Ambaryerno
Airman
- 66
- Jul 21, 2020
So as with many people here I'm sure, I started building plastic models as a kid, mostly starting with the old Matchbox 1/72 kits. I eventually graduated to Tamiya's kits in the same scale, with a smattering of 1/48s. It's been a while but I'd like to start building again, and have two particular kits in mind: I have a 1/32 Trumpeter F4F-3 (while my favorite plane of all time is the F4U-1A, I have a soft spot for the tubby little Grumman) kit waiting until I actually have space to work, and I'm also looking at doing a 26FS/51FG P-51B in the same scale (you don't seem to see too many shark-mouthed P-51s, much less anything that's not 8th AF or the 332nd, so thought that would be a unique subject).
I plan to use aftermarket detail kits for both. For the Wildcat, I was looking at the Aires Brownings, but I'm not certain which would be the correct one:
Browning .50cal Wing Mounted Electrical
Browning .50cal Wing Mounted Mechanical
I'm not sure whether the Wildcat (or the P-51, for that matter) should use the electric or mechanical version. Both kits I plan to have the gun bays open so I'd like that additional detail. I've tried doing a Google search in the past but haven't had much luck finding information. I presume the electric vs. mechanical has to do with the feed or cycling mechanism.
I'm planning to do a VF-6 Wildcat (March 1942 with the comically oversized roundels. I love the dark humor behind it them, especially the fact that Enterprise's aircrews took the oversized markings to an extreme). I can go with the kit markings, but I'd thought it might be more interesting to do McClusky's bird from before he became CAG of the Enterprise air group. However I haven't been able to find much on his aircraft (granted, I know the Navy didn't really have "assigned" fighters the way the USAAF did).
For the P-51, has anyone seen any of the old Jerry Rutman 1/32 resin P-51B kits floating around? It sounds like every other kit leaves far too much to be desired, as the Trumpeter is some sort of bizarre Frankenstein with a P-51D, and the Revell is...well...a Revell.
I was also thinking of setting up the P-51 in a scene with the ground crew working on harmonizing the guns, so I'd also be interested in any information on how the tail of the plane was actually lifted to facilitate this. Would they have just lifted the tail with a sling from a truck, or used something else?
Thanks in advance for any recommendations!
I plan to use aftermarket detail kits for both. For the Wildcat, I was looking at the Aires Brownings, but I'm not certain which would be the correct one:
Browning .50cal Wing Mounted Electrical
Browning .50cal Wing Mounted Mechanical
I'm not sure whether the Wildcat (or the P-51, for that matter) should use the electric or mechanical version. Both kits I plan to have the gun bays open so I'd like that additional detail. I've tried doing a Google search in the past but haven't had much luck finding information. I presume the electric vs. mechanical has to do with the feed or cycling mechanism.
I'm planning to do a VF-6 Wildcat (March 1942 with the comically oversized roundels. I love the dark humor behind it them, especially the fact that Enterprise's aircrews took the oversized markings to an extreme). I can go with the kit markings, but I'd thought it might be more interesting to do McClusky's bird from before he became CAG of the Enterprise air group. However I haven't been able to find much on his aircraft (granted, I know the Navy didn't really have "assigned" fighters the way the USAAF did).
For the P-51, has anyone seen any of the old Jerry Rutman 1/32 resin P-51B kits floating around? It sounds like every other kit leaves far too much to be desired, as the Trumpeter is some sort of bizarre Frankenstein with a P-51D, and the Revell is...well...a Revell.
I was also thinking of setting up the P-51 in a scene with the ground crew working on harmonizing the guns, so I'd also be interested in any information on how the tail of the plane was actually lifted to facilitate this. Would they have just lifted the tail with a sling from a truck, or used something else?
Thanks in advance for any recommendations!