Hasegawa P-51: Progress Pics

Hey guys, new to the forum. Nice setup here. I started this awhile back that almost ended not getting finish. Spilled some thinner on the model[:(!] that required quite a bit of sanding just to get back to a surface that I could paint. That pretty much just left a smooth surface and I lost all of the surface detail. But Im giong to finish it anyway, just mainly useing it as a test model now. Im learning so many new techniques that its making my head spin. Anyways, I wanted to try out some polished aluminum from Alclad. Anyways, time for pics right, here ya go.

This is the Grand Phoenix cockpit 1/32 scale. Had alot of nice detail and I added a little photo etch stuff.

Various shades of Alclad

My first attempt at adding some brake lines.

Well, there ya go, hope you enjoy[:)] Should be puting on decals in the near future. I am making this one to represent Big Beautiful Doll. Hope it comes out nice.

Welcome to the forum. You don’t have to worry about it turning out nice… it already is. Well done.

very nice!!i can tell she’s gonna be one colorful bird when ya finish! i got the same doll in revell 1/48 . your build is starting as it should, flawless!![:D]welcome to the forum!! thanks for posting!![:D][:D]

Very nice Pony plane. One question, how was the fit of the AM cockpit?, I’m waiting for the release of Dragon’s 1/32 P-51D myself tho, just curious about the pit.

Thanks for the kind words but the model is anything but flawless. I have the seam in the wing that I could just not get rid off. I dont know, maybey after my little accident I just gave up on the plane in general and just wanted to throw some paint on it and be done with it. But I guess thats how we get better, learn from our mistakes.

The cockpit was not that bad. A little sanding here and there, with a lot of test fitting. I would deffenitly build another cockpit. I am also waiting for the release of that model as well. I had too many fit issues with this model come to think of it that I do not know that I would build this plane again.

[#ditto]

Bud

GReat work on the cockpit, but the polished aluminum finish outshines everything else you’ve done. No pun intended. The finish turned out great. I hope my next BMF attempt looks relatively close to as nice as yours.

I hear that m8 i built it when it was 1st released, crappy model imo.

Looking good so far. Keep us posted.

Regards, Rick

Looking good so far!

Thanks for all the great comments guys. The checker decals for the nose went on horrible and they started to crack and tear. I could not find any after market decals for the plane so I had to order the same kit to get the decals and try it all over. Im going to scan this second set and try to make may own. Thanks again guys. Will keep you posted.

Did a little work on my props while I wait for my decals to show up.

Maybey I can get the decals on this weekend. Going to scan the ones I got and play around with making extras.

Looking good! I’m actually working on the exact same model. I’m using pretty much the stock cockpit but I am using Waldron placards and other details in it as well. I’m going to scratch build the seat. I only hope the NMF finish turns out as well as yours. In the mean time I’m scratchbuilding the details in the wheel wells and the gun bays thanks to the reference phots in Bert Kinzey’s D & S book on the Mustang.

You had mentioned the lack of aftermarket decals. You’re sort of right about that. I’m using some Super Scale decals but 1/32 scale P-51 decal options are few and far between. That is a shame because there were so many colorful and interesting P-51s and yet you can’t recreate them due to the fact that there are so few aftermarket offerings for this kit.

I don’t think this is a bad kit at all. If you’re expecting the ol’ Tamiya shake-n-bake then you’ll be disappointed. However, it’s no worse than any other kit out there. You just need to use your modeling skills.

Eric

That’s really nice looking- excellent job on the cockpit. I can’t wait to see how that turns out!

What really gets me is that I can not find one single aftermarket decal in either 48th or 32nd for Big Beautiful Doll. I would surely thought that this would be easy to find being that the paint scheme was one of the best looking in my opinion.

I wonder if it would be possible to take a decal sheet, say a 1/48 scale aftermarket set, and blow it up to a 1/32 scale and then print them out on something like an Alps printer. Has anyone ever tried that?

Eric

There have been 1/48 AM decals released for BBD from Aeromaster & Super Scale to name two. Problem is they are now OOP & hard to find unless you get lucky at a Show or on eBay. Don’t know of any in 1/32 though.

Regards, Rick

I had to reorder the kit to get those decals I needed to finish the bird. I took those decals and played around with making extras and trying to scale them down. [banghead] this is going to be some tough work. They are on a blue background, so I have to use my paint program(I use paint shop pro9) and use its features to remove the blue so it will not be printed out. Jees, I just wish I could find the decals.

great bird

Well, I got some decals going on the ole bird. Those checkers were a pain in the butt. I love that reflection comeing off the wing. Don’t mind the seam[:slight_smile:] in the wing. One model at a time so I am learning. You can see the silvering of the decals, I have not sealed them yet with future. Hope to get that taken care by tomorrow.