Here are some of the pics I took at the 8th AF Museum last week. I had a hard time focusing on the Mustang as the camera focus bounced off the Stearman next to it. Tried to get some tail and rudder pics, most did not take. Of course cockpit pics were not possible. Some pics of the Rolls Royce and the Allison sitting on the floor. Got dozens of nice pics of the B17 and the Bf109 there too.
Cheers,
Bob
I got some closeups of Erickson’s P51D tail and flaps and gear bays that I sent MC. If you need them, just holler and I’ll email.
Paul- with the 1/24th horse, if you haven’t already, might cross over with the going big GB going on now as well.
Nice belly pics Radial.
Goldhammer’s pics are epic as well.
This is the only museum 51 pic I have. I got it at Boeing’s Air and Space museum outside of Seattle. I have a TON of other aircraft including some sweet WW1 stuff.
Caproni Ca 20, S.E.5, Sopwith Triplane, Camel, Fokker Eindecker, Dr1, DVII, Albatross, Newport 27, Spad, P-47,38, 40, F4U, Yak, Ki-84, Spit, 109E, and that’s only the WWI and II subjects.
Last time I was up at Boeing was before they put up the big building, what, must be close to 25-30 years ago. Got to take a w/e and run up there again…sometime. Only about 250 miles from here.
There’s some good stuff going on here! Itching to get started on mine, but have a couple of builds to get out of the way first.
No worries Lewbud. You still have 15 months to get something done.
Just thought I’d drop in for a bit and see how everything is coming along. Looks like everyone is doing some fantastic builds. I’m still waiting on my -51B to arrive so I can get started. I’ve got the decals for the Boise Bee. You know how life can get in the way at times and with work I’ve been out and traveling quite a bit lately.
I figured I would peek in here. Great stuff folks…some I’ve seen already. Got room for me? Well here I am here with my Tamiya P-51B. I’m doing a subject I’ve always wanted to do, Ralph “Kid” Hofer’s Salem Representative from the 4th FG. Hofer was reportedly sort of a Maverick and not particularly fond of discipline. You’ll have that. I don’t think he was one of Don Blakeslee favorites, however, Hofer was also one of the top strafers in the 8th AF and would amass 15 kills before being KIA on June 26th 1944. Here is my trubute to Hofer’s P-51B Serial # 42-106924.
I’m starting with Tamiya’s excellent P-51B. I grabbed an Eduard PE set for the cockpit and Ultracast tires.
The cockpit was my starting point. The Tamiya 'pit is passable, better than their D, but not great. I normally replace it but this time I wanted to see if I could get away with using a bit of color PE. I used Gunze Aqueous Interior Green which I thibk is dead on Also, Merlin Mustangs had a flat floor and the kit’s is curved. I didn’t feel like fixing it, so I painted it XF-49 Khaki and added Tamiya Clear Orange over it to make it look like wood. Truthfully, once assembled, the seat hides the curve so no big whoop here. I added the PE seatbelts and used the PE instruments. I thought Eduard did a nice job here and even added the belt stitching. I also added some wiring around the battery to spice it up a bit. Rather than rehash my whole cockpit process, check out my Dauntless build for an actual tutorial:
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/160714.aspx
The best part of out of the box parts…everything fits like a glove…
A test fit…I don’t forsee issues…
Joe
Oooo Very Nice Joe!!!
Beautiful start Joe! Great to have you aboard. Looking forward to seeing more of this one!
-Andy
Joe, once again, outstanding work. Glad your here. I’m fumbling around with my first PE set. Only lost two parts in the first day!. What great inspiration your pics are. Thanks!!
I got you down Doug,
WOW that looks fantastic. I can’t even get 1/32 to look that good. You’r really starting off with a bang.
Steve
Very wicked Joe!! Amazing start!!
I can do this- Phantom Mustang. So far I’ve only built the base, then shelved it.
GMorrison -
Welcome! I just built the Phantom Mustang, and it’s a fun build. A little more difficult to photograph, is all 
-BD-
OK Gentlemen… First newbie question and request for advise. I’m replacing the fuselage wall with a True Details cockpit wall. Smoothed out existing wall just fine. When dry fitting I see a raised section above the canopy wall about 1/16th high and about 3/4 in length.
Should I…A) sand flush from the inside and place the new wall so it adds to the existing raised piece that rises above the canopy wall…B) completely remove kit section and place new wall so it completely replaces existing raised kit section.
Choice A will make the stock kit raised piece double in width. Choice B will leave it the same with but in effect move it to the inside of the fuselage from its existing position.
Choice C: Does it matter?
Thanks!
Bob
Radial9,
Personally, I’d go with plan B, however, not really seeing what you do, someone else may come up with a better solution.
GMorrison,
I got you down for a Phantom. I built one of those when I was a wee lad…about 10 years after it originally came out.
Let me know if I have the correct box art on page one.
Steve
Bob,
I put the True Details cockpit in my D. I have some photos that I need to post. If I remember, I totally sanded off all original cockpit sidewall detail and did not have a raise lip like you have.
Steve
A prop this big (5 1/2 inches) needs to be motorised…luckily I have plenty of electric motors ! The Packard engine is a little work of art in itself. I think I might build a display stand for it, even if I don’t use it on this build.
Over 5" prop? You could put some micro servos in it and make it an RC [;)]
