to the last days of the war on carriers, and many more served on land bases. They were deadly against Japan's fighters, and only a few such as the Kawasaki Ki 100 and Nakajima Ki 84 could stand up to them on equl terms. However, at the end of the war, the Mustang's career on US carriers was nearing its end as jet aircraft were taking over. In 1945, the first pure US jet fighters were trialled, and gradually replaced the P 51's in the fighter roles. The P 51's were relegated to purely land based operations by the late 1940's. The kit for the build will be Heller's P 51D: The scheme will be a all over dark blue, and should hopefully look something like this: Ill need to find an arrestor hook for this one though, no cheating as I planned last time Apart from that, all three now ready to start, roll on the 31st!
Hypnobear Posted July 31, 2010 Author Posted July 31, 2010 Got the interior pretty much done today, looks a bit of a mess, especially on the wings where I didnt notice that I was painting the wrong part! Anyway, heres how it stands so far....
Hypnobear Posted July 31, 2010 Author Posted July 31, 2010 All put together within about an hour or so, all ready for tomorrow. At this rate, theyll be done by Tuesday! Wings and undercarriage on.... Nothing great here, but Im only an amateur!
TaiidanTomcat Posted August 1, 2010 Posted August 1, 2010 Amateur? You build faster than us "experts" then!
Hypnobear Posted August 1, 2010 Author Posted August 1, 2010 Amateur? You build faster than us "experts" then! Its the painting and weathering that really lets me down, but Im quite fast as modelling. Heres how my Mustang stands as of today..... With 2 coats of navy blue.... ....and everything else painted... I think Ill try and paint the white bit on the tail again as I didnt have any masking tape with me, but apart from that its all ready for some weathering to break up the blue a bit I just hope it goes alright!
Hypnobear Posted August 2, 2010 Author Posted August 2, 2010 More progress as of today, and weathering stage is completed despite my favoured sellotape method refusing to work As the Mustang stood yesterday... And its dirty state of today!... And with other wear and tear added... Itll look better once the stars and bars and large numbers are added!
Hypnobear Posted August 2, 2010 Author Posted August 2, 2010 (edited) All finished now, here it is, my US Navy P 51 Mustang: Didnt take long did it? Its a shame I didnt have any other decals to put on, but I think it looks OK, not bad for an amateur modeller such as myself! Any comments very welcome, I like comments! Edited August 2, 2010 by Nakajima15
Daniel Posted August 5, 2010 Posted August 5, 2010 Looks good to me, and the decals look just right, too many can be too much, especially in smaller scales. You need to slow down, how do you afford to buy models if you make them that quickly! Dan
Hypnobear Posted August 5, 2010 Author Posted August 5, 2010 Looks good to me, and the decals look just right, too many can be too much, especially in smaller scales.You need to slow down, how do you afford to buy models if you make them that quickly! Dan Thanks Daniel, I couldnt do the small "22" on the tail as I didnt have anything the right size, but I think it looks OK I do need to slow down really, its just that I had all day to build them as Im off from a routine until I start college, and I cant do too much advanced modelling. However making models quickly should come in handy to complete my stash....
Daniel Posted August 10, 2010 Posted August 10, 2010 If you are finished can you put some pictures in the finished build thread please? Thanks, Dan
Hypnobear Posted August 10, 2010 Author Posted August 10, 2010 If you are finished can you put some pictures in the finished build thread please?Thanks, Dan Will do, Dan Dont think theres anything else I can do to it
Hypnobear Posted August 11, 2010 Author Posted August 11, 2010 One last update with the Mustang with scenery. Dont really have anything that represents a carrier deck, so its on a grassy base for some reason
Daniel Posted September 10, 2010 Posted September 10, 2010 Looks great, there are some printable bases somewhere around BM... Dan
Hypnobear Posted September 10, 2010 Author Posted September 10, 2010 Looks great, there are some printable bases somewhere around BM...Dan Thanks Dan! Unfortunately its had a bit of an accident and crashed, and several prop blades, a fuel tank and one of the undercarriage legs broke off, but Ive managed to put it back together now Ill have to look out for the printable bases as theyll be a great backdrop for my many IJN aircraft
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