Tamiya 1/48 North American Mustang cockpit improvements.

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Howdy folks,

The rivet counters immediately jumped squarely on my case after I purchased the old Tamiya Mustang kit.

Apparently its not worth trouble of assembling this kit unless I devote more money towards an aftermarket cockpit set.

Who makes the best set? I prefer to order from Sprue Brothers because they are fast and cheap, and Squadron if I have no other options.

Third choice is to actually model the things I require to improve the cockpit and I appreciate any advice anyone can give.

cheers.

2

Why not just build a model because you want to build it, and not because some rivet counters steer you away from it. I build kits I want because I want to.

3

Pretty much the thrust of my earlier statement, but after I did some research, it appears that if you put the pilot in it and obscure the curved floor and cockpit walls, you really cant see that much. I am not that anal about detail, because I agree, you should build because you enjoy, but part of me also likes improving kits too. I guess whatever I finish, I will be satisfied and thats enough for me. I saw where many OOB kits win awards on execution and finish alone, so I will stop whining about spending a mint on after market.

cheers.

4

there’s an older tooling of their 48scale stang?

5

well in terms of the first release some years ago, I recall the first review I read - hsfeatures.com/…/p51brf_1.htm

And then subsequent reviews and contests since.

6

True Details makes a fantastic cockpit for this kit, and its very detailed and cheap too. You can get it right here.

http://www.squadron.com/product-p/td48453.htm

I must caution you, read the following article before using it. You’ll be glad you did. This guy knows what he’s talking about.

modelingmadness.com/…/tmc51d.htm

Hope this helps a bit…

Joe

7

There’s very little that beats an Eduard pre-printed PE instrument panel for spicing up a cockpit.

If you’re going to drop a pilot in the seat, then that’s all the aftermarket that I’d add.

8

Usually I would agree, but the Eduard IP for the 1/48 Mustangs must be one of their older offerings, because it sucks.

Instead, I’ve found using Airscale’s individual gauge decals to be a great way to go with just the kit IP. That, a cheap P-51 placard set from Eduard, and an Ultracast seat can really do the cockpit up nicely without the hassles of fitting a resin pit without messing up the wing/fuselage join.

Here’s that combination on the P-51B I did last summer:

9

excellent work!

10

I study reference pics of the prototype and add what I want that can be seen to the kit office, making things from scratch.

Rivet counters. Seems people really do have less of a life than I could have imagined. I have yet to meet the one who can prove my builds have the proper curved or flat floor on the finished kit. Fug’em.

11

The rivet counters do not enjoy modelling because all they do is look for something wrong with a kit. I know someone who memorized all the FS numbers but has yet to show me his painted model.

12

I heartily agree with the idea of modelling rather than assembling for the sole purpose of “one-upmanship”. When I judge I look at the effort that went into the achievement as well as the “millions” of dollars in aftermarket PE too. I have built models for over thirty years and I can tell the difference between talent vs technical execution and I DO appreciate both. I believe a really well finished OTB takes just as much talent as an expensive build and captures more of my interest.