1/72 Academy P-51B

[reserve]

Next




I'll finish it thus, OD and grey



There is an open cockpit option on this one which I may use if it's not too dark inside once closed up

[406 Silverado]

This’ll be fun to watch. How much detail does this one have in the pit Mark?

[lyle]

These are fun to watch!

[kyledehart5]

Sweet!! Another fun little 1/72 build. I am in. 

[reserve]

For the scale it's surprising, decent IP and some stuff on the walls. Regrettably, the die has now been cast to the closed version, I lost the control stick while cutting it off the sprue it just popped off to who knows where. This will make the canopy masking much easier tho.

Lyle they're fun to build you oughta try one

[stikpusher]

You're not gonna make Bud Anderson's mount?

[reserve]

Nah, altho this option is offered in this kit it has the Malcom hood and I wish to represent this model as one of the earlier variants. If I'd have been able to find an Allison powered variant in this scale I'd be building it instead

[fermis]

Feb 2, 2024 22:12:24 GMT -5 reserve said:

 If I'd have been able to find an Allison powered variant in this scale I'd be building it instead

There are some options! Availability?...well...
High Planes, Condor, Special Hobby, Italeri, Smer, and even Academy!
I can't speak to the quality of any of them (I just looked it up! I'd like to get some early 51's too!)

In my experience...(with said companies...haven't done any 72nd 51A's)
High Plane and Condor...zero experience
Special Hobby...older stuff can be tough, I do really like their newer stuff though. (quote from review of A-36 variant "If you are the type of modeller who likes making silk purses from sows’ ears, well here is something a bit better than a sow’s ear")
Italeri...well, that's throwing the dice.
SMER...almost as bad as Starfix!!! RUN AWAY!!!
Academy...Good (If their 51A is as good as their 51B...they'd get my $$...but I'd source decals elsewhere)

The kit you have here is nice. Done 2 and another in the stash(right under 6 more Airfix 51D's...my go-to for 51D's)

[jeaton01]

The Italeri 1/72 P-51A is a poor kit with the wrong crank to the inner wing roots. Poor framing on the canopy. It probably (shamefully) may be the best available unless you can find the Academy kit issued in 2004 which is by far the best of any Allison Mustang in 1/72.

At the bottom is my build of the Italeri kit, built before the Academy kit was available. It can be fixed, but is a bit of work.

[TJ]

Feb 3, 2024 0:07:17 GMT -5 fermis said:

The kit you have here is nice. Done 2 and another in the stash(right under 6 more Airfix 51D's...my go-to for 51D's)

I totally agree. Finished 6 Airfix. Another 5 in some sort of start. And 13 more in Stash.  

Warning though the Academy B and C are excellent. Don't get the D its horrible

I also have the Arma Hobby F-6C which is supposed to be excellent

[reserve]

I did another search for an A model and all I could find was the Italeri kit with one exception...there's a FROG kit on E-Bay. Methinks I'll decline both as it's one thing to be unplesantly surprised and quite another to step on a mine you know is there.

T thanks that's good to know

[handiabled]

Bookmarked!

[reserve]

Pretty good overall, but the fit of the transparencies is pretty lousy







Should be able to clean this up with the Vallejo plastic putty I've been using lately fairly easily

[jeaton01]

Weird fit there.

[TJ]

I'm taking notes on this. Transparencies "not so good"

[stikpusher]

And people complain about the much older Monogram Black Widow...

[deafpanzer]

Oh you tried to sneak this by me again? Catching up and found you! Looking good especially that I always liked the 'air' Mustangs!

[jeaton01]

I have the Hasegawa and Academy kits so I messed about with the canopies and found that the Hasegawa canopy fits the Academy kit pretty well and has the advantage of having the back windows as part of the fuselage, as in the canopy replaces the fuselage to the back of the windows rather that the windows fitting into the fuselage as inserts. There is a Squadron canopy available for the Hasegawa kit so I think there will be some of those in my future as I have several of the Academy kits. The other complaint about the Academy kit is the chin scoop but a little reshaping of the nose will fix that if it bothers a person. Not much of a price to pay for a B with an accurate wing. The Academy windscreen framing is poorly done and makes the center portion too small and the eyebrow too large on top. Just using a Vac windscreen for a Hasegawa kit would be an easy fix. But it looks like a Mustang either way.

[reserve]

Have to agree. The ill fit I think probably stems from my failure to get the front part of the canopy in the right place, an assumption based on the idea that the parts are the right size. In any system if there's a problem I mostly look at the most unreliable portion of said system and that's me.

I did have to do a little carving on the nose to blend in the chin scoop but not much, and now it's painted up with a clear coat curing. Should be able to get back on this soon

[reserve]

Finished it up tonight













Came out OK I guess but not like I'd intended. I tried to fade the upper surfaces but did not get aggressive enough, it can't really be seen. I did a black Flory's wash on it and that's barely visible as well, and I did not do such a great job masking the canopy. I also just noticed I managed to break the radio antenna off somewhere at some time won't be finding that I'll bet.

Still, passed some time, learned a few things and ended up with something that looks like a B model Mustang

[handiabled]

You made quick work of this one! I like subtle weathering you did

[lyle]

Very nice work.

[reserve]

Thanks blokes I've had 'em come out better. Had 'em come out worse also

[jeaton01]

I think it looks very nice. I usually replace the antenna with music wire because I inevitably break them during construction and the plastic won't stand any tension from a wire to the tail.

[stikpusher]

In the big scheme of things in this kit, the canopy fit issue is small beans. The overall finish looks quite nice!

[kyledehart5]

Excellent work on this one. Really looks great. Seems like a nice little kit.

[reserve]

Thanks you gents

[TJ]

Great finish on this. And the fact you did a scheme not normally seen. Lt. Glover would be proud

[reserve]

Thank you sir I am fond of trying to not make my stuff look like everyone else's to the extent possible. Just like to be different when I can

[deafpanzer]

Love the art nose and it goes well with the color of its nose! Well done!