Jump to content

Tamiya P-51B Betty Jane


Recommended Posts

FIrst post here...great site and lots of great modeling. I just got back in to modeling last summer after about a 30 year hiatus. I've built a couple models to get warmed back up, figuring out the new paints and airbrushing. Things have changed a lot! The Mustang has always been my favorite subject and there are plenty to do. The first is Betty Jane, and an homage to Charles McCorkle. The Tamiya B is one of the nicest kits I've ever put together...miles above the old Monogram kits. Eduard makes a beautiful photo etch package and Ultracast makes great tail feathers. The finish will be Alclad metal colors and Tamiya paints. The Alclad is also miles above the old Model Master buffing metalizers...and I really liked those years ago. I made a big mistake of spraying the Alclad Micro filler on first...thinking it was a normal primer. After about 30 cue tips and some Tamiya polish it buffed out beautifully. More soon. Jim Harley

 

46976983311_e46bee27fb_n.jpg0_0_4516_3516 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

33101368538_84e9c62f0e_n.jpgIMG_5372 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

33101371348_135cbd52bf_n.jpgIMG_1738 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

33101370548_2a940be600_n.jpgIMG_1743 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

46976984201_40341995fc_n.jpgIMG_1846 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

33101369488_4f130a1a0d_n.jpgIMG_3739 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

Edited by jimharley
Link to post
Share on other sites

One more for the night, after polishing out the micro filler I sprayed on a coat of Alclad gloss black primer, awesome stuff. Once it is dry I'll start the metal colors. 

 

Jim

 

33101369208_e5da5ebd39_n.jpgIMG_3743 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

33101368878_4725a6ee78_n.jpgIMG_3802 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

 

as an aside, my obsession with the Mustang runs deep, a few years ago a friend gave me copies of all the North American drawings for the P-51. There are over 20,000 drawings...no exaggeration. I made a couple full scale skins for the hangar and have a few more planned. I used .08 aluminum per the original, and aged them to look like they were drilled off the airframe. Big Beautiful Doll, Turnip Termite, and a few others are planned. 

 

46252853734_102318d8e5_n.jpgSalempanel by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

46252853794_f3c1cd7ef7_n.jpgPetiepanel by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

Edited by jimharley
Link to post
Share on other sites

A few more of the build process I finally organized. The floor was made from heavy paper and airbrushed flat black. I used acrylics to simulate the wear marks around the rudder pedals...kind of a wood grain look.  The rest is pretty straight forward, added some wires around the antenna, filled the wing joints and moved the trim tabs to give the look after just landing...up elevator trim and right rudder trim. 

 

33108140988_81b0be8bd7_n.jpgIMG_1858 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

33108140348_9e8284bf2e_n.jpgIMG_1864 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

33108139728_9d7a1e584c_n.jpgIMG_2035 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

33108138888_5541bfb8e1_n.jpgIMG_2141 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

33108138728_94dbab961a_n.jpgIMG_2144 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

33108139188_0b76601b97_n.jpgIMG_2077 by Jim Harley, on Flickr

Link to post
Share on other sites
On 2/3/2019 at 9:39 PM, jimharley said:

as an aside, my obsession with the Mustang runs deep, a few years ago a friend gave me copies of all the North American drawings for the P-51. There are over 20,000 drawings...no exaggeration. I made a couple full scale skins for the hangar and have a few more planned. I used .08 aluminum per the original, and aged them to look like they were drilled off the airframe. Big Beautiful Doll, Turnip Termite, and a few others are planned. 

 

46252853734_102318d8e5_n.jpgSalempanel by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

46252853794_f3c1cd7ef7_n.jpgPetiepanel by Jim Harley, on Flickr

 

I think you may have a small niche market for those panels!! A suitable market found could help fund your resurrected your hobby!

Maybe even customize it to include modern ac for mbrs leaving the Unit or Retiring!

 

Cheers

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Steve and Alien! Glad to be back and having fun. I'm waiting on a shipment of Alclad Duraluminum and stainless to proceed on the model...should be here Monday. I bought airframe aluminum thinking it would be a good base but it is way too dark.  The panels are something that I have wanted to do for a while and finally found the time. I posted similar pics on the Mustang facebook page and found several people that are interested in them. The issue is shipping, they are 71" long by 26" deep...UPS and Fed Ex can do it but they are expensive...the other option is Greyhound or freight which I haven't looked in to yet.  I think there is a market for them, and others, just need to find the right outlet. I also have the drawings for the P-40 and I'd love to do some Flying Tiger panels eventually...rivets and all. The Mustang is by far the easiest as it is just a slab of aluminum and time for layout and paint. I've got a few more B's in the stash and one will be Salem.  More soon...or at least Monday!

 

Best, 

Jim

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...