F-51D Mustang by ERS Rich - Tamiya - 1/32 - PLASTIC

[ERS Rich]

Korean War version of the Mustang, designated F-51D.  A beautiful kit that’s been on the shelf awhile.

 

Here are the engine/cockpit/ equipment sections.

 

 

 

 

[Canute]

Rich, what scale is this build? 1/48 or 1/32? Either way, looking very good.

Edited August 17 by Canute

[ERS Rich]

3 hours ago, Canute said:

what scale

Hi Canute,

 

Thank you, the 1/32 scale version…..

[Egilman]

11 hours ago, Canute said:

Rich, what scale is this build? 1/48 or 1/32? Either way, looking very good.

Tamiya P-51D/K in 1/32nd scale... and yes it looks very good...

[ERS Rich]

Almost ready to assemble the fuselage.

 

Typical techniques, pre-shading with flat black Tamiya XF-1, Zinc Chromate coat Vallejo Model Air 71.006, control boxes Semi Gloss Black Tamiya X-18 (well thinned), applied with Paasche Talon @20 psi.

 

Note gunsight on the white card - a long way from Revell….

 

 

 

[ERS Rich]

Assembling the Fuselage

 

Had to work a few of the pieces in order to close the gaps between the halves, for example the round nubs near the radiator air scoop.
 

 

 

[ERS Rich]

Major assembly completed, it’s an interesting kit, with many little magnets, and looking ahead it seems like the landing gear can be repositioned up for placement on a stand or down for desktop display.

 

 

 

[ERS Rich]

Here she is on the stand with the canopies and subassemblies dry fitted.

 

Two display choices, on the stand with wheels removed, a single piece represents the main landing gear covers, and there are two tail wheel subassemblies deployed and retracted.  Or the main landing gear and tail wheel can be installed for table top display.

 

 

Edited September 15 by ERS Rich

[ERS Rich]

Primed with Vallejo gloss black primer 74.660.  Bombs and missiles USAF Olive Drab 71.016.  Main color coat will be Metal Color Aluminum 77.701.

 

[ERS Rich]

Main color coat applied: Vallejo Metal Color Aluminum, 77.701.  The finish is very bright, almost chrome.  Expect the bright finish to diminish after the Metal Gloss Varnish - 77.657 is applied.
 

Next will apply various shades of aluminum to individual panels.  The anti glare area forward of the canopy will be Olive Drab.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 20 by ERS Rich

[Lt. Biggles]

Looks great! I’m learning all the tips I can about natural metal finishes as I’ll try one for my next project. 
Is that metal gloss varnish made especially for NMF paint jobs to give them a weathered and out in the weather used look?

[king derelict]

Super metal finish 

alan

[ERS Rich]

15 hours ago, Lt. Biggles said:

Is that metal gloss varnish made especially for NMF paint jobs to give them a weathered and out in the weather used look?

Yes, the next step is sealing it, then follow with your favorite techniques.

[ERS Rich]

12 hours ago, king derelict said:

Super metal finish 

alan

Thanks, Vallejo paint is very forgiving.  Had a problem with airbrush cap fouling and paint splattering midway through the job - boosted the air pressure and kept going for a wet coat, the paint levels nicely.

 

Letting the model sit for a few days before next steps.  Plus waiting on Eduard canopy masks - out of stock at Sprue Brothers.

[Canute]

Well done with the NMF, Rich.

[king derelict]

6 hours ago, ERS Rich said:

Thanks, Vallejo paint is very forgiving.  Had a problem with airbrush cap fouling and paint splattering midway through the job - boosted the air pressure and kept going for a wet coat, the paint levels nicely.

 

Letting the model sit for a few days before next steps.  Plus waiting on Eduard canopy masks - out of stock at Sprue Brothers.

I’ll be using the Vallejo metal paints on my YAK-27. Any tips on air pressure and needle  / nozzle size? I have some of their gloss black primer on order.

Thanks

alan

[ERS Rich]

44 minutes ago, king derelict said:

I’ll be using the Vallejo metal paints on my YAK-27. Any tips on air pressure and needle  / nozzle size? I have some of their gloss black primer on order.

Thanks

alan

Yes, gloss black is important.  Primer applied with an Iwata RG-3 mini spray gun @30 psi.

 

Aluminum applied with Passche Talon #3 tip, @20 psi.  Paint straight from bottle, no thinner, or flow improver.  As you go along the surface, start with mist stroke, tip farther away from surface, then quickly closer to make the surface wet, so as you go along say the wing, the edge between the primer and paint is wet.

Edited September 21 by ERS Rich

[Landlubber Mike]

On 9/21/2024 at 3:36 PM, king derelict said:

I’ll be using the Vallejo metal paints on my YAK-27. Any tips on air pressure and needle  / nozzle size? I have some of their gloss black primer on order.

Thanks

alan

Sorry to post on your log - Alan, I'd make sure you spray the Vallejo Metal Color paints at a low PSI - like 15-20.  Too much pressure and I've gotten weird pooling and other effects.  Just go light passes and you'll be fine.  Their Metal Color paints spray very nicely.

[king derelict]

2 hours ago, Landlubber Mike said:

Sorry to post on your log - Alan, I'd make sure you spray the Vallejo Metal Color paints at a low PSI - like 15-20.  Too much pressure and I've gotten weird pooling and other effects.  Just go light passes and you'll be fine.  Their Metal Color paints spray very nicely.

Thank you very Mike. I’m going to practice this before committing.

 

Sorry Rich, won’t digress again 

 

alan

[ERS Rich]

1 hour ago, king derelict said:

Sorry Rich, won’t digress again 

No problem, all discussion is welcome.

 

Here is a picture of my setup.  Go with 20 psi on the manifold gauge, certainly drops at the tip.  Have 3 Talons, #1, #2, and #3 tip, each with a red cutout valve on the manifold.

 

This paint has been good to me so far.

 

[ERS Rich]

A shot of the 1/48 Mustang, by Eduard, used as a test for the finishing process, with its 1/32 brother.  The 1/48 model has a different shade of aluminum on the main wing flaps, and the wing gun access doors (darker than I wanted, but too lazy to mask and repaint).  The 1/32 still has just the aluminum base color and just the light angle provides shading on the wing flaps.  The wing gun covers were painted separately, seems like less paint here, black primer underneath darkens the aluminum.
 

 

[Egilman]

3 hours ago, ERS Rich said:

The 1/32 still has just the aluminum base color and just the light angle provides shading on the wing flaps.  The wing gun covers were painted separately, seems like less paint here, black primer underneath darkens the aluminum.

Yeah it does, and the gloss provides the reflectivity... they both look good but that 1/32 bird has the look of a brand new bird just off the assembly line.... simply beautiful.... Well done..

[ERS Rich]

26 minutes ago, Egilman said:

Well done..

Thanks, much appreciated…

[ERS Rich]

Olive drab and yellow markings finished.  

 

Canopy cleaned to remove tape residue with Novus #1 Plastic Clean and Shine.

 

 

 

Edited October 15 by ERS Rich