**** DONE: GB-64 1/48 Mustang P-51K – One Trick Pony

[Vic Balshaw]

Username: Vic Balshaw
First name: Vic
Category: Advanced
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Airfix No A05137


Extras: Barracuda Cast BR48051 Wheels. Eduard 3DL48036 Cockpit Panels and Harness. KV Models KV48076-1 Mask. Kit World KW148154 Decal "Nooky Booky IV" – Maj 'Kit" Carson. Quick Boost QB48957 Exhaust.

My subject: Maj Leonard Kyle "Kit" Carson, 357th Fighter Group in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang.

Leonard Carson joined the 357th Fighter Group in April 1943 and shortly after became an Ace. He won most of his victories in his last few months with the 357th, claiming 5 aircraft on one mission on 27 November 1944, becoming their top scoring ACE pilot with 18.5 claims to his name. Following the war he remained with the US Air Force, retiring as Colonel in 1968 to work in the aerospace industry.
Top scoring ace of the 357th FG. His plane name was 'Nooky Booky IV' He flew 2 combat tours.
Awards: SS (OLC), DFC (2OLC), AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Details and pics from Leonard Kyle Carson | American Air Museum

Aircraft profile:

 

[Vic Balshaw]

A crewman, believed to be D.W. Marner, stands by a fuel drop tank on the wing of a 362nd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group P-51 Mustang (G4-C, serial number 44-11622) nicknamed "Nooky Booky IV" on the 17 March 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'D.W. Marner, 17 Mar '45. Nooky Booky IV, 411622, G4-C.'

UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES (USAAF) IN BRITAIN, 1942-1945

I've picked up a lot of info re the P-51 some of it unique to the 362nd Fighter Squadron, but first up panel lines on the wings which is a very controversial point with some saying thy have them on the upper and lower forward wing and some say they don't. I am plumbing for the latter as I wish to have a go at filling them in. I propose to spray multi layers of primer, wet and dry cutting back after each layer.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Nice one Vic, I really like the scheme. On the subject of seam filling, may I suggest that, rather than spraying multiple coats of primer and sanding back each coat (lots of paint and lots of work), use a small brush and paint over the seams with primer straight from the bottle. The thicker the primer is, the better as it will fill the seam much quicker than the thinned version needed for air-brushing. Plus you run less risk of filling seams that need to stay. The local primer build-up is easily removed with wet sanding.

 

[fubar57]

I like your choice. With Andy. I used a toothpick to place Mr. Surfacer 500 into the panel line. Sometimes it took twice. Don't worry about being perfect. While looking at photos around the gun bays, I noticed some of the putty on the real aircraft had chipped away revealing panel line.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thank you gentlemen for those tips, I will rethink my strategy.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

I've finally got y A$$ into gear and started to do some detail work prior to s bit of spraying. This is all to do with the cockpit area which I feel the Arfix kit has been made quite complicated. The upper cockpit rear area where the receiver/transmitter unit sits is also linked to the air intake and wheel bay inner door flaps on the underside of the fuselage. Anyway here is what has been sorted so far:
This is the pilots seat (I forgot to photo it before messing with it).

I was not keen on the back cushion and have my own seat belts so stripped all this out and added some thinner side supports.

Next I had to replace a better looking back cushion.

and a seat adjustment lever.

I also wanted to add the ventilation pipes and ducts to the seat support frame. I realised to late that they should be longer so I have since added a couple of bits of pipe to act as the outlets.

Finally I've added some wiring to the receiver/transmitter.

 

[le_steph40]

Nice start

 

[Wurger]

 

[Airframes]

Nice work Vic.
As far as I know, those "ducts" on the seat are part of the height adjustment, being damper springs on the tubes where the seat slides up/down.

 

[Wurger]

I agree with Terry. I haven't noticed that ... but the springs should be behind the seat backrest but not behind or on the sides of the armour plate.

 

[Crimea_River]

There are springs on the seat frame as Terry points out but there were cold air ducts nearby mounted on the bulkhead framing seen at left below.

I think that is what Vic was portraying.

 

[Wurger]

Ah .. sorry I didn't grasp. These corrugated flexible conduits are the another things that are omitted usually.. But these were located slightly farther . So that's OK.

 

[Airframes]

Ah ha !
I obviously misunderstood too - thanks for clarifying Andy.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thank you gents, it is the air ducts I was trying to duplicate and thanks Andy, the drawing you have shown is much clearer than the one I found that set me off on this trail.

 

[fubar57]

Mighty good info

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Following all the chit chat and good info on air ducting and seat springs this morning (my time), I decided (just for the hell of it) that I should have another attempt at the air ducting running up the side of the seat support frame.

Much of the rest of my bench time was devoted to sorting out parts for a splash of paint tomorrow before it gets to warm.

 

[rochie]

Good details Vic

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks Karl.

 

[le_steph40]

Good details Vic

Agree !