P-51D Mustang "Gay Crusader"
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/5/2/5/1149525-82785-53-720.jpg)
The original Gay Crusader, not a lot of information online, but still amazing to see after almost 80 years
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/5/2/4/1149524-82785-67-720.jpg)
Lt. Homer G. Powell, scaled down about 72 times
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/5/2/3/1149523-82785-89-pristine.jpg)
Life size
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/8/2/3/1153823-82785-34-720.jpg)
My least enjoyable part of any project: closing the fuselage halves. The cockpit fitted even worse than I thought.
Up to the filling and sanding...
Up to the filling and sanding...
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/8/9/1/1160891-82785-55-720.jpg)
Wings attached
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/8/9/2/1160892-82785-14-720.jpg)
Gaps filled and ready for painting
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/3/6/9/1214369-82785-82-720.jpg)
First results of using a spray can. Three months after building and masking I finally applied the metallic silver spray.
I was worried to put on too much paint, so some areas might have too little I'm afraid...
I was worried to put on too much paint, so some areas might have too little I'm afraid...
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/3/7/0/1214370-82785-52-720.jpg)
The detail really stands out
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/3/7/1/1214371-82785-36-720.jpg)
Every panel line is visible. Not sure about how acurate the riveting is...
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/5/1/3/1298513-82785-49-720.jpg)
Slow progress on the Mustang, seems to have lost my mojo here...
I hope to finish the canopy soon and put the wheels and tanks on.
I hope to finish the canopy soon and put the wheels and tanks on.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/7/7/6/1313776-82785-61-720.jpg)
Windshield in place and anti-glare panel painted.
The canopy is not glued as it will be displayed in the opened position.
The canopy is not glued as it will be displayed in the opened position.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/7/7/5/1313775-82785-44-720.jpg)
Note to self; don't forget to paint and weather the exhausts
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/7/5/4/1330754-82785-37-720.jpg)
first decal in place
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/7/5/3/1330753-82785-18-720.jpg)
formation lights painted (great investment Humbrol #208...)
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/7/5/1/1330751-82785-93-720.jpg)
Milestone !! propeller added
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/7/5/2/1330752-82785-55-720.jpg)
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/7/5/5/1330755-82785-85-720.jpg)
old pic of diorama testing
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/4/6/2/1369462-82785-23-720.jpg)
Victory markings on the canopy; very small but important piece of history
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/4/6/3/1369463-82785-89-720.jpg)
Testfitting the opened canopy
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/4/8/6/1374486-82785-65-720.jpg)
Spray box for the gloss varnish
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/1/3/3/1377133-82785-39-720.jpg)
Decals to the portside
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/1/3/4/1377134-82785-24-720.jpg)
I like the red letters of the name, but I'm not sure about the engine stains
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/7/2/6/1381726-82785-72-720.jpg)
Decals on starboard side
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/9/2/9/1381929-82785-32-720.jpg)
Diorama testing part 2
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/9/3/0/1381930-82785-92-720.jpg)
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/2/7/6/1386276-82785-94-720.jpg)
Completed !!
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/2/7/5/1386275-82785-88-720.jpg)
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/2/8/0/1386280-82785-44-720.jpg)
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/2/7/9/1386279-82785-62-720.jpg)
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/2/7/8/1386278-82785-90-720.jpg)
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/2/7/7/1386277-82785-27-720.jpg)
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/2/8/1/1386281-82785-79-720.jpg)
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/8/2/2/1498822-82785-75-720.jpg)
Diorama testing part 3
Comments
28 15 January 2022, 09:16
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Nice one!, and yes to echo previous comments how words' meanings and symbolisms change...
25 November 2022, 10:59