P-51D LOU IV (WIP)
Box is huge and... it's a side opener! 🙁
A lot of cleanup to do
Glueing first parts
Highlights and base color
Highlights on the sides
Highlights
Applied Gun Metal, but will apply Aluminium on the outsides of the ducts (the color of the airframe)
Details
Light chipping
Washes
Varnishes
Closing the cockpit
Closing wings
Closing fuselage
Fit of the cannon parts is less than perfect
Cockpit floor
Lousy fit here...
Getting it tight
Ready to close
Closed - it cranks and moans
Fit is.... dificult...
Very slight step at the wing roots
Managed to push the intake into its slot!!! Phew!
Removing the masks inside the windshield
All of the top cockpit enlarged a quite a bit and unglued from the interior framework...
It is starting to look like a Mustang
AK Primer applied, to check for issues
More putty on top of the sanded primer
A little spacer is placed on each side of the divide between the fuselage and the internal cockpit framing to help level the sidewalls of the windshield piece
Windshield in place - still slightly narrower than the fuselage on the sides and a little higher on the cowling, and a little gap (!) on the rear
Sanded again and windshield in place
More AK Primer to see the remaing issues
Again Tamiya white putty and white primer on the (still) remaining issues
Third wave of putty and sand finished
Third wave of AK Primer applied in the troublesome areas
Ater a few more rounds of putty and sanding, first layer of silver goes down
And a few more touch ups, which I forgot, are in order
Touch ups and very light sand
Laying down the first layer of aluminium (AK 479)
Trying the metals on... some peeling of the base aluminium was corrected
Too yellow?... :-\
Much to my horror, after a few months on the shelf, I discovered the gaps between fuselage halves were showing up again
Much to my horror, after a few months on the shelf, I discovered the gaps between fuselage halves were showing up again
Much to my horror, after a few months on the shelf, I discovered the gaps between fuselage halves were showing up again
Much to my horror, after a few months on the shelf, I discovered the gaps between fuselage halves were showing up again
Back to sanding
Back to sanding
AK Primer applied... again
After some light sanding, repainting and X-22 over, it is ready to move forward
Masking
MRP-4 White applied
XF-3 Yellow applied
Confirming the stripes have the correct measure
MRP-5 Black paint applied
Masks removed
Trying to avoid paint coming off (regular occurence with my AK paints) I reduced stickiness and didn't press very hard, so some overspray to correct...
...and still, the tape pulls some paint away!!! 🙁
Mending... and then mending the mends...
Scraping the mends...
AK Primer... tons of it...
Stripes finished
Varnished with X-22 and ready for the "greens"...
Masking for the Dark Green (H73)
Masking for the Dark Green (H73)
Dark Green (H73) applied
Maskes removed, all went well
Painting the wings with Dark Green (H73)
Masks removed, some minor retouches to be made
Masking for more painting
Nato Black (XF-69) and Olive Drab (H52) applied - the contrast between the H52 and the base H73 is very low
Painting the flap hinges
Painted white background for the "Athelene" decal, as I have been warned the white doesn't cover that well
Decals being applied
Decals applied... most of them 🙂
Decals applied... most of them 🙂
Propeller ready
The small pieces
Tests with Tamiya Weathering Set E over AK Ultra Matte varnish- did not like it a bit
Weathered with AK and Ammo oils over AK Ultra Matte varnish... contrast too high...
Varnished with MRP Semimatt Varnish (MRP-126)
Some chipping on the base of the wings and ammunition covers
Some AK Landing Gear Dust Effect
Streaking time
Resulting effect (later I removed the oild accumulation in the center lines of the square
Decided to remove some of the streaks out of the central zone
Removed the streaks from the machine gun ejector holes and sprayed diluted Tamiya Smoke (X-19)
Diluted Tamiya Smoke (X-19)
Diluted Tamiya Smoke (X-19)
Dirt on the wing roots with several different oils
Landing gear legs and drop tank supports glued in place
Preparing radio cable
Radio cable in place
Standing for the first time
Propeller attached
Dartmoor figure, white metal
Some cleanup done and figure assembled using CA glue
Plane finished apart from the cockpit mirror, moving to the figure while I wait for it to arrive
Paiting the figure... :-/
Got the mirror 3D printed by a friend - looks good to me...
Mirror in place
Working on the base
Figure finished
Комментарии
1 30 October 2018, 00:14
Soeren R.Count me in😉
The Revell P-51 is also one of my upcoming projects, but I will go for the "Desert Rat" 🙂
30 October 2018, 06:05
Ricardo ReisThank you mates! Yes, my last project was an Airfix 1:72 Eindecker, so this is a big big transition. My first 1:32, in fact. 🙂 Regarding colors, I love the combination in the box - NMF together with the military green, the bright yellow and, on top of that, the invasion stripes. So good!!! :-P
30 October 2018, 12:26
Bryn CrandellI hear this is a decent kit. Have been thinking about getting since they aren't priced to the moon. I agree with the color combination. Pretty badass in my opinion.
2 November 2018, 12:03
Ricardo ReisThanks mates. Curious to see how the fit will be when I close the fuselage.
5 November 2018, 13:32
Ricardo ReisStarting to close the body now. Fit is not great, but I think it will not require much work. Closing in steps, because there are a lot of very large parts.
12 November 2018, 00:36
Clifford KeeslerI would like to build that kit, but it seems no one here has them in stock, they go as fast as they get them. Good luck with the fit problems, I am sure you will solve them all.
12 November 2018, 00:48
Ricardo ReisI've closed the body and glued it to the wings. Plus some bits. The Mustang cranks and complains, there a lot of squeezing involved. I hold my breath often. The side walls structure of the cockpit detached from the fuselage walls and the air intake below had to be hammered into position. I must confess it took me a couple of hours and it got me tired. I still have a lot to correct now, but finally I have a Mustang sitting glorious on my bench! 🙂
14 November 2018, 11:44
Soeren R.Looks good.
I noticed a lot of gaps etc.
Is the fitting really that bad? 🙁
14 November 2018, 11:55
Soeren R.Thats not good to hear.
Was really looking forward to start mine....
14 November 2018, 12:21
Ricardo Reis@Sören, don't let me put you off. I know it's not a Tamiya, but start yours, I'm having some fit issues, but I am enjoying this build.
14 November 2018, 22:19
Daniel KlinkHm, really looks a bit like knitted with the hot needle by Revell...They really have a sort of wide scattering with the quality of their New tools
14 November 2018, 22:26
Holger KranichSeems to be hard to go on with this build. So many issues and sanding... Crazy when i compare the fit with, lets say, their He-219. The parts nearly suck themself into place. Here we go, Ricardo! Show this kit who is the master!😉😉
15 November 2018, 12:18
TreehuggerBtw, if you find the Tamiya putty to be disgusting, I can recommend the Vallejo putty. The one with an applicator tip on tube, but not the putty-in-a-paint-bottle variant. Best sanded with coarse + fine sanding stick, or a fine metal file. A fine Tamiya metal file actually makes the surface smooth I have noticed. Vallejo putty can also be smeared out and cleaned up with a moist cotton bud. Sometimes, cutting into dried putty with a scalpel blade is better than sanding, as it is easier and take less time, especially when having excess putty to sand down.
15 November 2018, 12:32
Ricardo ReisThank you for the tips @Treehugger. I hate the Tamiya putty, because it sometimes flakes under the sanding paper or stick, but it does bond very firmly in place. I also use (and love) Tamiya Primer, but it only works for very small gaps or depressions because it is liquid. For acrylic putty I use the Perfect Plastic Putty, from Deluxe Materials, generaly in areas where I just have to insert putty and then swipe with a wet (water) cotton bud. I'll have to try Vallejo on of these days...
15 November 2018, 12:38
Holger KranichWell i recommend this stuff for puttying. Just apply with a moist brush. No sanding, no crying. Excess stuff can easily removed with a wet finger. Let it dry for a couple of minutes and that Task is completed.
scalemates.com/kits/275374-g..189956004-liquid-green-stuff
15 November 2018, 13:09
Daniel Klinkaha very interesting Holger! Didn't knew this before. I use the Vallejo 401 Plastic putty.
Could be an alternative 👍
15 November 2018, 13:14
Soeren R.LGS sounds interesting and I have to check it.
But this stuff sounds a lot like Vallejo putty in the tubem which you can also easily remove with water and dont need to sand it.
15 November 2018, 13:32
Ricardo Reis@Holger, yes, I have that one and will use it now on this build. Love it. 🙂
15 November 2018, 14:16
Ricardo ReisUpdates on the painting... now for corrections before moving to the greens on the top side.
14 March 2019, 00:57
Soap GhostriderParabéns Ricardo, efectivamente parece estar a ficar excelente! 🙂
14 March 2019, 08:39
Ricardo ReisThanks. Some days of correction will not be needed. Let's hope the green colours next don't cause more peeling.
@Soap, obrigado.
14 March 2019, 08:53
Bryn CrandellTo get in on the putty discussion. I use Perfect Plastic Putty. Applies easily. You can take a moist cotton bud and clean the area up before letting it dry. Once dry you can use the moist cotton bud to clean up or sand it. I haven't touched ny Squadron putties in a year or so.
15 March 2019, 12:32
Bart Goesaertlooking good, a sand and putty monster is is it more for the NMF finish?
15 March 2019, 14:06
Ricardo ReisWell, not exactly Bart - the fit is really not perfect. Of course, being NMF, the faults are more easily spotted...
15 March 2019, 19:07
Ricardo ReisSome progress today, took me over 2,5 hours of masking and several doses of H73, but I've got the base green applied
17 March 2019, 21:23
Ricardo ReisThanks. Hoping to close it in the next few months, as I only pick it up on workshop sessions we are doing here.
27 May 2019, 14:23
Rui SParece que deixei escapar este.
Muito trabalho difícil e em maior escala, mas estou certo que o resultado final será impecável e exemplar 👍
27 May 2019, 19:12
Ricardo Reis@Rui S, assim espero; o kit não é fácil e não ajuda, mas lá vistoso ele está! 😉
27 May 2019, 20:58
Ricardo ReisThanks. After a few months of pause, I expect to close this build in the next few weeks.
15 September 2019, 20:20
TreehuggerI think it is always a good idea to remove some of the adhesiveness of the tamiya masking tape re. paint work. I usually place the masking tape on my hand, one or two times to remove some of the adhesive.
18 September 2019, 13:52
Bryn CrandellI always make it a habit to "De-tack" the Tamiya tape. Makes a difference in masking. P-51 is coming along nicely.
18 September 2019, 19:52
Ricardo ReisThanks mates. @Treehugger, I de-tack mine on my nose and forehead!!! Believe me, 100 times more powerful than in my hands! :-D :-D :-D
19 September 2019, 08:40
Tom ...Rigado, you should go to the album, click on "edit", select "last image" from the "teaser" drop down and save. That way we get to see your great updates as we scroll by the newsfeed. Otherwise it looks like you've not opened the box yet. 🙂
[I didn't search through the existing comments to see if this has been suggested before so apologies if it has.]
5 November 2019, 20:04
Ricardo ReisThanks. Just acquired a figure to go with it! (Dartmoor USAAF pilot) 🙂
18 November 2019, 21:45
Ricardo ReisThanks Clifford. Pressing forward to finish. Taking care of the base and the figure now.
18 November 2019, 23:16
Konrad -Wow that looks really impressive Ricardo. The warbird and of course the figure too.
4 December 2019, 19:46
Ricardo ReisThanks Mike; in the meantime, added the missing mirror on top of the windshield
8 December 2019, 16:02
Ricardo ReisThanks - still have some doubts... this is supposed to be summer time in the UK... maybe a bit too arid...
9 December 2019, 21:41
Stefan SchachtHallo Ricardo, maybe. I visited Duxford in the summer, and the grass always makes me think of a golf course 🙂 Cheers Stefan
9 December 2019, 22:45
Ricardo ReisHi all. Project completed. Thank you for watching and participating. You can find the finished model images whithout base here P-51D LOU IV (no base) | Album by RReis (1:32) and with base here P-51D LOU IV (with base) | Album by RReis (1:32)
15 December 2019, 19:22
