Curt B Posted December 1, 2019 Share Posted December 1, 2019 Hi All, At some point, I'd like to try my hand at one of the 'big gun' 1/32 scale Tamiya airplanes. I wouldn't want to build more than one, primarily due to space available to display them once completed, so I've ben pondering either one of the 1/32 Spitfires (probably the IXc) or one of the P-51Ds. I love both of those airplanes, so it would be a difficult choice to make. That said, is there a reason to pick the Spitfire over the P-51 (or the reverse) based on the kits themselves (that is, is one of them 'better' than the other, in any category [fit, accuracy, engineering]) or are they equally good? I really want to get one of them. Thoughts, opinions? Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 Really comes down to which aircraft floats your boat. Quality wise, they are equals. I’m building the Mustang right now. Magnificent kit but compared to their later Corsairs, it’s a bit more gimmicky with movable control surfaces, retractable landing gear etc. if it helps, there is a boatload of aftermarket stuff (hundreds of decals, lots of resin, etc) for the Mustang, less for the Spit. If if you can’t decide, flip a coin. You’ll be happy either way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DONG Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 Agree with John flip a coin. Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted December 2, 2019 Author Share Posted December 2, 2019 I kind of figured that the answers you have given me would be the answers I’d get. However, I wanted to ask, in case I may have missed something. I really appreciate you all taking the time you did to give me your thoughts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K5054NZ Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 If it helps your decision in anyway, I've read an F-51D boxing is on the way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 1 hour ago, K5054NZ said: If it helps your decision in anyway, I've read an F-51D boxing is on the way. Of course it is. I’m midway through building an F-51, so why wouldn’t they release one? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Helmsman Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 I'd say both. Don't waste a flip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted December 3, 2019 Author Share Posted December 3, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Helmsman said: I'd say both. Don't waste a flip. Now THERE'S an option! I just wish I had the room! Edited December 3, 2019 by Curt B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Helmsman Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 Last time I checked they fit into Detolf case which in turn can be easily doubled in capacity. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted December 4, 2019 Author Share Posted December 4, 2019 2 hours ago, Helmsman said: Last time I checked they fit into Detolf case which in turn can be easily doubled in capacity. LOL, it's not about having room to buy the model(s) and get them back to the house, rather, it's how to find places to display them once the airplanes are complete! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Helmsman Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Curt B said: it's how to find places to display them once the airplanes are complete! This is what I was talking about. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/detolf-glass-door-cabinet-black-brown-10119206/ Edited December 4, 2019 by Helmsman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted December 4, 2019 Author Share Posted December 4, 2019 (edited) Ahhhhh, I see! That cabinet would be great to display bigger airplanes, for sure!. Thanks for clarifying! Edited December 4, 2019 by Curt B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 That case will support a Mustang. I used to have my 1/32 Tamiya on the bottom shelf. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Helmsman Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, Curt B said: Ahhhhh, I see! That cabinet would be great to display bigger airplanes, for sure!. Thanks for clarifying! Well, it is not that big. 1/48 Flanker or MiG-25/31 don't fit, but most 1/32 WW 2 fighters do. It can hold 2 smaller 1/48 jets on a single shelf like Kfir and Draken or couple of M346/Yak-130. Large 1/32 jets can be placed on top, there is enough space even for 1/32 Flanker. Edited December 4, 2019 by Helmsman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted December 4, 2019 Author Share Posted December 4, 2019 (edited) Oh wow, cool! My wife is gracious enough to let me have one of the glass doored cabinets in our entertainment center to put models in, and thus far, I’ve only put 1/35 tanks and 1/48 single seat WWII fighters in there, but the Ikea cabinet would be great for the planes you have all mentioned... and I think I have a spot for the cabinet! Edited December 6, 2019 by Curt B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 On 12/2/2019 at 3:39 PM, K5054NZ said: If it helps your decision in anyway, I've read an F-51D boxing is on the way. I’d be very interested to know where you read that. Can you link to your source? Thanks, Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnEB Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 (edited) At the risk of being far too practical, ask yourself which model you'd do a better job building. If you go with the D-Mustang, ask yourself how good you are doing metal finishes (since most D's are NMF). If you're better or more comfortable with paint finishes, go with the Spitfire. As you say, they are large models when finished, so put your best foot forward. If you're equally good with both NMF and camo...you're back where you started. 🙂 Edited December 6, 2019 by JohnEB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K5054NZ Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 9 hours ago, Falconxlvi said: I’d be very interested to know where you read that. Can you link to your source? Thanks, Steve No problem Steve! https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235064206-new-tamiya-mustang-132/ https://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=TA 60328 https://tamiyablog.com/2019/12/some-upcoming-2020-tamiya-releases/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tourist Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 I would say get the one you can get the better deal on first. Let's say it's the Spitfire, buy it, fall in love with it, then... buy the Mustang, fall in love with it, then... get the Corsair etc... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted December 6, 2019 Author Share Posted December 6, 2019 19 hours ago, JohnEB said: At the risk of being far too practical, ask yourself which model you'd do a better job building. If you go with the D-Mustang, ask yourself how good you are doing metal finishes (since most D's are NMF). If you're better or more comfortable with paint finishes, go with the Spitfire.I As you say, they are large models when finished, so our your best do it forward. If you're equally good with both NMF and camo...you're back where you started. 🙂 Great thoughts, John, thanks. At this point, I'm an NMF newbie, so perhaps the Spitfire WOULD be a better choice...at least to start. I know I could do research myself, but in a short synopsis, what are the differences between a WWII P-51D and a Korean war F-51? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnEB Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 As I recall the main difference was by Korea, the Mustangs had their tail wheels fixed and not retractable....so I believe they didn't have doors. Likely different antennas too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted December 7, 2019 Share Posted December 7, 2019 2 hours ago, JohnEB said: As I recall the main difference was by Korea, the Mustangs had their tail wheels fixed and not retractable....so I believe they didn't have doors. Likely different antennas too. I’ve seen a few with fixed tail wheels, but also some with the normal tail wheel doors, so it might be an added option in the kit. My read on the main differences is that many had uncuffed HamStand props, and rocket rail stubs under the wings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 7, 2019 Share Posted December 7, 2019 2 hours ago, Dave Williams said: I’ve seen a few with fixed tail wheels, but also some with the normal tail wheel doors, so it might be an added option in the kit. My read on the main differences is that many had uncuffed HamStand props, and rocket rail stubs under the wings. In addition to those mods, they had a wide range of radios behind the pilot, many also had been retrofitted with cooling vents on the fuselage sides, above the radiator intake. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast Posted December 7, 2019 Share Posted December 7, 2019 An F-51 with retracting tail-wheel was most likely one stationed in the Far East when the war started. Those taken from boneyards and refurbished will have had the tail wheels fixed in place and doors removed. As for differences, not many. Refurbs differed in the fixed tail wheel mentioned above, cuffless HS props, black cockpits, different radio(s), and possibly puttyless wings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 17 hours ago, Slartibartfast said: An F-51 with retracting tail-wheel was most likely one stationed in the Far East when the war started. Those taken from boneyards and refurbished will have had the tail wheels fixed in place and doors removed. As for differences, not many. Refurbs differed in the fixed tail wheel mentioned above, cuffless HS props, black cockpits, different radio(s), and possibly puttyless wings. Just as a point of clarification, the vast majority of Mustangs in Korea didn't come from storage yards, they were stripped from state-side National Guard units. These are the ones that exhibit most of the modifications you listed (and also most had the fuselage radiator vents that you didn't mention). For a very early war F-51, those aircraft appear to be almost WW2 stock D-25's and D-30's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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