P-51D "Red Tails" Project
1May 31, 2023Assembling and painting the cockpit. Also applying dry brush.
2December 21, 2016Assembling and painting the cockpit. Also applying dry brush, oils, etc...
3December 21, 2016Assembling and painting the cockpit. Also applying dry brush, oils, etc...
4December 21, 2016Assembling and painting the cockpit. Also applying dry brush, oils, etc...
5December 21, 2016Closed fuselage. Fits are very good so far.
6December 21, 2016Assembly and placement of the wings. A very quick and nice build so far.
7December 21, 2016Drilling the canyons with a small drill. Application of Vallejo plastic putty in the joints of the wings with the fuselage. Very little quantity was required and no sanding was necessary thanks to the characteristics of this putty for small grooves.
8December 21, 2016Setting the flaps. Tests to place the flaps. It don't give any problem.
9December 21, 2016Painting with aluminium/silver by Lara.
10December 21, 2016The finish of this painting is very good. Too bad it was discontinued.
11December 21, 2016Painting the anti-reflective nose panel with Mr. Hobby H-78 (Olive Drab).
12December 21, 2016Applying lights with Mr. Hobby H-71 (Middle Stone).
13December 21, 2016Painting some panels with steel from Lara and masking to paint the corresponding areas from red.
14December 21, 2016Painting some panels with steel from Lara and masking to paint the corresponding areas from red. A thin layer of aluminum/silver is applied over the steel to unify tones.
15December 21, 2016Painting some panels with steel from Lara and masking to paint the corresponding areas from red. A thin layer of aluminum/silver is applied over the steel to unify tones.
16December 21, 2016Before painting the red I first apply a sand color (Tamiya XF-59) so that the red holds better.
17December 21, 2016I will be using Humbrol 153 diluted in white spirit. This is a matt enamel paint, but it will turn glossy when I apply the gloss varnish later.
18December 21, 2016Applying thin layers of red...
19December 21, 2016Applying thin layers of red until completely covered and a more intense red remains.
20December 21, 2016Applying thin layers of red until completely covered and a more intense red remains. Masks retired.
21December 21, 2016Applying thin layers of red until completely covered and a more intense red remains. Masks retired.
22December 21, 2016Applying thin layers of red until completely covered and a more intense red remains. Masks retired.
23December 21, 2016For the yellow stripes on the wings, I use a beige color first so that it takes hold of the color (Tamiya XF-57). Since I am going to make the plane with the flaps lowered and the stripes go through them, I place the flaps on the wings in their normal position and mask before so that the yellow lines are correctly aligned. Después aplico el amarillo H329 de Mr. Hobby en finas capas como hice con el rojo.
24December 21, 2016For the yellow stripes on the wings, I use a beige color first so that it takes hold of the color (Tamiya XF-57). Since I am going to make the plane with the flaps lowered and the stripes go through them, I place the flaps on the wings in their normal position and mask before so that the yellow lines are correctly aligned. Después aplico el amarillo H329 de Mr. Hobby en finas capas como hice con el rojo.
25December 21, 2016For the yellow stripes on the wings, I use a beige color first so that it takes hold of the color (Tamiya XF-57). Since I am going to make the plane with the flaps lowered and the stripes go through them, I place the flaps on the wings in their normal position and mask before so that the yellow lines are correctly aligned. Después aplico el amarillo H329 de Mr. Hobby en finas capas como hice con el rojo.
26December 21, 2016Flaps lowered with the stripes correctly aligned.
27December 21, 2016Mask with Maskol before painting the landing gear bays.
28December 21, 2016Landing gear bays painted with Mr. Hobby Interior Green H58 and then with Mr. Hobby Olive Drab H78 at low pressure in some areas. Then I will apply oils.
29May 31, 2023Preparation prior to the decals with bright wax Future type.
30May 31, 2023Painted propeller, bright wax Future type and placed decals.
31December 21, 2016Applying decals.
32May 31, 2023Academy's decal was damaged by fixing fluids during handling.
33December 21, 2016I have used a combination of Academy and Airfix decals.
34December 21, 2016Combination of Academy and Airfix decals.
35June 2, 2023Wingtip position lights. Pitot tube from spare parts box (it will be painted and put in place drilling the decal).
36December 21, 2016Combination of Academy and Airfix decals.
37December 21, 2016Trying to improve the landing gear. Inner cylinder in chrome and the rest in aluminum. Thin fishing line to simulate hydraulic cable.
38December 21, 2016Placing the internal part of the canopy after being painted. It has been protected from the unwanted effects of cyano with a Future bath that also gives it more shine. The canopy has been perforated to pass the radio cable.
39December 21, 2016Viewing the result with the landing gear in place. Canopy opened option.
40December 21, 2016Viewing the result with the landing gear in place. Canopy closed option.
41December 21, 2016Masking to apply matte varnish to the olive green of the hood and windscreen.
42December 21, 2016Applying matte varnish to the propeller.
43December 21, 2016Preparing oils.
44December 21, 2016Applying oils.
45December 21, 2016Applying oils.
46December 21, 2016Applying oils.
47December 21, 2016Applying oils.
48December 21, 2016Applying oils.
49December 21, 2016Painted exhausts.
50December 21, 2016Landing gear covers painted and put in place. Viewing the result with the propeller and canopy openend (still not glued).
51December 21, 2016Landing gear covers painted and put in place. Viewing the result with the propeller and canopy closed (still not glued).
52June 5, 2023I will try to reproduce the parts indicated with the red arrows (fastening of the covers to the landing gear, landing gear light and hydraulics of the gear covers).
53December 21, 2016Covers fastening to the landing gear done.
54June 5, 2023Hydraulics of gear covers done (have to paint them).
55December 21, 2016Landing gear light: using somewhat thick acetate and cut with a 1.5 punch which made the concave piece.
56December 21, 2016Hydraulics of gear covers and landing gear light painted and put in place.
57December 21, 2016Landing gear light.
58December 21, 2016The kit windshield mirror is too thick. I think this plane did not have it, but the windshield in the kit has a hole that is difficult to remove. So I have to make a thinner mirror, although this is not true to reality. I'll leave this for a bit later (pic 69).
59October 25, 2017Exhaust smoke with H-95.
60October 25, 2017Exhaust smoke with H-95.
61October 25, 2017I add pigments to finish the smoke.
62October 25, 2017I add pigments to finish the smoke and gunshot marks.
63October 25, 2017Gunshot marks with pigments.
64October 25, 2017This squadron operated from the Ramitelli aerodrome (Italy), with a dirt airstrip. So I apply pigments in some areas of the underbody of the aircraft (belly, landing gear, wheels...).
65October 25, 2017This squadron operated from the Ramitelli aerodrome (Italy), with a dirt airstrip. So I apply pigments in some areas of the underbody of the aircraft (belly, landing gear, wheels...).
66October 25, 2017This squadron operated from the Ramitelli aerodrome (Italy), with a dirt airstrip. So I apply pigments in some areas of the underbody of the aircraft (belly, landing gear, wheels...).
67October 25, 2017This squadron operated from the Ramitelli aerodrome (Italy), with a dirt airstrip. So I apply pigments in some areas of the underbody of the aircraft (belly, landing gear, wheels...).
68October 25, 2017This squadron operated from the Ramitelli aerodrome (Italy), with a dirt airstrip. So I apply pigments in some areas of the underbody of the aircraft (belly, landing gear, wheels...).
69October 25, 2017The handmade mirror. Comparison of proportions between the one included in the kit and the new one.
70October 25, 2017Doing tests.
71October 25, 2017Doing tests.
72October 25, 2017Doing tests.
73October 25, 2017Doing tests.
74October 25, 2017Mirror in place, finished and painted. Underwing tanks connections made with a stiff wire.
75October 25, 2017Mirror in place, finished and painted. Underwing tanks connections made with a stiff wire.
76October 25, 2017Antenna cable, rear of cockpit and propeller in place. Finished model.
77October 25, 2017Finished model.
78October 25, 2017Finished model.
79October 25, 2017Finished model.
80October 25, 2017Finished model.
81October 25, 2017Finished model.
82October 25, 2017Finished model.
83October 25, 2017Finished model.
84October 25, 2017Finished model.
85October 25, 2017Finished model.
86October 25, 2017Finished model.
87October 25, 2017Finished model.
Comments
7 June 2026, 13:32 -
Album info
This is one of Red Tails's P-51D, specifically the "Duchess Arlene" of the 332 FG and 100th FS, numbered 10, piloted by Lt First Robert W. Williams who shot down a Me-262 of JG7 on March 24, 1945. This aircraft was based at Ramitelli's airfield (Italy), with dust track.
This is the Academy's model to 1/72, with very good fit and acceptable details, although already surpassed by the one of Tamiya and probably by the last Airfix tool.
The model is out of the box, except for parts such as the wheels (from the Airfix kit) and others made from scratch (wire and some part of the undercarriage, hydraulics of the covers of the undercarriage, landing light, rear view mirror or the fuel tank connectors).
I used metallized Lara, and Humbrol 153 Insignia Red.
This is the first time that I have practiced with metal colors, pigments and some other technique. I have failed many things, like the smoke among other things, but generally I am satisfied, because despite some setbacks I have been enjoyed with the model.
87 images
1:72
Completed
North American P-51D Mustang
US Army Air Forces (1941-1947)100 FS, 332 FG 44-15648/10 Duchess Arlene (Lt. Robert W. Williams)
March 1945 World War 2
Silver, Red