World War II: USA
Aircraft of the United States in WWII.
Hosted by Rowan Baylis
1:32 Revell P-51B "BIG MAC Junior"
FlorinM
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Bucuresti, Romania
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Posted: Sunday, May 03, 2015 - 12:48 PM UTC
The control box for the identification lights is a rectangle 2.5 millimeters long
FlorinM
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Bucuresti, Romania
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Posted: Sunday, May 03, 2015 - 06:03 PM UTC
Radio rack

Joel_W
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Posted: Monday, May 04, 2015 - 01:48 AM UTC
Florin,
Both really are quite nicely detailed. The radio rack does look rather complex in shape as well as the number of parts involved.
Joel
FlorinM
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Bucuresti, Romania
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Posted: Wednesday, May 06, 2015 - 03:35 PM UTC
It looks nice, doesn't it?

Well, look again, this is all that will be visible!


Still working on the Dynamotor unit, is not completed yet.

If anyone has the radio wiring diagram for the P-51B-10, can you PLEASE HELP ME with it?
Joel_W
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Posted: Wednesday, May 06, 2015 - 06:22 PM UTC
Florin,
The rack even looks better with the radio equipment on it.
Joel
FlorinM
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Posted: Sunday, May 17, 2015 - 06:35 PM UTC
The seat is painted

FlorinM
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Bucuresti, Romania
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Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 08:10 PM UTC
The right cockpit wall is almost complete, all that is missing is the "Malcolm" canopy actuation mechanism. In fact this is how a P51-B-10NA right hand wall is supposed to look like when it has the standard framed canopy.

Joel_W
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 07:32 PM UTC
Florin,
Nicely done. I'm taking notes and grabbing some pictures for my 1/48 scale build. Of course I've been planning doing a series of P-47s, P-51's, F4Fs, F6Fs, & F4Us forever. Sooner then later it's gonna happen.
Joel
FlorinM
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 08:42 PM UTC
Thank you for the kind words and especially for finding the time to reply, holding an entire site is not easy, for I believe that without you Aeroscale would surely go to the dogs.
Hope what I did is helpful, my goal is to make a model as accurate as possible. Please note that what you see on this build blog is good only for P-51B-10 and C-10, and partially for earlier machines retrofitted with the 85gal. fuselage tank.
Got another 1:32nd Revell oldie in the stash, a P-47 D Razorback, will turn it into a C-5, "California or Bust" flown by Capt. Archie W. Chatterley. The aircraft is also significant because Ralph "Kidd" Hofer was flying it on his first combat mission on 8 October 43 when he shot down a Bf109 over Zwolle, Holland. Can't wait to start working on that, the nose art is awesome!
Joel_W
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Posted: Monday, May 25, 2015 - 07:03 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Thank you for the kind words and especially for finding the time to reply, holding an entire site is not easy, for I believe that without you Aeroscale would surely go to the dogs.
Hope what I did is helpful, my goal is to make a model as accurate as possible. Please note that what you see on this build blog is good only for P-51B-10 and C-10, and partially for earlier machines retrofitted with the 85gal. fuselage tank.
Got another 1:32nd Revell oldie in the stash, a P-47 D Razorback, will turn it into a C-5, "California or Bust" flown by Capt. Archie W. Chatterley. The aircraft is also significant because Ralph "Kidd" Hofer was flying it on his first combat mission on 8 October 43 when he shot down a Bf109 over Zwolle, Holland. Can't wait to start working on that, the nose art is awesome!



Florin,
Thanks for those more then kind words, but there are plenty of other regulars to do read and post. I do agree as I've said at times that especially on Aeroscale there is way too many viewers and not enough posters. But what it is, is what it is.

When I build my series of P-51s little by little, it will be more of a generic type of cockpit especially in 1/48 scale.

Looking forward to your Jug build. As Republic Aviation was only 30 min from our home. Back in the 60's my brother and myself would regularly ride our bikes to the gates and fence line of Grumman's and Republic to see what's outside of the hangers. Back then there really wasn't any security to chase you away from just looking.

Joel
FlorinM
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Bucuresti, Romania
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Posted: Monday, May 25, 2015 - 07:54 PM UTC
We agree on that, and it's a pity, really. This site could be so much more than Armorama's neglected little sister!

You must have seen a fair share of Thunderchiefs, Hawkeyes, Intruders, some Mohawks and maybe a F-111 or two. Totally awesome, a charmed life!





Joel_W
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Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 - 01:38 AM UTC

Quoted Text

We agree on that, and it's a pity, really. This site could be so much more than Armorama's neglected little sister!

You must have seen a fair share of Thunderchiefs, Hawkeyes, Intruders, some Mohawks and maybe a F-111 or two. Totally awesome, a charmed life!



Florin,
Don't forget Trackers, Tracers, and in the 70s when Grumman's moved to the Calverton Naval Air station (also in Suffolk county), there were A6As, A6Es, and F-14s. And Republic Fairchild started it's great run of A10s.

There is a really great core of members here, but everyone really needs to kick it up a few notches, get involved more, and post. That would make a huge difference.

I also belong to ARC, and that's where I spend most of my online time these days. Sad but true.
Joel


FlorinM
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Bucuresti, Romania
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Posted: Monday, June 08, 2015 - 01:04 AM UTC
Tiny levers made from copper wire heated with a torch to form beads at one end: silver is the throttle handle, red bomb release, black carburetor air control, yellow - flaps. The throttle quadrant is also ready to be installed.

FlorinM
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Posted: Friday, June 12, 2015 - 04:09 PM UTC
The dynamotor and its rack are finally completed.

Joel_W
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Posted: Saturday, June 13, 2015 - 07:02 PM UTC
Florin,
That's really some excellent detailing, especially when one considers that those pictures are more like 2:1+,and therefore are taken out of visual context.

Joel
FlorinM
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Posted: Saturday, June 13, 2015 - 08:34 PM UTC
Each square measures one centimeter. The rough texture is a (poor) deliberate attempt to mimic the finish of the real item, but it sits behind the radio and will barely be visible.
Two years have passed since the start of this project and at times I wonder if this maniacal attention to detail is any good. I have 47 kits in total and at the rate of a kit completed every three years it would take me almost 150 years to do them all...
Joel_W
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Posted: Sunday, June 14, 2015 - 07:05 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Each square measures one centimeter. The rough texture is a (poor) deliberate attempt to mimic the finish of the real item, but it sits behind the radio and will barely be visible.
Two years have passed since the start of this project and at times I wonder if this maniacal attention to detail is any good. I have 47 kits in total and at the rate of a kit completed every three years it would take me almost 150 years to do them all...



Florin,
Then at that rate you can expect to live a very long, and productive life.
Joel
FlorinM
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Posted: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 - 07:39 PM UTC
Thank you! I think I will go with quality even if few will be done. I did quantity when I was a kid, in the Nineties.

Managed to finish the left cockpit wall. Sorry for the not so good picture, lighting is far form ideal

Joel_W
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AUTOMODELER
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Posted: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 - 08:38 PM UTC
Florin,
Slow but steady progress that is of the highest quality and standards. Your cockpit wall looks fantastic.
Joel
FlorinM
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Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 - 01:57 AM UTC
Nothing special, just a P-51B-10NA Mustang cockpit. Not much will be seen once the fuselage halves come together, even if it's in 1/32nd scale, but at least everything is where it should be...
FlorinM
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Bucuresti, Romania
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Posted: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 - 05:29 PM UTC
Working on/around the fuselage fuel tank. Grey pigment gives it a more "rubbery" look, while glue sets on the fuselage frames that can be seen from the cockpit. The frame behind the tank is blanked off with plywood (replicated using linden veneer)

mrockhill
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Pennsylvania, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - 10:15 AM UTC
Florin,

Wow!!! what else can be said, this is an impressive build. The paint on the fuel tank really caught my eye, you really captured the look of a self sealing tank, its pretty eye catching imo.

Ive got 2 p51bs on the bench, a hasegawa 72d and a tamiya 48th, so I find this especially interesting but as noted it seems really strange that there is not much participation or support apart from joel, they dont know what their missing! Keep up the good work, im certainly going to be checking in
FlorinM
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Bucuresti, Romania
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Posted: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - 03:43 PM UTC
Thank you so very much for your kind words, it means A LOT to see that your work is appreciated!
It's been a long, long while since I touched a 1:72nd kit so I cannot comment on the Hasegawa kit. The Tamiya is basically sound, except for the cockpit floor that follows the wing profile when it should be flat, an easy fix. I would also change the propeller blades with resin either from Quickboost or even better Ultracast.

FlorinM
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Bucuresti, Romania
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Posted: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - 03:44 PM UTC
The fuel tank is now completed by adding the fuel gauge:



Did a test to see how the radio equipment fits on top of it, looks busy enough

Joel_W
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Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2015 - 02:25 AM UTC
Florin,
Outstanding. Looks exceptional.
Joel