P-51C Mustang (1/48 Tamiya)
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**Introduction |
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The impression of the TAMIYA's kit This kit is very excellent and superior to Tamiya's -D. But I dare to comment on some minor points. The width of fuselage is wider. The kit is 2mm (=0.08inch) wider measuring at the national insignia and 0.5mm at the cockpit and nose. Therefore the canopy cross section is different. The canopy top is sharp as for the actual A/C. The -B/C kit's upper cowling part is wider than Tamiya's -D kit. Why ? Anyway, the existence of the Merlin engine is still not expressed sufficiently. The interval of two machine guns is wide. |
 The rear fuserage is wider than actual A/C. |
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The Malcolm hood There is no metal frame on the front and rear edge of the Malcolm hood. The small fringe for fixing the slide hood edge is added on the wind shield frame on some A/C. The kit part is different at under corners and the lower frame. And modelers should add the canopy slide rail. This rail is lean a little. |
** Construction |
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The fuselage The cockpit is basecally straight from the box. The small bag behind pilot's head is deleted. The N-9 type gun site is scratchbuilt of plastic sticks and vinyl chloride plate. Seat belts are Finemold's photoetch. The bulkhead is added behind the cockpit in order to protect paint mist. The shape of the fuselage is not corrected. It's almost impossible becouse of the canopy parts. Some rivets are graven by a Hokufushya's original photoetch rivetting tool .The wing The fit of wing root is very good. Dihedral is increased slightly. Leading edges of the wings are made dull. The kit gun holes are larger a little, so filled up once with plastic sticks and drilled out again by a 1.5mm (0.06inch) pinvise. The outer gun is moved toward inner gun. The landing light is from a 1/43 car model. Edges of the vertical and horizontal tail fin tip are sharpen.Details There is no window frame on lower edge of the wind shield. So glue lines should be filled up completely. The latter half of the spinner and propeller blades are from Hasegawa D. The wing guns are brass pipes. |
 This is the way of masking. Only 4 pieces can cover. Tape is piled up and cut in order to cut same shape. |
 Surfacer makes clear hidden roughnesses. Then careful sanding and re-scribing are required. |
**Painting & Markings |
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Historical investigation The markings represent "BERLIN EXPRESS" P-51C-3-NT s/n42-103309 flown by Lt. William B. Overstreet from the 363th FS, the 357th FG, 8th Air Force, in June 1944. Decals are from AeroMaster sheet 48-288.The original photograph is in "P-51 Mustang Nose Art Gallery" (Campbell) and this website. The instruction of AMD figures the main gear cover is silver. But I guess the black belt hide behind the 108 US gallons fuel tank in the photo. Some P-51's side wall of the wheel well was painted Zinc Chromite Yellow. The ceiling was Silver. There are original color photographs of evidence, but another photograph shows silver side wall. P-51s of the 8th AF didn't equip with the antenna wire. The SCR-522 radio system for the 8th AF's A/C uses the blade antenna instead of the wire. But "BERLIN EXPRESS" equiped with the stick type antenna pole. So I guess the antenna wire was used. Websites are as follows, A B C. Following his memorandum, the wheel hub is red and side wall is white. But the red rearview mirror is only my imagination. |
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Painting The invasion stripe, checker and national insignia are all painted. Mr.color paints are used overall. Under Coat Silver (used both as the under surface of the wing) is #8silver 50% + #46clear 50%, Finishing Silver is Alcrad Polished Alminium 50% + #46clear 50% (Mr Color Thinner is available), Red is red 70% + yellow 30%, Orange Yellow is 100% INJ orange yellow, Black(for stripes) is black 70% + white 30%, Orive Drab and Insignia Blue are same as my P-47D-10. |
 Zinc Chromit Green(window frames) -> Under Coat Silver -> White |
 Black -> Finishing Silver |
 After sprayed Finishing Silver , the surface is sanded with #1500 paper. Please notice realistic hair lines. |
 Hair lines disappeared after #46clear over coat. |
 This is the way to paint the checker. |
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| The following painting technique using a airbrush together with brushes is very effective for expressions of natural metal. Further informations about this technique are in this website. |
 Mr Super Stainless was drybrushed on the top coat of #46clear. The small panel after exhaust pipe should be deleted as for "BERLIN EXPRESS". |
 After applying decals, Flat Clear (#46 50% + #30 50%) was sprayed. |
 The code letter "B6 O" is oversize judging from other A/C of the 357th FG. |
 The numbers are placed at intervals. |
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Weathering Mr Super Chrome Silver was drybrushed again on the flat clear top coat. Next, I chipped Silver, Medium Gray Zinc Yellow and OD with fine brush on the wing root and panel edge. Pastels were partially used on some panel lines and invasion stripes. The famous original color photographes of "LI'L KITTEN" the 357th FG are the image source. |
 Chipped paint along panel lines is brushed. |
 I chipped Silver, Medium Gray Zinc Yellow and OD with fine brush. |
** Conclusion & Reference |
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Completion Tamiya's -C is a little macho but still good-looking as it is. Weathering is pleasant work, so I'll continue it further more. The red mirror is exquisite color balance, isn't it ?Reference |
| 1 | P-51 Mustang In Color Photos from World War II and Korea | Motorbooks International |
| 2 | P-51 Mustang Nose Art Gallery | Campbell |
| 3 | North American P-51 Mustang A Photo Chronicle | Schiffer Military History |
| 4 | P-51 Mustang | Squadron/Signals |
| 5 | P-51 Mustang In Action Aircraft No.45 | Squadron/Signals |
| 6 | The Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian Service | Aerospace Publications |
| 7 | Monografie Lotnicze 57 North American P-51 Mustang cz.3 | AJ-Press |
| 8 | FIGHTER COMMAND American Fighters in Original WWII Color | Motorbooks International |
| 9 | KOREAN AIR WAR | Motorbooks International |
| 10 | WWII WAR EAGLES Global Air War in ORIGINAL COLOR | Widewing Publications |
| 11 | WWII PACIFIC WAR EAGLES China/Pacific Aerial Conflict in ORIGINAL COLOR | Widewing Publications |
| 12 | The Mighty Eighth In Color | Specialty Press |
| 13 | The Ninth Air Force In Colour UK and The Continent - World War Two | Arms and Armour Press |
| 14 | ACES OF THE EIGHTH | Squadron/Signals |
| 15 | AIR FORCE COLORS Volume2 ETO&MTO 1942-1945 | Squadron/Signals |
| 16 | AIR FORCE COLORS Volume3 Pacific and Home Front,1942-1945 | Squadron/Signals |
| 17 | Checkertails The 325th Fighter Group in the Second World War | Squadron/Signals |
| 18 | The famous aircraft of the world (new edition) | BUNRINDO |
| 19 | The famous aircraft of the world (old edition) | BUNRINDO |
| 20 | KOKU-Fun Illustrated No.52 P-51 Mustang | BUNRINDO |
| 21 | Model Art No.401 P-51 Mustang | Model Art |
| 22 | Aerodetail No.13 North American P-51D Mustang | DAINIPPON-KAIGA |
| 23 | Osprey Series No.17 Mustang Aces of the 8th AF | DAINIPPON-KAIGA |
| 24 | Osprey Series No.25 P-51 and P-47 Aces of Pacific Theater | DAINIPPON-KAIGA |
| 25 | Military Air Craft Jan. 1992 | SENSHA-Magazine |
| 26 | Military Air Craft Mar. 1994 | DELTA-SHUPPAN |