Tamiya 1/48th P-51D - Bad Angel - Pima Air Museum

[hawkeye2an]

My next build will be one for my dad. I am going to attempt to build a diorama of the Pima Air Museum's P-51D Bad Angel. He spent a good part of the last five years working on this restoration and I thought he would enjoy a momento of the plane.

 

[B-17engineer]

Wow, lots of extra bit here!! Can't wait looks like a great project.

 

[Wayne Little]

8) Look forward to it!

 

[Airframes]

Should be a good one, especially with more extras than kit !

 

[hawkeye2an]

This will be my first attempt at a "modern" kit. I've only worked with photo-etched a few times so those bits might or might not go on the model. I really want this one to be as close to the museum piece as possible, including opening up the port gunbay.

 

[Night Fighter Nut]

you've got your work cut out for you. I will be trying to do something similar later with a P-61. Will follow this thread with much interest.

 

[T Bolt]

This will be my first attempt at a "modern" kit. I've only worked with photo-etched a few times so those bits might or might not go on the model. I really want this one to be as close to the museum piece as possible, including opening up the port gunbay.

If this is your first "modern" kit Andy, you're going to be amazed! The parts are so well engineered that when I bought it I started test fitting parts together and soon had the entire basic airframe together, fitting tight and holding together without tape or anything, and the seams were so good it almost looked like it was ready for paint!!!

I haven't gotten around to building mine yet so I'll be looking forward to seeing yours!

 

[hawkeye2an]

ALL RIGHT I LOVE THE MODERN KITS. I will still build the scratchbuilds and modified old kits, but this model is a real work of art. I have just moved a few of the new kits up on the build list (like the Beaufighter nightfighter).

First set of pics show removing the interior to place the resin parts.

Dremel tool used to carefully etch out the interior details, the Tamiya kit was a little lacking on the side wall details. Cockpit itself is fairly accurate though.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Wow, that is a heck of a difference! Very cool idea behind this build.

 

[Airframes]

Nice start there Andy, looking forward to the next stage.

 

[hawkeye2an]

Getting one of my least favorite things out of the way early.

 

[Airframes]

Ah, the dreaded wheel painting ! I used to dislike that part, but over the years have developed a method which I'm comfortable with, especially if the wheel rims have good edge definition.

 

[vikingBerserker]

They actually look pretty sharp!

 

[B-17engineer]

Great work!!

 

[Wurger]

 

[hawkeye2an]

Pic 1 - using the Propmaster for the first time

Pic 2 - completed prop assembly

Pic 3 - working on the battery/radio wiring

 

[hawkeye2an]

Pic 1 - Modified seat, removed the pad from the back as the museum aircraft doesn't have it.

Pic 2 - interior work

Pic 3 - completed seat. Back pad removed, seat pad added.

 

[Wurger]

Nicely done so far.

 

[Wildcat]

G'day Hawkeye. Just came across this vid which you might find interesting, note the spinner is red though..
Capt Louis Curdes of 3rd Air Commando Group Philippines in his P-51 aircraft
Top work on the model so far

 

[Wayne Little]

Looking good!