I’ve started Hasegawa’s 1/48 P-51D with Eduard’s beautiful PE set # 48 339. There are some really nice detail parts that add a lot to Hasegawa’s kit. This kit was issued in '98, with Aeromaster decals for the “Checkertail Clan.” I will be building her as “Double Nothin,” using Alcad II paints.
The cockpit is just about ready to receive a couple coats of Future in preparation for a wash. I need a little touch-up here & there. I added the cockpit lights from micro solder & stretched sprue.
There is some white glue on the fuselage half that I haven’t removed yet. I tacked the cockpit in place to position some parts. I just hope I remember to remove it before I get out the Future ! [D)] The canopy rails are very nice. They have the perforations that are seen from the outside of the aircraft.
I added tie-down rings from copper wire before realizing that there are PE items for these. Oh. well. The wire looks better to me than the flat PE rings.
The tailwheel doors are also PE, with a smaller inner and larger outer part. These need to be aligned carefully, or they’ll look odd.
The tires are painted Color of Eagles Tire Black, and the hubs are Model Master Metalizer Steel, applied with a brush. Despite what the bottle says, you CAN apply this paint to small areas with a brush.
As usual, great work. How in the world do you do so many kits so quickly; you are a machine!
Thanks for sharing, and I look forward to more posts.
LEon
Bill… they say there’s about 280 P-51s which still exist today, but you probably have more than that hanging over your head and parked on the shelves around you! [:D] The cockpit is looking terrific, as all your work does, and I’m sure this will be another masterpiece, thanks for sharing it!!
If they gave out stars for determination, here’s what your headers would look like:
Thanks saltydog, fightnjoe, newtothegame, & Frank !
I have a lot of time to build, so I add them to the collection pretty rapidly. I also like to start new ones wile I’m working on others. This way, I can still work on a kit while something is drying or curing. The thought of being away from the bench for two solid days while the paint cures if frightening !
Frank - (that ranking is PRICELESS ! - THANKS !) I’ve got somewhere around 100 displayed, and another 200 or so that got damaged the last time I moved. It’s too painful to look at them to fix them, but I can’t get rid of them, either.
I’ve also got another one that I’ve started, but thought it too early to post pics yet. You made me change my mind !
This is Eduard’s 1/48 P-39 Profi Pack in its embryonic stages. There’s only two day’s work here, while the P-51 has three days.
I did something a little differently this time. Only the sidewalls are airbrushed, the rest is hand-brushed. I’ve REALLY gotta do something about that sanding dust. It’s probably the result of having multiple builds going at the same time.
Excellent stuff Pix… next to the Tuskegee schemes, the Checkertails are my second favorite scheme for the Ponies… and I am really looking forward to seeing your Airacobra take form… having just built the non-Profipack -Q.
Rick - the toughest part of using this Eduard set so far has been removing the molded-on belts from the concave seat pan, and attaching the rudder pedals to the bar after removing the kit pedals. I also added a thin piece of sheet styrene behind the map case for depth.
onyan - the P-39 will be a U.S. bird. The pit is painted bronze green, which Bell Aircraft used. I’ve also seen pics of P-39s with black cockpits, but I’d lose the PE detail using such a dark color.
Jeeves - I’ll edit this to include a pic of the box art that shows the one I’m doing.
if so, i sure hope someone comes out for decals for her. i know the owner well. boy does he keep her clean. you could eat your food right off her wing!
Pix ???..have you, Joe and Chris started a secret group build ?..lol
more wow…love your detail work…
somewhere among some stored stuff i’ve a neat hard cover book on the Checker Tail Clan…have you seen it ?
Thanks for sharing your inspiring work…
was browsing the Mustang museum sights and found this…
