Thanks for the offer Bob, but I got plenty on hand myself.
"Q"

Oh! I forgot Matt you have your own LHS in the basement.

Bob

Something like that. Thanks, "Q"

Hi everyone. Just a quick update at where I am right now. Camo done and gloss coat applied. still need to do some detail painting before decals and weathering.



more later

Very nice progress Justin and Bruce , looking forward to seeing the markings go on them now .

Bruce, it looks like a 1944 picture from NA under the California sky only that item use for a cutting board is out of place . Nice job so far and as Terri states cannot wait for the finished photos.

Bob

Bruce,

What kind of NMF finish is on that one?

Mark, you wouldn't beleive me if I told you!

Just between you and I I have tried Metalizer and SNJ and BMFoil, but I always come back to...Testors Metalic Silver

Face it, it is it's own primer, sands easily, cover well, is easy to use and with some dry weathering ( pencils, inks and chalk) can be made to look very realistic.

This is "Little Sweetie 4" a Hasegawa kit I did about 10 years ago.



Later

Bruce, "Little Sweetie" is a seet build. I remember using Testors silver for many a build in the 60's, tried a rub n buff that veered me away from NMF a/c. After your photo I will give it a try again.

Bpb

I recall having a problem with Testors silver on a couple of builds. Been a long time (20 years) since I tried a NMF with it. Did score a bottle of Floquil's Old Silver for this build so I need to get to it.

Well I got some of mine done this weekend. My leg is still in a cast and broken so modelling is pretty much fits and starts at the moment hence lack of progress pics Glad I picked a Tamyia kit though nice and straightforward almost fell togther.

Good start Sam,Tamiya kits are great.

For this campaign I hope to do one of the prototypes, either NA-73X (the very first mustang) or a Mustang X (there were four british merlin engine testbeds with this moniker). But I am also considering doing a P-51H (not a prototype).

I very recently "finished" a P-51D (early) for the Aluminum campaign and thought I'd post a few pics here - I still need to add a few small details (like the antenna wire and gun sight) and maybe a little exhaust weathering.

A word to the wise that is relevant to this thread - the Aires P-51D gun bay aftermarket kit looks nice in the packaging, but is not particularly accurate - you'll have to replace or modify 75% of it if you suffer from Advanced Modelers Syndrome (which I assume you do if you are considering using the set in the first place). I wish I had either totally scratch-built the bays or just not opened them up at all rather than having tried to use the Aires kit.

Also note that both the Moskit and Ultracast aftermarket shroud-less exhausts were too inaccurate for me to deem acceptable to use - the exhaust tubes stick out too far and do not have enough sweep-back. I am rather pissed that i spent good $ on two sets of aftermarket exhaust sets, only to find that going with the kit parts was superior in almost every way. Hopefully the quickboost version of the shroudless exhausts are done better.

The subject is Maj. McWherter's "Hoo Flung Dung/City of Paris". Pictures posted here just for group inspiration. More info on the build in the Aluminum campaign thread. Note that I tried to replicate the silver doped fabric covered rudder and puttied/silver laquer coated laminar flow wings with tamiya's "silver leaf" covered with Tamiya clear, while the rest of the A/C is done with Alclad paints

I'm inspired, it's time to get to the paint shop and get the interior painted......

good looking bird van...

Nice a/c Vance and I would like to see the NA-73X. I do not remember the X a/c were they the first merlin test beds with those funny looking noses? Either way cant wait to see you do your stuff with the plastic and knife.

Bob

What are you going to start with for the NA-73X?

Guess I should post some progress since I'm still waiting for dry transfers from Hobby decal not on my favorites list right now
I weighted the wheels and ran plumbing for drop tanks.....

Justin, you are just too fast for Hobby Decal and the postman. BTW that fuel tank is just the bees knees and how did you flatten the tire with melting the surrounding tread, it looks great.

Bob

With a BIC lighter and a good eye

Well that is two strikes against me, no lighter or a good eye.

Bob

I use a sauce pan with about a 1/4" of water in it, maybe less for smaller scales.
Get it to a simmer
then grab the wheel in some pliers (wrap the jaws so you done marr the surface) and simply press down into the pan.
Repeat till happy.

I found that if you heat the plastic a bit in the water first it goes faster, but can go too fast if you're not used to it.

Samantha , glad to see that you are still with us and been working on your project ! I don't feel so a lone now with all this guy's around me , not that it's a bad thing What markings are you going with on this one ?

Very nicely done Vance I really like the open gun panel it adds to the over all effect !

Justin , still no transfers yet , boy it sure is taking it's time find it's way to your door step and on to the bench . I like the weighted effect , but a little over done for my taste . Nice attention to the details though , those drop tanks are going to awesome once done !



Okay moving on to other things now . I finally started with my project , I must admit though that must of my attention has been on the FE-8 project .

I started in the nose by sanding done the panels for the engine to fit in there with some framimg .....





and the goodies for this project .....







Still have a bit of thinning to do , but I will get there !

The accurate miniatures P-51A most likely, which would also be the same kit i would use for the Mustang X - which are indeed the ones with the "funny looking nose", having a big chin scoop.

NA-73X would actually be easier than a Mustang X, the former only needing some modification to the under-wing scoop, the intake on top of the nose, and a rounded windscreen (which i already have a vac-u-form of).

the Mustang X would require almost a complete re-fabrication of the nose...