1/32 Tamiya Merlin's Magic P-51D Reno dio

[N4521U]

I haven't done the wiring yet, but..

I have tucked into the cockpit. Showing both sides and the sidewall frames, nicely detailed, sorta. Could have been a little sharper on some things. Trim knobs and landing gear handle could have been separate.

Stu has a single box for his radios on the strbrd side, so I have removed what was there and used white PVC for the new box.

The bucket of the seat was a little deep as well as the seat back. So I am making my own of PVC. The seat bottom is dipped in front, so the pilots legs keep circulation going so I did that. The first layer I punched 4 holes and cut the center out. I will be making a parachute pack to fit in there.

Did two backs. Had .5mm flat on front and is too flat. Second one I wrapped the .8mm rod around the outside of the back shape. Now I can fill in the edges to give it some depth tapered at the frame, as it should be.

I cut the fuel tank off the back section, this could have been separate to give better detail as well. Filled in the hole with PVC shaped to fit for under the back seat. I will make the seat back as the pilot but the seat bottom is a padded flat, so I don't have to fiddle with that.

I now need an itty bitty saw to cut out the flare gun socket.

I pick away at it.

 

[N4521U]

the rest of the photos of my progress...... so far

 

[Airframes]

Great work Bill, it's coming along very nicely.

 

[rochie]

sure is

 

[Crimea_River]

Great scratch work.

 

[A4K]

Great workmanship Bill! This should be a cracker!

 

[Rocketeer]

that is beautiful, I was there in 2006 and the Eberhardt family are lovely and friendly. I have more pix if you need them...pm me, also of her being 'broken down' for shipping after the oxy bottle explosion

 

[N4521U]

Rocket, I would greatly appreciate any pictures of MM I can get.

Just waiting for the first of the month so I can get tucked into the Captured GB, and meanwhile......

Had to remove some of the fittings on the port side of the cockpit wall, the flare gun tube and map pouch. Then had to replace two of the upright ribs, did these with PVC. *Oh, and I broke off the itty bitty handle, made a replacement out of PVC!

I've finished off the back of the back seat, it's flat. The back of the pilot seat, it's concave and I tapered the edges with Mr Filler. Made the cushion for the back seat, it appears to be a wide flat one. Did the fanny chute pack in the bottom of the pilot seat, did these with miliput.

**I can't belive the luck of the Irish, I found decals for Merlin's Magic, all three scales!!!!! Nose art, all the markings, the whole shamozzle. I may have to do a 1/72nd now cuz I bought all three!!!!!!!!!!!! Wahoo

 

[Wurger]

 

[Lucky13]

Awesome!

 

[Crimea_River]

 

[Airframes]

Nice work Bill.

 

[Gnomey]

Looks good!

 

[N4521U]

Thanks fellas.......

Didn't like the nobs for the trim controls, or the thick molding of the bomb, fuel tank, releases.
So I made some new nobs and thinned out the molded control arms and handles for the release mechanism.
Now it looks better, eh?

Only a few more days to Captured GB start!

 

[Airframes]

Nice work Bill, they should really stand out when it's all assembled and painted.

 

[Crimea_River]

Nice. How did you make those trim knobs?

 

[Rocketeer]

sorry to be a pain, but the original trim knobs were pretty accurate. They should not be 'wasted' like your replacements are.

 

[Rocketeer]

Pictures as promised...

 

[N4521U]

sorry to be a pain, but the original trim knobs were pretty accurate. They should not be 'wasted' like your replacements are.

Well, that's pretty well to the F'n point isn't it!

 

[Airframes]

I think Tony meant 'Wasted' as in waisted - the recess around the knobs under the flat tops, a waist, like on a pair of trousers. The originals were straight-sided.