P-51D Mustang part-2

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The wheel wells

 The exterior work is nearing completion; the next stage was the internal works. Some details should be added to the wheel wells. Unfortunately, detail pipe schematics of original WWII aircraft is unclear and there are many differences in existing aircraft. So this detail work is not correct.



Some pipes are added with vinyl tube (black) and aluminum rods (silver).
Black or Brass joints are made from masking tape.

These photos are from WWII original movie
The ceiling is silver, other portions are Zinc Yellow Chromate, and pipes are silver.



The wing

 As for the actual P-51's wing; rivets were filled with putty, then, the surface was painted zinc chromate primer, the silver lacquer was applied to improve the effect of laminar flow wing; however, Tamiya's wing does depict the rivet holes. At first, I thought Zoukeimura's wing (it has no rivet detail) could be used, but Tamiya's wing is superior in the outline (Zoukeimura didn't depict the droop of leading edge at the bulge) and fitting it to the fuselage is taken into account.

So, I decided to fill in Tamiya's rivets with Mr.Surfacer 500. When Mr. Surfacer was applied with a brush, the air in rivet holes prevented the surfacer from filling the holes; so I used a small spatula (chisel) and the surfacer was pushed into the holes forcibly. Panel lines were also filled in on the actual aircraft, but I didn't fill them. The reason, I wanted to depict them. Imagine the model wing, with no panel line, and no rivets.






Tamiya kit depicts bases for HVAR launcher equipped aircraft after, D-20-NA 44-72226, on the lower wing. So, if you are building earlier model than 44-72226, you should fill in these bases.


The Angle of Incidence in the wing

 Before I glued the upper and lower wing parts, I tried to find the angle of incidence, but I couldn't find any data in any of my references. Then my friend helped me show the table of coordinates for airfoil surfaces at the root and tip. This table was considered the angle of incidence. Then the angle could be calculated using the arc tangent. The results were 1.05° at sta00 (root) and -0.85° at sta. 215 (tip). Then the wash out was 1.9°.


The engine

 The ignition harness is added with 1.5mm (0.06") aluminum tube, and 0.5mm (0.02") lead wire. After completion, I noticed that the ignition harness tube is black but it was too late. Some pipes were added to the oil tank and electric generator mounted on the port side of the engine.








After D-30 model, the battery was moved from the cockpit to the space between the engine and the oil tank and Tamiya's kit contained the parts for the battery platform, however, there is a void in the earlier model.


Packard Merlin engine in Zoukeimura Show Room

 I went to see the Packard Merlin in Zoukeimura Show Room in Kyoto. A Wright Cyclone R-1820 was displayed right beside it. What a coincidence, I was also building the FM-2 Wildcat!















The spinner

 0.3mm (0.01") thick aluminum sheets were glued on the engine cowl. So, because of this, the diameters of the spinner and the front of the cowl did not match. In preparation for this problem, the cowl front end had been narrowed down a little bit so when aluminum sheets were glued on it would be closer, but of course, this was not enough. The second solution was to enlarge the diameter of the spinner by adding 1mm (0.04") thick plastic sheet to the rear of the spinner. Well I knew it was not accurate in outline shape, but, I didn't feel it altered the shape of my model in my eyes enough to warrant further modification.



The position of propeller is moved aft 1mm (0.04") due to the additional spinner length.



The landing gear

 The landing gear of the kit is thin and fragile just like the thoroughbred, and in the long term, the kit gear will likely distort. To prevent this, a modification is necessary. I decided to insert a brass rod through the center of the kit gear leg, this should make it much stronger.



The chase is drilled with a pin-vise from the red and blue arrows.
1.0mm (0.04") brass rod is inserted and solidly fixed with CA glue.

This method makes the gear ridged, plus details at the same time. I call this "the hybrid gear."
0.3mm (0.01") aluminum sheets are glued on the plastic parts. Plastic parts will be painted Mr. color SM06 Chrome Silver.



Painting the wing

 The main wing was painted with Mr. Color's "old" #8 silver and #46 clear. The new #8 silver is called improved, but has more metallic. It's not suitable for the actual silver lacquer painted wing. Unfortunately, some pin holes of rivets which should have been filled in re-appeared.




Rivets re-appear. Oops.



The torque link

 Details of the torque link were enhanced with a knife, chisel and drill. The total eight face (port-starboard, upper-lower and inside-outside) were engraved but will likely not be visible when the model is displayed.






The wind shield

 Frames of the windshield were 0.2mm (0.01") aluminum sheet and they were divided into five pieces, same as the actual aircraft.



And here, another problem, there is a gap.
This is second try, notice no gap.



Clear painting

 Finally, all of aluminum was glued on the fuselage. I then proceeded with the painting process. The aluminum surface was polished again with #8000 grit Mr. Laplos and rubbing compound. Then the model was washed with soap and water to remove hand oil and then dried thoroughly. Aluminum Color Spray Clear (see my F-86F article) was airbrushed on the entire surface of the fuselage for a metal primer and clear coating. This Aluminum Color Spray Clear contains components of the metal primer, so when it was sprayed on the polished aluminum, the brightness of the surface was reduced slightly. However, a clear coating is a necessary process.



Clear painting is completed.
BTW, are you wondering what this white wire is?



The LED lighting

 I tried to bring up the LED for the navigation lights, the circuit was quite simple and simple is best. The LED was directly connected to two batteries in series. There is no switch, and no resistance. Three transparent nylon wires attached to the LED, and wires are ran to the navigation lights of wing tips and tail.



The LED is put on aluminum foil. The gray box is the battery box. Three nylon wires are connected to the LED to pick up light.
Light on. It's a little dark. Well, that is a future task.


Anyway, the wing was glued on the fuselage, and I proceeded to the marking process.


Markings research

 At first, I chose 363FS 357FG Captain Chuck Yeager's "GLAMOROUS GLEN III" D-15-NA. But, I had built the same 357FG "BERLIN EXPRESS" C-3-NT flown by Lt. W. Overstreet in 1/48 scale, painted aluminum with Red/Yellow marking, and that would be an overlap of my F-86F Sabre "Mig Mad Marine". I rejected that idea. Anyway, I illustrated the color profiles of them using Inkscape. Note the clear covered type rear view mirror of GLAMOROUS GLEN III. Meanwhile, the red color of "BERLIN EXPRESS's" rear view mirror is my presumption.


In contrast with them, I selected Blue/White nose "Grim Reaper" flown by the top ace of 354FG, 355FS, Captain L. Blueland, but, the code letter and serial number are somewhat questionable. The existing color profile shows the code letter GQ-U, but original photo seems as GQ-V or GQ-Y (See the photos in "Osprey Aviation Elite Units 7 354th Fighter Group" page 110).


Finally, I decided on 355FS CO Major Robert W. Stephens's "KILLER!". I referred to, "Osprey Aviation Elite Units 7 354th Fighter Group" ISBN 1-84176-315-2, The "KILLER!," is an Inglewood D-20-NA. The exhaust fairing, no rear view mirror, black band on the upper wing root, could be confirmed from the reference, and you cannot see the latter half of the aircraft in the photo. So markings were presumed from other aircraft of 355FS. For example; there was no band on the vertical fin, but a black band on horizontal fin. The position of the D-Day stripes of 355FS, not of the norm, so the color profile of above reference is incorrect.



Markings

 The insignia, D-Day stripes, wing & tail black band, and nose checker are all painted. Masking tape for the insignia was cut from the kit decals.



Black and Insignia Blue are finished. White star and bars were masked while blue was painted.
The nose is painted White first.

Insignia is finished. Blue and White are painted side by side, not one and one. Gloss Sea Blue is used for Insignia Blue.
Blue checkers are masked and painted over White.

D-Day stripes and Olive Drab are masked and painted.
The position of 355FS's DD stripe is like this.



The dry decals

 Other markings were custom made dry decals by Maxlabo. The master was drawn with Inkscape. I ordered three (Red White Black) sheets of dry decals using this master.







Dry decals are applied.
Order of dry decal application; black dry decal for KILLER! is applied 1st, red KILLER! 2nd, then white for the card and finally black for the card details.

Caution stencils and score markings are finely printed.



Additional information

 After the markings were applied, my acquaintance informed me of an original photo of port cockpit side of Stephens's KILLER!. According to this photo, some mistakes are revealed on my model. The score marks had white portions, the position of upper wing black band was a little farther out than regulation, Blue/White checker was painted on the wing gun muzzle panel. The names of crew staff could be read as follows. Wow, wish I'd had this information before the black band & Dry Decals were applied!

CrewChief
Sgt.N.Kappas
Armorer
XX.Matolchi

(XX : unreadable)

The photo can be seen at "Baseball in Wartime - Robert W. Stephens".


Additional painting

 The wing stripe and score marking can't be corrected now, but, the wing checker can be added.






Finally, painting is finished. The master of the dry decals was revised as well (not yet ordered).


The final assembly ( and all the little gadgets are attached)




Tamiya's kit tire is not correct in the tread pattern. So tires were exchanged with Barracuda's cast resin parts. Barracuda's tire is not perfect either; the cross sectional shape is incorrect.
The landing gear is the only weak point of Tamiya Mustang, however, the Hybrid Gear and resin tire may overcome this weak point.

The radio and battery are Barracuda's resin as well. The details is good but the radio cable interferes with the canopy. The bottle is made of clear sprue.
The seat belts are from NH4 1/32 WWII US Aircraft Seatbelt Set from Finemolds. I made a mistake, I set seat belts left-right reversal. The N-9 gun sight is confirmed by the original photo. P-51's also used N-3 for early model, K-14 for late model, and a number of Mk.2 were used for 8AF and RAF aircraft at air base's in GB.

The wheel covers interferes with the under cowl remove. Thus, the covers are built as detachable using magnets.
Three magnets are installed in the center wall.

The reflectors of tricolor lights are made of aluminum sheet. The lenses are made of "UV Clear" from Sujiborido. This UV Clear is a transparent glue that cures from UV light. Search for "スジボリ堂　UVクリアー".
The radio is placed back on kit part. Note; the kit radio is back to front.



















Completion

 Though the drop tank is not yet finished, my P-51 was completed anyway. It took almost ten months and I had a lot of trouble, especially with the upper cowl. However, after all the problems, the luster of "real metal" is incomparable. Also, I loved this simple and neat design of 355FS's Blue/White nose and spiced up with the wing checkers, they flatter the aluminum finish.

























The verification of the Tamiya 1/48 P-51D kit!

 I verified the sideview outline shape of the Tamiya 1/48 kit using my drawings. The results are as follows. The sideview shapes of the spinner, nose cowl and tail fin are GOOD. The problem is; the height of the wing position is 2mm (0.08") low. Therefore, the kit is quite fat at the lower wing and the surrounding area is incorrect. That is; the lower line of the radiator is to low and lower edge of the slide canopy is low as well.

The easy way to correct the wing height may be to cut at the yellow line, cut off the joining portions and re-assemble. Also, the leading edge of the wing bulge droops down in actual aircraft but the 1/48 kit doesn't (1/32 kit is correct). Thus the intersection position of the fuselage side and the wing leading edge doesn't have to be corrected this procedure works.

Another problem is, the width and cross-sectional shape of nose cowl. The kit nose is slim and the kit doesn't depict the presence of engine cylinder head underneath. 1/32 kit; is perfectly accurate, of course!





Color profiles

 In the wake of the model, I illustrated color profiles using Inkscape.

First, a lady wearing no makeup at all. The illustration of Natural Metal Finish was somewhat difficult. The methods were to emphasis a highlight and shadow gradient, to alter tone of some panels and possibly give depth. I'm happy if you can see the rudder is not covered with metal.

Even when plain NMF aircraft are illustrated, painting markings on aircraft is not easy, due to the reflectance ratio difference from metal and paint. So, the new layer of highlight/shadow gradient of the markings will be laid on top of the marking layer which was on top of the NMF layers, and the old layer of the highlight/shadow gradient of NMF is adjusted. Conversely, if the marking layer is deleted from the illustration, it reverts back to plain NMF. Of course, the reflectance ratios of matte Olive Drab and gloss markings of insignia are different as well, so the highlight/shadow gradient will be changed too.


Next, PETIE 2nd, D-10-NA of John Meyer, CO of 475FS, 352FG. In this profile, I intended to depict the polished restored Warbird so I changed the gradient of the highlights, and added reflection in the mirror finish. See the colored metal surface burnt by the exhaust heat?


Next one is a sense of fun. D-5-NA flown by Captain Urban Drew, 375FS 361FG, on July/11/1944. Previously, this aircraft was said to be painted Blue. Now, it is obvious that the aircraft was painted Olive Drab. But, in my mind, I still feel this aircraft was Blue. The profile depicts correct markings except for the Navy Blue scheme. Note the Olive Drab appears below the windshield.


Come on the fastback model. Here I go with one of the most famous fastback Mustang, B-7-NA "Shangri-La" of Captain Don Gentile, 336FS 4FG. Note the difference of the upper cowl sideview outline between D/K and B/C model with above and below profiles.


I added the Malcolm hood and illustrated Captain Bob Stephens's other aircraft, B-1-NA "KILLER". I could only see the photo of the port nose. I followed "Osprey Aviation Elite Units 7 354th Fighter Group" for the markings research of the latter half of this aircraft. The gun sight is uncertain.


C-5-NT "The FOX" of First Lieutenant James Wood, 487FS 352FG. The Inkscape picture object for John Meyer's aircraft can be used again.


RAF 315 Sqn CO Squadron Leader E.Horbaczewski's Mustang III s/n FB166 in June 1944. Though the existing profiles show various markings, my profile depicts Ocean Gray back ground of the letter "G" just as the original photo. The D-Day stripes of the actual aircraft were painted more roughly, but I didn't depict that exactly as the original. The gun sight is Mk.2.


P-51A of 1ACG CO Lieutenant Colonel Phil Cochran, Burma in 1943. There are some interpretations of this aircraft and I don't have assurance of my profile. Anyway, the fringe of insignia looks lighter than the center. The wing tip might be Natural Metal, but I haven't seen other aircraft in the 1ACG's.

The drawing of Alison Mustang is a trace of actual photos. The total length is 32' 2-7/8". The length of the spinner is 26". The wing position of Alison model is 3 inches higher than Merlin model.


Mustang I of 2 Sqn, in 1942. Some RAF Mustang I's had straight exhaust as this profile illustrates, but some aircraft had the larger fish-tail type exhaust than normal USAF fish-tail type. According to original color photos of RAF Mustang, I depict "Quasi" RAF Temperate Land Scheme. That is; Dark Green (possibly Olive Drab) and Ocean Gray (possibly Neutral Gray). The repainted fuselage roundel was shown in other Mustang I's, but it's uncertain for this aircraft.


This is the final profile. 12FBS's F-51D-25-NA of Korean War in the summer of 1952. This aircraft was made in Inglewood factory but retrofitted with the Aero Products propeller and shorter spinner. And, though the photo is not sharp, Dallas canopy might have been retrofitted.



References

 WAY Too many....

1 The Famous Airplane of the World No.75　P-51A,B,C Mustang ISBN 4-89319-072-5 Bunrindo
2 The Famous Airplane of the World No.79　P-51D,H,K Mustang ISBN 4-89319-076-8 Bunrindo
3 The Famous Airplane of the World (Old Edition) No.28 8/1972 P-51A-C Mustang　 Bunrindo
4 The Famous Airplane of the World (Old Edition) No.133 9/1982 P-51D/H/K Mustang Bunrindo
5 Koku Fun additional volume Air Combat No.7,12,18,19 Bunrindo
6 Aero Detail 13　North American P-51D Mustang ISBN 4-499-22644-9 Dainippon Kaiga
7 Osprey Military Aircraft Series 17 P-51 Mustang Ace of 8th Air Force ISBN 4-499-22766-6 Dainippon Kaiga
8 Osprey Military Aircraft Series 25 P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt Ace of Pacific Theater ISBN4-499-22791-7 Dainippon Kaiga
9 Model Art Extra Number 401 WWII P-51 Mustang Model Art
10 Model Art Extra Number 713 WWII Paints & Markings Guide of AAF Fighters (Europe) Model Art
11 P-51 Mustang / P-47 Thunderbolt ISBN 4-7698-0638-8 Kojinsha
12 P-51 Mustang In Action No.211 ISBN 978-0-89747-552-5 Squadron/Signal
13 P-51 Mustang In Action Aircraft No.45 ISBN 0-89747-114-8 Squadron/Signal
14 Walk Around 7 P-51D Mustang ISBN 0-89747-360-4 Squadron/Signal
15 Walk Around 13 Alison Engined Mustangs ISBN 0-89747-386-8 Squadron/Signal
16 D&S vol.50 P-51 Mustang part-1 ISBN 1-888974-02-8 Squadron/Signal
17 D&S vol.51 P-51 Mustang part-2 ISBN 1-888974-03-6 Squadron/Signal
18 P-51 Mustang ISBN 0-89747-350-7 Squadron/Signal
19 Aces of the Eighth ISBN 0-89747-055-9 Squadron/Signal
20 Aces of the Southwest Pacific ISBN 0-89747-063-X Squadron/Signal
21 Mig Alley ISBN 0-89747-081-8 Squadron/Signal
22 Air Force Colors Volume 2 ETO & MTO 1942-1945 ISBN 0-89747-108-3 Squadron/Signal
23 Air Force Colors Volume 3 Pacific and Home Front, 1942-1947 ISBN 0-89747-376-0 Squadron/Signal
24 The 31st Fighter Group in World War II ISBN 0-89747-514-3 Squadron/Signal
25 Checkertails The 325th Fighter Group in the Second World War ISBN 0-89747-316-7 Squadron/Signal
26 357th Fighter Group ISBN 0-89747-380-4 Squadron/Signal
27 20th Fighter group ISBN 0-89747-368-X Squadron/Signal
28 4th Fighter Group in World War II ISBN 0-89747-515-1 Squadron/Signal
29 Flying Scoreboards Aircraft Mission and Kill Markings ISBN 0-89747-305-1 Squadron/Signal
30 Planes, Names & Dames Vol.1 1940-1945 ISBN 0-89747-241-1 Squadron/Signal
31 Fighting Colors P-51 Mustang in Color ISBN 0-89747-135-0 Squadron/Signal
32 Aircraft Of The Aces 1 Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Forces ISBN 1-85532-447-4 Osprey
33 Aircraft Of The Aces 7 Mustang Aces of the Ninth & Fifteenth Air Forces & the RAF ISBN 1-85532-583-7 Osprey
34 Aircraft Of The Aces 21 Polish Aces of World War 2 ISBN 1-85532-726-0 Osprey
35 Aircraft Of The Aces 31 'The Long Reach' VIII Fighter Command at War ISBN 1-85532-907-7 Osprey
36 Aircraft Of The Aces 51 'Down to Earth' Strafing Aces of the Eighth Air Force ISBN 1-84176-437-X Osprey
37 Aircraft Of The Aces 61 'Twelve to One' V Fighter Command Aces of the Pacific ISBN 1-84176-784-0 Osprey
38 Aircraft Of The Aces 96 Mustang Aces of the 357th Fighter Group ISBN 978-1-84603-985-0 Osprey
39 Osprey Aviation Elite Units 7 354th Fighter Group ISBN 1-84176-315-2 Osprey
40 Osprey Aviation Elite Units 8 352th Fighter Group ISBN 1-84176-382-9 Osprey
41 Osprey Aviation Elite Units 10 359th Fighter Group ISBN 1-84176-440-X Osprey
42 Osprey Aviation Elite Units 21 Very Long Rang P-51 Mustang Units of the Pacific War ISBN 978-1-84603-042-0 Osprey
43 Osprey Aviation Elite Units 24 332nd Fighter Group - Tuskegee Airmen ISBN 978-1-84603-044-4 Osprey
44 Osprey Aviation Elite Units 30 4th Fighter Group 'Debden Eagles' ISBN 978-1-84603-321-6 Osprey
45 Osprey Front Line Colour 01 F-51 Mustang Units Over Korea ISBN 1-85532-917-4 Osprey
46 Monografie Lotnicze 55 North American P-51 Mustang cz.1 ISBN 83-7237-024-9 AJ-Press
47 Monografie Lotnicze 56 North American P-51 Mustang P-82 Twin Mustang cz.2 ISBN 83-7237-025-7 AJ-Press
48 Monografie Lotnicze 57 North American P-51 Mustang P-82 Twin Mustang cz.3 ISBN 83-7237-129-6 AJ-Press
49 North American P-51 Mustang ISBN 978-1-86126-830-3 Crowood
50 Mustang At War ISBN 0-7110-0500-1 Ian Allan
51 Spitfires and Yellow Tail Mustangs 52nd Fighter group in WWII ISBN 1-902109-43-0 Hikoki
52 315 (Polish) Squadron "Deblin" (Mushroom Blue series) ISBN 83-89450-00-3 Mushroom Model
53 P-51 Mustang Nose Art Gallery ISBN 0-87938-782-3 Motorbooks International
54 P-51 Mustang In Color Photos from World War II and Korea ISBN 0-87938-818-8 Motorbooks International
55 Korean Air War ISBN 0-7603-1511-6 Motorbooks International
56 Fighter Command ISBN 0-87938-473-5 Motorbooks International
57 The 356th Fighter Group in World War II ISBN 0-7643-1768-7 Schiffer
58 Yellowjackets! The 361st Fighter Group in World War II ISBN 0-7643-1466-1 Schiffer
59 The 363rd Fighter Group in World War II ISBN 0-7643-1629-X Schiffer
60 North American P-51 Mustang A Photo Chronicle ISBN 0-88740-411-1 Schiffer
61 Mustang Over Korea The North American F-51 at War 1950-1953 ISBN 0-7643-0721-5 Schiffer
62 The Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian Service ISBN 0-9587978-1-1 Aerospace Publications
63 2nd Tactical Air Force Volume One ISBN 1-903223-40-7 Classic
64 2nd Tactical Air Force Volume Two ISBN 978-1-906537-01-2 Classic
65 2nd Tactical Air Force Volume Three ISBN 1-903223-60-1 Classic
66 2nd Tactical Air Force Volume Four ISBN 1-903223-41-5 Classic
67 Warbird Tech 5 North American P-51 Mustang ISBN 0-933424-68-X Specialty Press
68 The Mighty Eighth In Color ISBN 0-933424-57-4 Specialty Press
69 The Nineth Air Force In Color ISBN 1-85409-272-3 Arms And Armour
70 War Eagles in Original Color ISBN 0-9629359-2-1 Widewing
71 Pacific War Eagles in Original Color ISBN 0-9629359-3-X Widewing



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