For those of you with too much idle time on their hands, you can follow ModelNerd’s latest aircraft project, step-by-step (roughly!): the Hasegawa P-51D Mustang in 1:48 scale. Yes, watch the drama unfold right before your very eyes, as we take a box of plastic and shape, mold, massage, and occasionally hammer it to become a thing of beauty, poise and grace! See the first segment at: http://www.vairhead.com/nerd Please keep in mind, I make no claims as a “pro” modeler, but hopefully, some techniques that will be shown might help the novice produce at least semi-pro results (as if another tutorial was actually needed in this forum!). If it’s either helpful or interesting to anyone, lemme know and I’ll post further segments as the project progresses.
Reminds me of an article I wrote for the club newsletter sometime back entitled 'The Thirty-Year Thunderbolt. Who said modeling articles had to be straight and serious?
Lookin’ groovy so far…
Fade to Black…
Looking good MN. I like the article and the pics. I’m also jealous as hell of your score on the good kits for the good prices. Keep putting pages up, I love a buildup.
I love it! Will be adding that to my links page at the next up-date.
I’m still reeling myself. And I especially smile when I look at the Tamiya Avro Lancaster and Betty Bomber, and the Accurate Miniatures Mitchell for a mere $8 each. Unreal.
I laughed[(-D]…
I cried[:(]…
I put your link in my favorites list!
Who said you can’t be educational and side splittingly funny![:P]
You are having entirely too much fun with this. Love it. Added to my Favorites.
ModelNerd hi,[:)]
firstly, amusing intro to your builds 
purely by coincidence, the 1/48 p-51d was what i bought my girlfriend for xmas, in an attempt to get her “become one of us”!![:p][}:)]
so now i’ve seen this step-by-step ‘mini group build’, maybe she’ll swing into action!![:)][:)][:)]
in the next few days i’ll try to post a progress report - like whether she’s going to do it or not! [:p] - as she doesn’t have her own log in, but when she does i’ll make sure to give you the heads up.
by the way, how are you going to do the stripes? i’ve done a d-day spit[8D], and air-brushed them using masks etc…bit of a pain but it got the desired effect.
look forward to further progress reports…
cool 'bolt by the way!![8D][8D][8D]
regards,
nick
Eeesh… y’know, I really haven’t quite decided how the D-Day stripes will go on. I may try the decals provided with the kit. But I’d prefer to mask and airbrush them on, however masking over silver is a tricky proposition. If I use masking tape with sufficient adhesion (green or blue), it “mottles” the silver areas it was stuck to, once I remove it. If I go with “low tack” masking tape, it won’t harm the silver, but it won’t stick sufficiently to maintain a clean line, either! If I clearcoat it first, occasionally the tape will lift the clearcoat. Dang! This is why I dread buildin’ “bare metal” planes! Same thing happened when I did the Jug’s red scheme on the nose. Perhaps I’ll paint the stripes on, then mask the stripes when dry, and re-shoot the silver. Hoo-boy, time to switch hobbies, eh? Maybe stamp collecting? Oh well, as soon as I get it right, you’ll see it on my website, for sure. Thanx for the kind words-
Can’t wait for the next installment. Hurry up already! I love the Stang!
Nice work on that interior btw.
ModelNerd hi[:)],
for your info, i’ve never had any under/over-adhesion issues with tamiya masking tape (handy as comes in multiple sizes)…hope that helps.
what paint will you use? i used tamiya titanium silver (or whatever colour number they recommended…can’t remember![:p]) last time and that masked ok when i had to paint the cowling blue …
regards,
nick
Ooohh, ModelNerd almighty [bow]
Ehm… Hi![:D]
Really enjoyed your website! Can’t wait for the update, so pleeaasee hurry up [:D]
Don’t have the room and time just now to build myself, so I read all can instead, picking up some advice here and there, and buy the decals that I might in the future. Getting more and more eager to start again.
Keep up the excellent work mate.
So Tamiya makes a masking tape, eh? Didn’t know! Just shows you just how much of a cave dweller I am! I must have some! I’ll report the results asap.
For silver paint, I am using Testors Metallic Silver (#1246) Enamel, as I am not yet comfortable with acrylics. I had considered their Chrome Silver, but early tests revealed it to be a bit to, well, chrom-y. Why not a buffing metalizer laquer, you ask? Simple! You just better forget any notions of masking tape sticking to this stuff, even after buffing! Even after clearcoating!! The prior Jug project taught me that. Sent me right into the fetal position, and then weeks of counseling. I got a neat (or maybe just stupid!) trick I use when using basic silver, which I will share in the next installment on the build.
Thank you kindly. But no homage required! We’re all in the same big boat, and headed for the rocks, in my case!
OK, forgive me, I can’t help it, I’m a stupid American, I just gotta ask: Do Scotsmen wear anything under those stylish kilts?
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OK, forgive me, I can’t help it, I’m a stupid American, I just gotta ask: Do Scotsmen wear anything under those stylish kilts?
[/quote]
A true Scotsman do NOT wear anything under the kilt.
I’ve tried the kilt twice and they’re really nice and warm
to wear. Still don’t think that they’re suitable for the Swedish
winter though, one I don’t living in Scotland is the[censored]
cold winter we have in Sweden, miss the snow though[:(]
Hmm, a kilt with nothing on underneath it, plus a Swedish winter equals shrinkage. I’d have to go with something a bit warmer I think.