Hey Guys,

I just finished up Accurate Miniatures P-51A. It was a fun kit to build, but as always, I'm glad to be done. The only aftermarket really is the Verlinden update set and some True Details wheels. They little guy is from Meteor Productions and sadly has been discontinued (I wish I had 20 more).

The only detail i thought was poor on the kit was the drop tanks. They are pretty bland. Also, it would be nice if the Verlinden supplied dropped flaps all the way around... But, no biggie.








Thanks for looking
~ Garth

Hi Garth

Very nice! I love the extra detail in the cockpit and the open gun-bay.

One point to note is that the inner landing-gear doors on the P-51A didn't droop like on Merlin-powered Mustangs as the hydraulic pressure bled off. I did exactly the same on my RAF Mustang 1A and need to go back and change them (actually, posting the pic reminds me that I never really quite finished the kit at all - I always meant to add some weathering! LOL!).



That said, I have found a few pics of P-51As with the doors down, but maybe they were unlocked and lowered for servicing.

All the best and really looking to seeing more of your models!

Rowan

Garth,

Great looking plane!

Nice bird and an effective little scene you have created there.

Oops... Merlin, you're so right. Darn it! It's pinned down already, but I think that if I'm careful I can snip the actuators and tabs that hold the doors then put them in there correct position. I'll do that tonight then update the pics. Thanks for pointing that out. I owe you one.

You know what else I noticed last night when I was putting the cover on. On one side of the tail I have the number 18 and on the other side I have 81. HA! Oops. That I can live with though.

Thanks for the rest of the compliments on it guys. If any of you have this kit in your stash, it's a fun quick build and, like I said, the Verlinden update set was awesome. Everything just kind of fell together with it.

~ Garth

Hi again

LOL! That was obviously a devious ploy to confuse the enemy!

All the best

Rowan

Fixed! (Well... at least the gear doors). Thanks again Rowan! You saved me much embarrassment.

On a sadder note, I figured out today one of the reasons finishing a model is so bittersweet. Even though I am always happy to be done with one, it also means that I have to take care of some of the things on my wifes honey-do list before I can start the next. Looks like I am cleaning the pantry and our storage unit this weekend fellas

Thanks again everyone.

~ Garth

Very nice build there Garth. I really like the bare metal spinner and cockpit detail. Great job, Wingman out.

Great build. Thank you for sharing!

18...81.... Who cares? It's all loose change anyway. Cool build.

Garth,

Great looking build. It is good to see an early Mustang and not one that is highly polished with invasion stripes (not that there is anything wrong with that!).

As for the "18"&"81". I would explain the "81" is "18" when the plane is inverted, that would make the rivet counters pause and think. Also, if it were me, I would turn the plane around so it is "pointed out" on the decking, where it looks like it will taxi on the decking to the runway. Again, nice work.

-Derek