After completing my AC-130H, I wanted to move on and start on Airfix’s 1/48 P-51D as an aircraft with the 100thFS/332 Fighter Group Tuskegee Airman using Warbird Decals.
Pretty enjoyable build, it seems like it builds up as you work in one section and then paint, while building in another section and then going back to the first section. So far it is coming along well, but then considering the last build… ![]()
Looking good so far, keep us updated.
Cockpit area is coming along, preparing to close up the fuselage. Pilot is painted but I am still getting the hang of painting faces. 1/48 is still not the easiest to do detailed faces. Well, for me anyways.
Wings are also built.
Cockpit and pilot
Outstanding progress thus far! Keep the pics coming.
Some more in process images. I had o change how I am going to display the model in flight, so I had to some cutting. I have the wire going through the canopy and will atta
ch at the end of the build
Some more color added to the build. Plan so far is to do the yellow and the red prior tot he NMF. Somewhat backwards, but I saw this on another build and wanted to give it a try. I always have issues with painting yellow so I had to sand down the bottom of the wing and redo the top of the wing. Once done I will block on the sections to remain yellow and hit everything else with black primer and then main color.
So I went ahead and paint the model the base color. One wing is missing the yellow stripe due to having to strip it multiple times since I hate airbrushing yellow and it is causing me fits. Hopefully with the NMF down, I can seal the model and work on it again later after a break.
Propellers and drop tanks are just about done, just need to do a some touch up on a couple of the blades.
Hopefully once I remove the tape, the will just need to be some minor touch ups.
So I went ahead and did the rest of the yellow stripes and touched up the red on parts of the tail. Again as with dealing with your own build, you can see the mistakes and issues, yet I am proud of were it is at. Considering painting yellow is my weakest skill and I learned how to feather the edges of where I strip primer to blend the fixes easier.
So most of the detail painting is complete and I am prepping to spray Future in preparation for the decals.
The identification lights were covered up with Vallejo’s masking agent, but it can eb a pain to remove cleanly. Will have to do another pass.
I am debating on fixing any of the small smaller spots after the decaling phase or just leaving as it. Any thoughts?
Okay, so I started applying the decals. The aircraft markings are from Warbird Decals. They look nice, until they came into contact with water. They started to disintegrate on the backing. Thankfully there were extras, yet I still ran into issues.
Good looking Mustang! Natural metal finish can be so unforgiving.
Your Mustang is really shappig up and I especially like how the NMF looks!
Happy Modeling,
Mike
Decal along the nose was removed and painted red. Will need to fix were some of the lettering has come off. Even thought it has been covered with Future it is still coming off. ![]()
Stencils for the top and bottom are on, just now focusing on the sides and then I will remove the tape from the canopy and attach the radio wire. That should be it.
And they say that this is supposed to a a relaxing hobby?
Ugh I too have been down that road more than I’d like to admit!
Even though there were some setbacks, you continued on and the Stang is really shaping up!
Happy Modeling,
Mike
I am calling this one done and int he books. Very happy (and surprised) with canopy due to the fact I used superglue on the inside and I was still thinking it was going to fog even with all of the Future I applied. This is the first time using anything to recreate the radio wire for a plane. Unknown if I will do so again. A lot of ups and downs (as documented), but overall I am happy with how it turned out. Getting incrementally better and on that note, here are the pics.
All the effort was worth it! Really nice result on a difficult subject, and a lovely tribute.
Thank you, very much appreciated.
One of the most colorful Mustangs I’ve ever seen. Really nice job!!






































































































