1/48 Tamiya P-51D...Quick build...RIGHT!

[Dave Hill]

I had so much fun with my Tamiya P-51 for the GB I decided to do another one...this time I wanted to build a “never was†so to speak...I wanted authentic unit colors and markings but create my own name and nose art for the aircraft. I chose the markings the 362nd FS 357th FG using aircraft code “T†for my bird. The 362nd used every letter in the alphabet many times but the letter “T†was only used twice on P-51's. The plane’s tail number is fictitious also and when broken up...4-1-22-5-8... the numbers correspond to a letter in the alphabet spelling my name. Although the plane never existed it was a very fun build.

Meant as a quick OOB build for fun and a test bed for some mask/paint techniques I found myself adding Eduard's Zoom p/e for the pit...scratch building correct P-51 wheel bays...brake lines for the main gear...brass tubing for the gun barrels...plumbing for the drop tanks...and some custom decals.

I didn't go to great lengths to detail the bays as I intended to mount the clamshell doors only slightly drooped.

Next I wanted to try my hand at painting on some of the markings...I started with the checkerboard nose band by laying Tamiya tape over the kit decal making a mask and I was shocked at how well the checkers turned out because I've never done it before. After her successful nose job came the unit and plane codes...as before I made masks using Tamiya tape and the kit decals...attempts at making a mask for the Stars and Bars failed so I just used decals.

I finished the model with a light wash and the "Aces-N-Eights" custom decal made for me by Keith Davidson at Red Pegasus Decals and Stars and Bars from an EagleStrike decal sheet.

More pics will be in the Finished builds section.

Dave

Edited September 22, 2011 by Dave Hill