Can someone tell me what the difference between the two canopies, parts 42 and 43? they seem identical.
72nd scale BTW
I believe that would be for the 2 canopies that were used on the Mustang. One was cast, and the other was blown. The one known as the “Dallas” canopy, named for the plant in Dallas Texas that built the mustang, had a wee bit flatter profile than the canopies fitted to the ones built at the Inglewood CA. plant.
The best way to see the difference is absolutely eye level from the side.
I am not sure for this kit it could be a Dallas and regular canopy.
Thanks guys, one does seem ever so flatter… Maybe lol. This kit also has the option to put a fin forward if the tail. Which tail matches which canopy or is it more field specific to individual ac? Decals are sketchy looking but thrilled to have it going together so nicely.
I’d check refs. for the particular plane you’re building. You could have an either/or situation. The earlier “D” models didn’t have the filet added yet. And I believe filets were added in the field to some.
The Tamiya 1/32 P-51D came with THREE different canopies. One of them had a small bump at the top front where a rearview mirror was mounted, another had a barely noticeable bump top aft where an antenna wire from the top of the vertical stablizer came through on certain versions. You are right, it’s hard to tell the difference. I just used the one for the version I decided to build and threw the others in the spare box.
Thanks,
I picked up a decal sheet for the 352nd’s 357th Fighter Group awhile back that I’m going to use as the replacement markings. I hope those checkerbaords go on well.
Getting the nose right will be a task as well. Red Yellow Red. Think I should do the yellow, mask its middle band and spray the red or will that pigment the red too much?
All of the birds on the sheet have the fillet but no mention of the dallas hood. Guess I’ll google for the “Butch Baby.” It also mentions the common swap b/n USAAF and RAF green/grey camo depending on availability.
Also feel like I should mention that the kit has two types of drop tanks and a set of bombs. A lot of options for an old kit I bought for 6 bucks…
Here are some WIPs:
At this point things were going super.
I was thinking maybe this will go NMF!
Then…WHAMMY! the tail fin kicked my butt and is as crooked as a politician! This Stan Pilot is gonna need to keep some rudder!
Im going with RAF green over grey, Ill get some more pics up soon. Took several coats of MM RAF Green to saturate the Tamiya putty, definatly not makin not look better.
Next Dragon to slay will be the spinner, still trying to figure a way to get the red/yellow, red, straight.
I hope the checkerboard decals go well… More pics to follow eventually!
You do know that the vertical stab on the P-51 was angled slightly right to compensate for engine torque…
All the best
Ray