Jim J
"Big Beautiful Doll" using Tamiya's venerable 1/48 kit is the next project, which I'm building strictly OOB. I've completed the main build and am now starting to paint.

For the seatbelt, I cut out the decal from the decal sheet and glued it to the seat. It's not perfectly realistic, but it's better than nothing or simply applying the decal. After a gloss coat, wash and flat coat, the seatbelts look OK for strictly OOB.

The IP using the kit decal is serviceable.

I handprinted a bunch of placards and labels throughout the cockpit for some added interest.

Regarding the main build, there are quite a few seams to fill and cleanup actions required. Lots of panel line scribing and fastener additions. I used CA glue mixed with dental acrylic to deal with most of the seams and the results were good.

Since this is a NMF subject, the surface was prepped with a good dose of micromesh elbow grease, from 1500 to 12000. A couple of coats of black Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 followed, which were then micromeshed 1500 to 12000. Next was a coat of Mr. Color GX2 gloss black for the subsequent metallic paints.

Thanks for looking. Comments and critiques always welcome.

Nathan Dempsey
I'm tuning in.

Jim J
Main painting is now complete along with a gloss coat. All paints were Mr. Color lacquers with Super metallics for the NMF areas. The main metal color is SM01 Super Fine Silver. Several panels were also selectively painted SM03 stainless and SM03 iron, along with some that had some metallic black added in. The wings are painted 1:1 silver and light gray. The antiglare panel is OD. The red, white and black trim is all part of the marking scheme. Decals will be applied to the white areas. It's really hard to capture the "look" of the metallic finish in photos, but I'm happy with how it's turned out so far. Decals are next.

Mid Franconian
Looks very good so far! And I like your strict OOB approach.

Jim J
My rendition of Col. Landers "Big Beautiful Doll" is now complete. Decals were no problem. A gloss coat followed by a series of oil washes for panel lines and fading and shading. I added some light weathering to capture ~ 6 months of wear that the plane would have seen from its delivery in Dec 44 until its depiction in May 45. Thanks again for looking. Comments and critiques always welcome.

Spanjaard
looks really good!

Nathan Dempsey
Excellent finish. Love those checkers.

Michael Kohl
great finish

Neuling
A masterpiece. Again.

Steve Desarzens
Really beautiful Doll... The weathering is extremly well executed 🙂

Erik Leijdens
Masterpiece Jim, busy with one too. think I can quit now 😄

Tim Sloan
Wow beautiful build of a beautiful doll

Jim J
Thanks Mates for your kind comments. I'm glad you like the outcome. Thanks again.

Jim J
Thanks again for all the nice comments and support. It turns out that this model won 2nd place in the Basic Kit Build category at the US IPMS Nationals in Omaha last week.

Spanjaard
and it was second because your other P-51 was first 😉 congratulations on the double award! totally deserved

Marcel Chmura
Fantastic looking Mustang. Wow. 👍👍👍

Cristopher Holcomb
Fabulous! excellent work!