**** DONE: GB-47 1/48 P-51D-5NA - WW2 D-Day and After - Western Front

[Donivanp]

Username : Donivanp
First name : Don
Category : intermediate
Scale : 1/48
Manufacturer / Model : Airfix 1/48 P-51D Kit A05138
Extras : Eduard Look IP and belts, Bulls Eye Decals.

 

[Donivanp]

I've got an itch that has to be scratched. I picked up a couple of the Airfix early P-51D kits and I have something like five of there -10+ D model kits. I also found Gen Charles (Chuck) Yeagers marking in a "The Yoxford Boys" decal set. The set, one of four, does Yeagers Glamorous Glenn II in two different configurations, with and without the fillet. I think I'd like to do this in the later variant with the fillet. The differences between Airfix's two P-51D kits in one add in tree in each kit. In this thit A05138 it the non fillet tail and a a different radio configuration. A01531, P-51D-10+ has an added tree with rocket tubs and other drop tanks if I recall. Anyway both kits will allow a later model "D" to be built. Airfix has also released this kit as a F-51D with a tree with updates for Korea, to include new props as I recall.

The kit contains seven trees including the non fillet tree as seen in the upper right corner of this shot, and a very nice clear tree with three different canopies and two different windscreens. A set of decals for two birds is included and the typical Airfix instruction sheet. I like the way they have done the step by step build, pointing out in red that which was just accomplished in the previous step.

The decals I'll be using as as seen below with the 413897 in the later version with a field added fillet modification.

Eduard Look IP and seat belt set.

 

[fubar57]

The IP looks very impressive

 

[Wurger]

Yep..

 

[Crimea_River]

Nice one Don.

 

[Donivanp]

OK so here is an update or so. First let me say, I like this kit. Quite nicely done I think. I'm actually building it with just the orginal P-51D release as there were always updates and as I have used the fillet for the field based update.

The cockpit sides are molded as separate pieces with an O2 hose on one side and throttle and trim wheel on the other. the IP is given a nicely done decal. As the Look IP I ordered for this is coming from Australia! Well I don't expect I'll see it anytime soon. I really don't have an issue with the Airfix IP/decal configuration. The Tail section is the only thing I have am bit disgruntled with, and that not too much. Airfix has, like most manufacturers, designed this kit to make the most of the basics. This version of the kit has three possible tails in it. The instructions call for you to instal one side to the fuselage and then the other. I mated one on and had to glue the forward section from the inside and hold to in place sometimes pushing and twisting the rudder and lower aft fuselage to get the mate correct. Then work back a little more. Slow and easy made it work and it did fine. The forward engine vents also give you two options so again they need to be installed on the inside. One side does seem to be a little recessed from the other. It's not bea dn should be and ease fix with a little sanding or filing, not an issue for this build as it is not an NMF, but this plastic is a quite soft plastic and may be a little more of an issue in a NMF, though not insurmountable. So fare the fit is quite good and a joy to build. I found the seat to be suitable as is not to use a AM one. Seat belts are molded in but they look good. One of the first things I did was to drill out the holes in the canopy support barack. As molded it only had them recessed and did not look right. I have spent a little more time in the main gear well and added a little lead line to show mor tubing. It needs more but I'll see if I can get to it. Overall I like the gear wells as they are molded.

so on to the photos.

 

[Crimea_River]

Looking good Don and thanks for the detailed info on the kit.

 

[fubar57]

Cool

 

[Donivanp]

I got the heat exchanger done and installed. the entire interior is on a single piece runs from cockpit to tail gear. the radio compartment/fuel tank heat exchanger all goes on this one frame. I did some test fit and looks like I may have a tight squeeze on the bottom aft of the heat exchanger, fuselage mate. It's really looking good though and so far if you want an up to date Mustang that come in at a really decent price, here you go. The Eduard kit does look good but at the price I can get this ($18 to 25 US) it's hard to beat. the MSRP is $29.99 US but I can get them at Hobby Lobby for $18 everyday (Save Sunday when they are closed) as they always have a 40% off any one item coupon.

 

[Wayne Little]

Great progress there Don.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Gnomey]

Lovely work so far Don!

 

[Donivanp]

Thank you all, Here is the update.
This is a really nice kit but I did have one issue. The fuselage mate on the bottom where the intercooler was slightly split. I tried sanding down the interior works and it helped some but I had already glued in the left side. I had dry fitted everything before hand and had noted the issue but I guess I didn't think to sand down both sides. , Anywho I used a bit of super glue gel to fill the slight gap and hold it together. Worked great. Airfix did some beautiful engraving for the panels on this kit. Too bad you need to fill in most of them on the wing. Fix save for what I mentioned is excellent. The wing mate wanted to skew a small amount so I glued one side and let it set and then the other side.

 

[fubar57]

Good stuff. Doesn't really make sense for kit makers to keep the wing panel lines when it is well known they were filled in

 

[Crimea_River]

True that. Bit of sanding in your future Don.

 

[Donivanp]

Elbow grease and 600 grit wet sandpaper applied. She good for another primer coat and then paint. You can see the fine lines Airfix got on this kit. I gotta say they have a winner!

 

[Crimea_River]

They would do well to replicate that finery on their more recent offerings.

 

[Donivanp]

They would do well to replicate that finery on their more recent offerings.

Yeah, I really like this Mustang, Airfix can be a hit or miss Company. I have the P-40 also and Dale says it's pretty good. I also picked up the Defiant and Hurricane as well as the Meteor, Lightning and Buccaneer. The Buccaneer is rubbish. Though I'm interested in the Hunter and Javelin. Anyone have opinion on the Hunter?

 

[le_steph40]

Nice and impressive work so far Don

 

[Donivanp]

This has all in all gone very well. If I would have thought of it earlier I would have filled in the panel lines on the wing before putting them together and attaching to the plane but it's worked out fine anyway. I used Tamiya surface primer on the top and Mr. Surfacer 500 on the bottom. After an overnight dry (not really necessary), I used 600 grit wet sand paper to sand down. I ended up having to redo some portions of the lower wing and used the Tamiya surface primer for that and the section for the gun muzzles. again sanding down with 600. As I am doing this in RAF dark green and RAF mid sea grey I'm not worried about a NMF to polish the kit out.
Look at the wing mate. The lower section of the wing, fuselage/ gear section is a separate piece and forms the back half of the lower cowl.