P-51D "Red Tails" Project
1
May 31, 2023Assembling and painting the cockpit. Also applying dry brush.2
December 21, 2016Assembling and painting the cockpit. Also applying dry brush, oils, etc...3
December 21, 2016Assembling and painting the cockpit. Also applying dry brush, oils, etc...4
December 21, 2016Assembling and painting the cockpit. Also applying dry brush, oils, etc...5
December 21, 2016Closed fuselage. Fits are very good so far.6
December 21, 2016Assembly and placement of the wings. A very quick and nice build so far.7
December 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.8
December 21, 2016Setting the flaps. Tests to place the flaps. It don't give any problem.9
December 21, 2016Painting with aluminium/silver by Lara.10
December 21, 2016The finish of this painting is very good. Too bad it was discontinued.11
December 21, 2016Painting the anti-reflective nose panel with Mr. Hobby H-78 (Olive Drab).12
December 21, 2016Applying lights with Mr. Hobby H-71 (Middle Stone).13
December 21, 2016Painting some panels with steel from Lara and masking to paint the corresponding areas from red.14
December 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.15
December 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.16
December 21, 2016Before painting the red I first apply a sand color (Tamiya XF-59) so that the red holds better.17
December 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.18
December 21, 2016Applying thin layers of red...19
December 21, 2016Applying thin layers of red until completely covered and a more intense red remains.20
December 21, 2016Applying thin layers of red until completely covered and a more intense red remains. Masks retired.21
December 21, 2016Applying thin layers of red until completely covered and a more intense red remains. Masks retired.22
December 21, 2016Applying thin layers of red until completely covered and a more intense red remains. Masks retired.23
December 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.24
December 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.25
December 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.26
December 21, 2016Flaps lowered with the stripes correctly aligned.27
December 21, 2016Mask with Maskol before painting the landing gear bays.28
December 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.29
May 31, 2023Preparation prior to the decals with bright wax Future type.30
May 31, 2023Painted propeller, bright wax Future type and placed decals.31
December 21, 2016Applying decals.32
May 31, 2023Academy's decal was damaged by fixing fluids during handling.33
December 21, 2016I have used a combination of Academy and Airfix decals.34
December 21, 2016Combination of Academy and Airfix decals.35
June 2, 2023Wingtip position lights. Pitot tube from spare parts box (it will be painted and put in place drilling the decal).36
December 21, 2016Combination of Academy and Airfix decals.37
December 21, 2016Trying to improve the landing gear. Inner cylinder in chrome and the rest in aluminum. Thin fishing line to simulate hydraulic cable.38
December 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.39
December 21, 2016Viewing the result with the landing gear in place. Canopy opened option.40
December 21, 2016Viewing the result with the landing gear in place. Canopy closed option.41
December 21, 2016Masking to apply matte varnish to the olive green of the hood and windscreen.42
December 21, 2016Applying matte varnish to the propeller.43
December 21, 2016Preparing oils.44
December 21, 2016Applying oils.45
December 21, 2016Applying oils.46
December 21, 2016Applying oils.47
December 21, 2016Applying oils.48
December 21, 2016Applying oils.49
December 21, 2016Painted exhausts.50
December 21, 2016Landing gear covers painted and put in place. Viewing the result with the propeller and canopy openend (still not glued).51
December 21, 2016Landing gear covers painted and put in place. Viewing the result with the propeller and canopy closed (still not glued).52
June 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).53
December 21, 2016Covers fastening to the landing gear done.54
June 5, 2023Hydraulics of gear covers done (have to paint them).55
December 21, 2016Landing gear light: using somewhat thick acetate and cut with a 1.5 punch which made the concave piece.56
December 21, 2016Hydraulics of gear covers and landing gear light painted and put in place.57
December 21, 2016Landing gear light.58
December 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).59
October 25, 2017Exhaust smoke with H-95.60
October 25, 2017Exhaust smoke with H-95.61
October 25, 2017I add pigments to finish the smoke.62
October 25, 2017I add pigments to finish the smoke and gunshot marks.63
October 25, 2017Gunshot marks with pigments.64
October 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...).65
October 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...).66
October 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...).67
October 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...).68
October 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...).69
October 25, 2017The handmade mirror. Comparison of proportions between the one included in the kit and the new one.70
October 25, 2017Doing tests.71
October 25, 2017Doing tests.72
October 25, 2017Doing tests.73
October 25, 2017Doing tests.74
October 25, 2017Mirror in place, finished and painted. Underwing tanks connections made with a stiff wire.75
October 25, 2017Mirror in place, finished and painted. Underwing tanks connections made with a stiff wire.76
October 25, 2017Antenna cable, rear of cockpit and propeller in place. Finished model.77
October 25, 2017Finished model.78
October 25, 2017Finished model.79
October 25, 2017Finished model.80
October 25, 2017Finished model.81
October 25, 2017Finished model.82
October 25, 2017Finished model.83
October 25, 2017Finished model.84
October 25, 2017Finished model.85
October 25, 2017Finished model.86
October 25, 2017Finished model.87
October 25, 2017Finished model.
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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.