August's Bolivian Mustang trainer - FINISHED

[K5083]

I'll be doing a TF-51D of the F.A. Bolivia, overall grey with a shark mouth.



After some agonizing over whether to build it from the new Airfix or the old Hasegawa, I've just about decided on the Hasegawa.

I have no decals for this bird, everything will be home brew.

August

[splash]

Having built both kits I don't think you can go wrong with either choice as they are both nice kits.

Regards Splash

[fredk]

You gotta just love a trainer with sharks teeth.

[airjim]

I'm used to the camo birds, but those look nice.

Jim

[Old_Tonto]

It does look very cool & you can't go wrong with the Hasegawa kit.

[despondman]

Nice choice - they do look good.

[K5083]

Getting started. I am using the old-tool, raised panel line Hasegawa kit which has its faults but also some fine qualities.

Cockpit detail on this kit is desultory and largely inaccurate, but I am not doing much to improve it. Instead I am trying to duplicate Hasegawa's detail for the rear cockpit. Here it is before and after painting. I'll probably fit the front cockpit and then later build the rear cockpit into the half fuselage. Instrument panels supplied by Hasegawa are just blank; I guess there was a decal supplied with the kit but I will make new panels for both positions to keep them consistent.





August

[TobyC]

Nice detail. Far better than my paltry attempts on my Oscar.

[fredk]

Some fine detailing there

[TimJ]

Nice work on the cockpit.

[Migrant]

Great scheme August, I'm looking forward to this. Where did you find a two-seat canopy?

[Marek]

Nice work so far. It will be a conversation starter, already is.

[K5083]

Great scheme August, I'm looking forward to this. Where did you find a two-seat canopy?

Pavla's vac P-51D canopy set, item V72060, contains two shapes of single-seat P-51D canopies plus a TF canopy. Quite good value!

August

[fredk]

How are you getting on with this one?

[K5083]

Was out of town this weekend, so lost a few modeling evenings. Headed out of town tomorrow also but I did get the cockpit finished:



and the fuselage joined:



In a sense, not much to show for the first half of the month but major assembly should progress quickly and meanwhile I'll start working on designing the decals.

August