Mike J. Idacavage Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 (edited) It's time to throw my hat in the ring and get a build going for the Mustang GB. I am a bit late, but I wanted to finish a UAV that I had going for that ARC GB. While I like the looks and history of the Mustang, I have never built a model of this famous aircraft. I had 4 or 5 kits in my stash, so this GB was the perfect motivation to get the plastic out on the workbench. I plan on building the "City of San Diego", the 4th place finisher in the 1946 Bendix Trophy races. This P-51D (beleived to be 44-63430) was registered as NX-66851 and had race number 31. The Mustang appears to be rather stock and in the typical bare metal/painted wings seen in late war Mustangs. I thought it would be a good start on a Mustang that did not require modifications or fancy paint jobs so I can concentrate on the build. Besides, I am atracted to this scheme as it promotes my old home town, San Diego! Here's what I have to start with: A close up of the scheme: Let the building begin. Have fun modeling! Mike Edited December 30, 2011 by Mike J. Idacavage Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Prop Duster Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Nice choice Mike, hadn't "studied' much about the post war racers but that scheme looks like a winner. I too, live outside of SD, just not so far north as you ps just a thought, would't be hard for the pilot to see out of the blue canopy?......never mind Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted September 24, 2011 Author Share Posted September 24, 2011 I had to clear a bit of room on my work bench so my P51 build start was delayed. Now that my Blackhawk helo is near completion, I can start working in my P51D. I have started in at the usual place, the cockpit, but until I get more work done it does not look very interesting. I have also started in on the wings as they were most likley the typical puttied and smoothed wings and definitely painted in silver/aluminum dope. Here's the wings with the putty applied in the usual locations to fill in the covered panel lines. I have also filled in the bullet cartridge holes on the bottom wing after I shot this photo. In addition, I have removed the gun barrels and smoothed out the leading edge of the wing. It feels great to start to get some progress on this build! Have fun modeling! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 Well, I spoke a little too soon in my last update, and life along with a very time consuming job search ended up eliminating my modeling time. I have been slowly pluging away and actually have something to show! Like most aircraft projects, ya gotta get that cockpit done sometime. Here's how it looks after painting and adding the various bits and pieces from the Eduard PE set. Hopefully, it won't be as long until my next update! Have fun modeling! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dirkpitt289 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 That's a nice start Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 (edited) Here's a quick update. I have been working on the fuselage and wings and got them glued together. Here's how it looked after assembly: I then did some filling of the obvious seams and parts missmatches. I shot it with a first coat of MR Surfacer 1200 primer to get this: Now it's on to filling out those little cracks and seams that only show up after priming.With a bare metal surface, I want this to look good! Have fun modeling! Mike Edited November 5, 2011 by Mike J. Idacavage Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 While working on a part of a build that takes some time such as filling in seams and priming repeatedly :blink: , I'll devote time on some of the subassemblies as a modeling break. While I am working on cleaning up the fuselage and rescribbing panel lines, I also worked on and finished the prop. Here's how it looks now: The prop faded a bit more than I would have liked after I shot it with a Mr. Color flat coat, but to the eye it does not look so bad as it seems accented in the magnified photo. Have fun modeling! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted November 14, 2011 Author Share Posted November 14, 2011 While I am still working on my filling seems, rescribing and priming routine, I also finished up the seat for the cockpit. I used the kit seat with a little PE added. I cut out the solid side panels and added the brace using plastic strip. Here's the seat after assembly: And here's the seat after painting and adding the PE seatbelts from the Eduard set: Have fun modeling! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Awesome seat! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deacon Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Really nice job of the pit and seat Mike. Deacon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share Posted November 16, 2011 Thanks guys!!! This has been a classic case of where a GB has inspired me to build out of my usual model subjects. I can see where building Mustangs can get addicting! Have fun modeling! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted November 22, 2011 Author Share Posted November 22, 2011 Here's a quick update on my build. After a few sessions with Mr. Surfacer and my trusty rescriber, it looks like I am ready for the final paint steps. Here is how the Mustang looks now: Now it's on to first paint the wheel wells followed by the Alclad and aluminum paint (wings).... Have fun modeling! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dirkpitt289 Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Sweet! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 Now for some color on the ole Mustang! I used several different Alclad II colors for the main body of the Mustang and Floquil Old Silver to duplicate the aluminum/silver paint on the wings. I also have the gear wells painted in yellow primer. I thought I had a screw up as I shot the antiglare panel on the nose in MM AIrcraft interior black but it dried glossy. This paint should be a nice flat sheen. I was near the bottom of the bottle, so I don't know if the paint was going bad (it was pretty thick) or if I diluted it incorrectly. Fortunately, the gloss black appears to have dried as it is not tacky. I'll just need to mask it off and spray on a flat coat at the end of the build. Here's how it now looks prior to adding the decals: I am really happy with the way the different shades of silver look at this stage. I'll be sealing the decaled model using MM Metallizer Sealer, so hopefully it will not affect the look too much. Have fun modeling! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Prop Duster Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Thats HOT!.... an Bright Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted December 23, 2011 Author Share Posted December 23, 2011 I just might get my entry done by the end of the year! I was able to get the decals applied since I last posted. It now looks like a Mustang! After a clear coat over the decals and a flat coat over the antiglare panel and wheel bays in the next few days, I can start to finish this pony. Have fun modeling and a great holiday season! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oortiz10 Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 Mike, Looks great! I really like that stand/jig. Very cool. Cheers! -O Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted December 24, 2011 Author Share Posted December 24, 2011 Thanks O! I am glad you like this little commemorative scheme for that little town that lies to your south. :D That jig has proven it's weight in gold over the years. A local model store sold them in various sizes years ago and I wished I had piicked up one or two more. Sadly, they are no longer in business. Have fun modeling! Mike Mike, Looks great! I really like that stand/jig. Very cool. Cheers! -O Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Prop Duster Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 great job Mike I agree you stand-jig looks like a big helping 3d hand Merry Christmas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted December 30, 2011 Author Share Posted December 30, 2011 (edited) Wahoo, I managed to finish my Mustang before the end of the build! My average completion rate for GBs is not the greatest, so I am always happy when I actually make a deadline! Here's my completed P-51D "City of San Diego". I have done some light weathering after I postd the last series of photos to reflect some slight wear on this aircraft as seen in a fe low quality photos I have. I am really happy with my first use of pre-painted PE for the coskpit, so this first photo does not have the canopy to show it off a bit. Here's a walk around of the completed model. I will also post these shots in the completed builds section. Thanks to everyone for the participation in the Mustang GB. I learned a lot about the Mustang throught the many great builds here and defintely plan on doing a few more P-51s in the future. Have fun modeling! Mike Edited May 30, 2012 by Mike J. Idacavage Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Doppel Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I like it! You've also answered a question I no longer need to ask with your NMF colouring. Regards Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike J. Idacavage Posted December 31, 2011 Author Share Posted December 31, 2011 Andrew Glad you liked my build! This Mustang managed to make use of most of my usual NMF tools in my arsenal - Alclad polished aluminum over glass black for the spinner, several shades of Alclad over polished Mr. Surfacer (gray) for the body and Floquil Old Silver for the aluminum paint on the wings. And all overcoated (with the exception of the spinner) with Metallizer Sealer. Eazy Peazy! Have fun modeling! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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