Tom's Korean Pony

[TomW]

I'll be having a bash at the Academy F-51D kit in 1/72. Theres a choice of three Korean War markings and I'll make a choice next week on which to use.

Pictures to follow once the camera batteries have recharged.

Regards

Tom

[Old_Tonto]

Good choice Tom. I have build this kit & it just fell together.

I have no idea how accurate it is coz I don't care but it looks evey inch a Mustang.

[TomW]

Thanks OT, its been lingering in the stash for too long so time to get it built and double my number of finished Mustangs.


Pictures as promised:






Inside are two sprues of grey plastic for the aircraft and one for the bonus kit of a Willys Jeep (which I'll build at a later date)






Nice engraved detail all over





Also two optional canopies, one standard and one of the more bulged versions. Decals for three aircraft including Major Dean Hess' aircraft and the sharkmouth bird flown by Lt James Glessner:





Instructions are nice and clear so I dont foresee any major issues




Incidentally a lot of reviewers were very impressed by the new Airfix kits ability to have drooped flaps straight from the box, noting that it was a first for 1/72. Sorry guys but Academy got there first 15 years ago!

Roll on Wednesday's start.

Regards

Tom

[lancfan]

I'll watch this with interest Tom as I'm building the new Airfix kit using old Esci decals for the Dean Hess aircraft, I don't think there will be much to choose between them when we have both finished our Korean Mustangs. I have always liked Academy, their surface detail is just right.

David.

[Chris]

There was a decent Rock Hudson movie called 'Battle hymn' that featured Korean war F-51s.

[lancfan]

More specifically it was a biopic about Dean Hess in Korea.

David.

[jssel]

Another little bit of trivia. The Korean script on the nose translates to "By faith I fly." Hess being an ordained minister.

[Ian]

Nice to see Academy got the instructions correct with regards the inner part of the u/c doors being closed when the wheels are down.

[TomW]

Thanks for the interest chaps , I spent a couple of hours last night pre-painting and assembling the cockpit:








And this morning I spent a few minutes getting all the major bits together:








Total time so far approxiamately 2 hours not counting drying times for the humbrol enamels that are my usual weapon of choice, this is a simple but detailed kit and I think it would make excellant Blitz fodder, I'd forgotten how nice it is when a kit just falls together


Regards

Tom

[lancfan]

I'd forgotten how nice it is when a kit just falls together

One of the reasons I like Academy is their parts fit- the other is their detail and accuracy.

David

[jssel]

Great looking interior. Nice progress.

[PaulBradley]

Quick start, Tom!

[Saxon]

Built this one myself, nice kit and nice start.

[TomW]

More rapid progress in the last 24 hours on this build

I finished getting the major airframe components together last night and spent this afternoon after work sorting out the seams, needed nothing more than tippex and several grades of wet and dry paper to get a smooth airfame.

Here she is all masked up for spraying:








I've decided to try a different metallic spray for this aircraft and am using Humbrols acrylic 56 aluminium, this is the result after two light coats:







Very pleased with the coverage and the overall effect , currently the first coat of Klear is drying on the airframe and I'll apply a second before masking and painting the glare panel on the nose.

Regards

Tom

[aeroplanegripper]

That P-51 is looking nice and tidy Tom. I agree about the Academy mould it is nice. Well done mate.