1/32 Tamiya P-51D-15-NA "The Millie G"
Comments
73 4 April 2022, 01:30
Jim JThe Millie G is the next project and the Packard Merlin engine and instrument panel are now complete. The engine is the wonderfully detailed kit base augmented by a couple of details from the Eduard engine detail kit as well as scratch-built ignition wiring.
Although the Barracuda instrument panel is a bit of work, the detail is fabulous. Each gage frame is individually fabricated from PE. The key assembly challenge is getting each gage frame centered with the hole in the panel -- it's tricky because each frame is a bit smaller than the hole in the main panel. The decals are from the Barracuda cockpit detail decal kit. I recommend cutting the decals apart and applying each label or placard individually on the main panel as it's not easy to get the decals oriented around the various switches as a single decal.
4 April 2022, 01:48
Jim JThanks Mates for the nice comments. As for the latest update, the sidewalls of the cockpit are now complete. The Barracuda resin sidewalls are excellent as are the cockpit decals. I also added a bit more weathering. Thanks for looking.
18 April 2022, 16:49
Jim JThanks all for the nice comments. I've completed the engine bay section of the fuselage at this point. The Eduard detail kit adds some PE sections to the frame sections and hose clamps for some nice detail. I added some lines around the oil separator and firewall for some added interest - I doubt they are completely accurate but they dress up the space. Still some more weathering to do in this area. I also painted the exhaust stubs per reference photos. Thanks for looking.
26 April 2022, 02:30
Jim JThanks Kyle.
More progress. The landing gear bay is complete with some adding plumbing and wiring. I've also filled and sanded the panel lines and rivets on the forward sections of the wings. Thanks for looking.
4 May 2022, 01:49
Jim JThanks Mates for the warm comments. Work is progressing slowly. I've completed the MG bays and assemble the wings. The Eduard MG bay upgrade kit is really nice for the door detail but I didn't like the ammo belts themselves so I stuck with the kit parts. Thanks for looking. More later.
13 May 2022, 23:40
Villiers de VosVery fine details, nicely captured. A real miniature of the real thing.
14 May 2022, 04:51
Jim JThanks mates for the nice comments. The wings are complete and now attached to the fuselage. It's starting to look like a Mustang!
16 May 2022, 22:55
Jim JThanks Dominik. I'm making slow but sure progress. Almost ready to paint the exterior. Starting to look like a Mustang with all the covers on.
20 May 2022, 18:12
Jim JNow I'm getting into the fun part. I masked the exposed areas and primed with Mr. Surfacer for the main build and with MRP fine surface primer for the metal and resin parts. After polishing the primer to a shiny finish, I painted the white portion of the invasion stripes and the stripes on the stabilizers. Thanks for looking.
22 May 2022, 01:04
Jim JThanks Kyle. Made some good progress today: Invasion stripes and main NMF areas.
The invasion stripes on the wings were relatively straightforward. The complex shape around the coolor area was a little more tricky. The guidance was 18" wide for the stripes, but I followed the photo of Major Giller's plane, which varied the width, which I'm guessing simplified the job.
Mr. Color GX2 Ueno black was used for a gloss black surface for the Mr Color Super Metallic 2 paint. MC01 Super Fine Silver was used for most the areas. Super Iron was used for the panels around the exhaust and trim tabs and Stainless was used for the drop tanks and the forward most wing fairing.
Thanks for looking.
23 May 2022, 01:44
Jim JPainted the wings a mix of Mr. Color C8 and C335 and C338. Removed the masking tape to reveal the wing invasion stripes. Going well so far...Thanks for looking.
24 May 2022, 19:24
Jim JThanks Mates for the comments. The main painting is now complete. I must have used a mile of masking tape but I'm happy with the result so far. I included some photos showing my post fading approach on the dark green area. After painting and light coat of the main color, I added highlights to panel centers and access doors. I then applied a darker shade on the panel lines and various areas. The combined effects were then softened to taste with a very thin mix of the main color. I still have a little clean up to do before a gloss coat and decals.
Thanks for looking. Comments and critiques are always welcome.
28 May 2022, 23:17
Jim JThanks for the nice comments. Added some more weathering and applied the exhaust stains. More weathering to go. Thanks for looking.
5 June 2022, 01:38
Jim JThanks Rui. Making progress. Just finished the main weathering. Weathering was a combination of oil washes, light airbrush fading and shading, painted scratches and chips along with some colored pencil details. Comments and critiques more than welcome.
5 June 2022, 21:19
SpanjaardWow, what a fantastic job, from interior detail to fabulous paintjob and weathering!
5 June 2022, 21:55
Niels CMaster Build, every step looks amazing! Looking forward to the finished build! In my opinion it's already perfect, less is more wheatering wise in my opinion. You are a master in keeping the the wheatering in scale!
7 June 2022, 16:25
Jim JThanks Mates for the kind comments. My rendition of The Millie G is now complete. It was a fun project and I'm happy with the outcome. I've posted a few final photos. Thanks again for following along!
11 June 2022, 13:29
Jim JThanks Mates for all the encouraging comments. Fortunately, it turns out that this model won first place in the 1/32 US prop category at IPMS Nationals in Omaha last week.
1 August 2022, 22:06
bughunterAlso from my side congrats! The model deserves it, the builder too of course 👍
2 August 2022, 09:57
Paul MooreFantastic build AND fantastic photos! As I contemplate my build, it have the following questions:
1. What A/M would you recommend, if any?
2. The gun bays look great and I assume that is OOB.
3. Are the wing tank fuel lines from the kit or your addition?
4. It sounds like you only used a few of the Eduard engine P/E parts. Is that correct?
Sorry for all the questions but your build is very impressive! I'm going to steal some of your weathering ideas. And the sunset photo … wow!
9 August 2022, 12:44
Jim J@Paul Moore - Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated. Regarding your questions:
1. If I had to build it again, I would categorize the AM options as follows (of course, depending upon how much detail you want to show):
Definitely
- Barracuda cockpit stencils and placards
- Barracuda wheels (diamond or block tread)
- Eduard engine detail kit
- Eduard gun bay kit
Maybe
- Barracuda IP
- Barracuda cockpit upgrade
- Eduard exterior detail kit
No
- Barracuda P-51D sidewalls - They don't fit well and I don't think they are worth the extra work over the kit parts.
Most of the most interesting detail - wiring and plumbing both in the cockpit, engine bay and wheel wells - was scratch built. I think the canopy slide rails are important but I can't remember which kit they are in.
2. I used everything out of the Eduard gun bay upgrade kit except the ammo belts. I also added a bunch of wiring for the heaters and solenoids. The bay doors are a huge improvement over the kit doors.
3. The wing tank fuel and pressure lines were scratch built from copper wire.
4. As for the Eduard engine PE parts, I used the parts for the frames around the engine and a few of the control linkages and extra doodads. Most of the engine work was scratch - ignition lines, fuel and oil lines, throttle linkages, oil tank lines, etc.
Hope this helps. Thanks again.
- Jim
9 August 2022, 14:47
Album info
343 FS, 55 FG, 8 AF 44-14985 (Major Edward Giller)
1944 World War 2 - Wormingford Airfield GB
