The P-51 Mustang is one of the most famous fighters of WWII and history was made in 1942 when the Rolls Royce Merlin engine was grafted onto the early Mustang to create the legend that it became.
The P-51H came too late for WWII but before the end of the war, the RAF had ordered one airframe for testing but that order was cancelled soon after the Japanese surrender.
So, what if the A bomb didn't work as expected and needed more time for development and there was no real certainty of what to expect from it?
The Japanese where very reluctant to surrender after the two bombs so, if there had been no nukes, they probably wouldn't have surrendered when they did.
That would probably mean invasion of mainland Japan and a much longer war so, if this happened , the British would've probably had the plane delivered. I know, jet engines were the new thing by then and as such, it would still take some time for the technology to mature so, there was still the need for new and better prop fighters.
What if the British did test the P-51H and went further, doing the same thing they did to the early Mustang but this time using the Griffon 130 engine? And while at it, they removed the .50Cal MGs and threw in 4 Hispano 20mm cannons for some more bang?
This has probably been done before but i don't care, this one will be mine. ;D :mellow:
I'm using the RS models' 1/72 P-51H kit with some Special Hobby and Xtrakit spitfire bits.
Started on the interior, seemed a bit too bare on the sides so i just cut some small styrene bits and added small details based on pics of the cockpit. Nothing much, just to make it a bit busier.
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Then started the interior color research, no pics of the P-51H's cockpit anywhere... i'd started by going with the green but then i remembered i've seen a lot of them in green and a lot in black so, i finally found something saying late war and post war Mustangs had their cockpits painted black.
This kit has a one piece canopy so, i chose black... It's been painted, just a black cockpit with some drybrushed and painted details.
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I'll have to modify another Italeri NATO modern pilot for this one, and IMO, the figure itself doesn't really look like a modern fighter pilot... the flight gear is modern type but that doesn't look like a modern helmet and it has what seem like goggles on the top of the head so, at the most, Korea war era? :unsure:
Anyway, i'll cut him up and do my best to make it work, i don't have any proper WWII pilot figures that i can use and i don't really want to steal a figure from another kit.
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I have to find another source for good 1/72 figures as PJ productions closed it's business and i can't seem to find another brand that has decent 1/72 pilots available. If anyone has any pointers, please let me know.
This will be a simple build so i'm hoping to get this done fairly quickly but we all know how that story goes... :rolleyes:
:cheers:
Nice! I did an RNZAF P-51H a while ago (as an M variant), but kept the hardware OOB:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50336313068_07d1a19788_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jG3LbG)
1:72 North American P-51M "Mustang", aircraft "E/NZ5850" (a.k.a. "Lulu Belle") of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) 3 Squadron; Nissan Island (New Guinea), May 1945 (Whif/RS Model kit) (https://flic.kr/p/2jG3LbG) by Dizzyfugu (https://www.flickr.com/photos/dizzyfugu/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50336300873_b488668825_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jG3Gyr)
1:72 North American P-51M "Mustang", aircraft "E/NZ5850" (a.k.a. "Lulu Belle") of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) 3 Squadron; Nissan Island (New Guinea), May 1945 (Whif/RS Model kit) (https://flic.kr/p/2jG3Gyr) by Dizzyfugu (https://www.flickr.com/photos/dizzyfugu/), on Flickr
At least one P-51H was delivered to the RAF for testing and evaluation. I recall a build article in (I think) SAM a few years ago but may be imagining that. Certainly recall a magazine ('Aeroplane'?) article with pics. Will need to pop into the loft to check.
EDIT: more on 'lightweight' RAF Ponies at https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235078770-raf-p-51h-mustang/. Mentions the 'Aeroplane' article. I've clearly muddled up my 'Mustang V' candidate variants!
EDIT 2: and I'm now pretty certain I'm wrong about a SAM article.
Anyway, your build to be a Tiger Force fighter, alternative to the Tempest II and dH Hornet?
That's a sweet build, Thomas! Love the scheme. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Quote from: kitbasher on February 07, 2025, 01:28:02 AMAt least one P-51H was delivered to the RAF for testing and evaluation. I recall a build article in (I think) SAM a few years ago but may be imagining that. Certainly recall a magazine ('Aeroplane'?) article with pics. Will need to pop into the loft to check.
EDIT: more on 'lightweight' RAF Ponies at https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235078770-raf-p-51h-mustang/. Mentions the 'Aeroplane' article. I've clearly muddled up my 'Mustang V' candidate variants!
EDIT 2: and I'm now pretty certain I'm wrong about a SAM article.
Anyway, your build to be a Tiger Force fighter, alternative to the Tempest II and dH Hornet?
I was going by what i read on the Secret Projects Forum: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/mustang-xp-51f-g-j-prototypes.12426/page-2
(BTW, there's Kitnut617's Mustang X build posted on this thread)
Seems like they had an F and some say a G model was also shipped to the UK but there were no tests done with it.
Anyway, i did say mine was modified by the Brits but i also like the idea of this model being adopted by the Australians as they did place an order for some P-51H models but cancelled right after the US cancelled theirs.
But last night while thinking about it, i decided to make this one a prototype like the Mustang Mk.X. as i have the necessary markings and that way i won't be complicating the backstory with production and in-service details. I have another one of these kits and the Modelsvit 1/48 kit in my stash so i can use other ideas on future builds. :mellow:
Quote from: kitbasher on February 07, 2025, 01:28:02 AMEDIT: more on 'lightweight' RAF Ponies at https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235078770-raf-p-51h-mustang/. Mentions the 'Aeroplane' article. I've clearly muddled up my 'Mustang V' candidate variants!
I love the way all the BritModeller JMNs are getting all screwed up about number of prop blades, height of the fins etc. They should adopt OUR way of thinking and just build the kit ANYway they like! ;D
I've got an RS P-51H kit that I'd like to make one of the earlier 'lighweights' out of, I love the look of the almost horizontally sliding canopies that the Fs, Gs and Js had. :wub:
I like the idea behind this :thumbsup:
If the Bomb hadn't of worked, or if the Japanese had fought on then it's quite likely these late developments of the Mustang and the P.47 etc would have been used if only because none of the available jets would have had the range necessary to get from Okinawa and back.
Which opens up the possibility of WWII period tankers refuelling them en route.
Lancasters? Yorks? Stirlings? B-24s? :o
Quote from: NARSES2 on February 07, 2025, 05:53:25 AMI like the idea behind this :thumbsup:
If the Bomb hadn't of worked, or if the Japanese had fought on then it's quite likely these late developments of the Mustang and the P.47 etc would have been used if only because none of the available jets would have had the range necessary to get from Okinawa and back.
That's one of the reasons i'd thought about because the early jets didn't have the "legs" necessary and both the US and UK were not keen on having one land or crash on Japanese soil and allowing them to get their hands on the tech. With the way the air war was going in the Pacific, prop planes would've been less risky and the Japanese could hardly do anything about it.
Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 07, 2025, 05:57:42 AMWhich opens up the possibility of WWII period tankers refuelling them en route.
Lancasters? Yorks? Stirlings? B-24s? :o
Would the early jets be able to fly at the low speeds necessary for in flight refueling? If so, that's certainly a possibility. :thumbsup:
Quote from: DogfighterZen on February 07, 2025, 06:35:01 AMWould the early jets be able to fly at the low speeds necessary for in flight refueling? If so, that's certainly a possibility. :thumbsup:
I'm sure they could, most tankings these days are at 200-250 kts and they'd have to fly that slow to land anyway.
Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 07, 2025, 08:01:46 AMQuote from: DogfighterZen on February 07, 2025, 06:35:01 AMWould the early jets be able to fly at the low speeds necessary for in flight refueling? If so, that's certainly a possibility. :thumbsup:
I'm sure they could, most tankings these days are at 200-250 kts and they'd have to fly that slow to land anyway.
Here's a piece of Pathe Newsreel to show that they not only could, but actually did! https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/84134/
Yes, that's Flight Refuelling Ltd's trials Lancastrian tanker and a modified RAF Meteor Mk IV being tanked.
I think that was in 1947 though, a little late to sort out the 'Japanese Problem'.
A couple of P-51s have been built with Griffons for Air Racing. At least one used an H model tail.
I recall there has been a kit for at least Precious Metal, and somebody has built it with military markings and guns.
Quote from: Rheged on February 07, 2025, 09:01:12 AMQuote from: PR19_Kit on February 07, 2025, 08:01:46 AMQuote from: DogfighterZen on February 07, 2025, 06:35:01 AMWould the early jets be able to fly at the low speeds necessary for in flight refueling? If so, that's certainly a possibility. :thumbsup:
I'm sure they could, most tankings these days are at 200-250 kts and they'd have to fly that slow to land anyway.
Here's a piece of Pathe Newsreel to show that they not only could, but actually did! https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/84134/
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thanks for the info, gentlemen! :thumbsup:
Kit, the title of the video says 1949 so, very late for WWII, even if it had gone into 1946. My idea would have the Mustang XX prototype being ready in late 1945. I believe it would give the RAF and Rolls Royce enough time for the conversion if they got the first H airframe delivered around June 45. They did the Mustang X conversion in less than 3 months in 1942 so, with the experience gained with the Mustang and the Griffon engine on Spitfires during the war up to 45, i think they would be able to do it in about the same time or even less.
There are details to consider if one wants to be a rivet counter and some of those would probably cancel the whole Griffon Mustang idea back then like the extra 300 pounds of the Griffon and all that would do to the lightweight H airframe, the center of gravity would probably shift forward a bit and that would've needed some work to correct if possible within a reasonable time frame... all the real world stuff that doesn't really matter in our world... :mellow:
Quote from: perttime on February 07, 2025, 11:42:09 AMA couple of P-51s have been built with Griffons for Air Racing. At least one used an H model tail.
I recall there has been a kit for at least Precious Metal, and somebody has built it with military markings and guns.
I am aware of the Griffon Mustangs, they're gorgeous! And i also remember seeing one like you're describing, i believe the kit was the High Planes kit. It was posted on here, just not sure if it was a user of the forum who posted it as a topic or if it was linked in one of the "Whifs found on the..." topics.
I guess that if anyone had doubts that the conversion could be done, those two show otherwise but again, it may have been a bit of a stretch during wartime and maybe seen as unjustified for not being enough of an improvement over the original Merlin V-1650-9 or the -11, intended for the L model that was never built.
Those racer Mustangs were heavily modified and those changes we
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News for this build, i received the Montex masks set for the canopy and wheels today. Maybe that will give me a mojo boost for the weekend, seeing that i'm coming down with a flu or something similar and my body feels like it's been hit by a bus... :banghead:
Only a bus mate ??? ..won't be that bad then ..if it was a freight train then you'd be in trouble 😆
Keep warm bud and drink copious amounts of coffee and water :thumbsup:
Quote from: Wardukw on February 08, 2025, 11:56:06 PMOnly a bus mate ??? ..won't be that bad then ..if it was a freight train then you'd be in trouble 😆
Keep warm bud and drink copious amounts of coffee and water :thumbsup:
Thanks, Phill! :thumbsup:
Yep, this time i got lucky and it didn't hit as hard a freight train.. Took a pill last night before going to bed and i'm feeling better today, surely not as sore so this one wasn't even a school bus... maybe one of those smaller shuttle buses... :rolleyes: ;D
Anyway, didn't get anything done besides getting a few bit off the sprues and cleaned up, which is something this kit needs, careful cleaning of the flash and mold lines on most parts.
I'm hoping to be able to get some work done on this one today.
:cheers:
Quote from: DogfighterZen on February 07, 2025, 06:35:01 AMand both the US and UK were not keen on having one land or crash on Japanese soil and allowing them to get their hands on the tech.
Yup, that was one of the reasons the RAF didn't post any Meteors to Europe until the War was very nearly over.
Am I correct in recalling that the P-51D's Merlin cowling was more or less (if not actually) big enough to take a Griffon without modifications?
The race P-51s that used Griffons just extended them a tad IIRC. The outer shape looks pretty much the same as a Merlin powered one.
Not sure if it is an optical illusion but the nose of a Merlin Spitfire seems to have a pretty flat top, while a Griffon Spitfire seems to curve down towards the Spinner.
The whole engine of a Griffon Spitfire is canted down quite a bit, you can tell by looking of the downthrust angle of the prop.
Quote from: kitbasher on February 10, 2025, 05:48:25 AMAm I correct in recalling that the P-51D's Merlin cowling was more or less (if not actually) big enough to take a Griffon without modifications?
Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 10, 2025, 07:52:11 AMThe race P-51s that used Griffons just extended them a tad IIRC. The outer shape looks pretty much the same as a Merlin powered one.
Gents, i'm sorry but no, it wasn't. The Griffon has a 6% larger frontal area. and they had to do quite a lot of structural mods to fit the Griffon in there.
I believe it's easy to see in the pics, you can see the bulges over the "heads". Also, compare the height and shape of the fuselage from the exhaust stacks to the curve at the top of the cowling. It's definitely wider.
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I've read a bit about this conversion, besides watching quite a few interviews/docs of the teams who did it for the racers, they all say there's not enough room for a Griffon in the normal P-51 cowling so, there's that.
BTW, i have to thank you for bringing this up as the racer's image has made me decide on the exhausts... I was gonna leave this mod for another build but now i see it's something i'll regret not doing... i'll have some surgery to do but i think it'll be a nice detail. :mellow:
Regarding the model, i've had to replace a resin part which, doesn't make any sense to me. It's the tail gear support structure, made of very thin(~1mm)resin, cast horizontally... It snapped as soon as the blade got under.
Still, i see similar small parts on the sprues, why not styrene instead of resin? :banghead:
Simple fix, though. You can see the resin block on which the parts came on the top right and to the left you can see the fragments just recreating the part to check the size for a new one. Out comes the small bits and scrap styrene bag...
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A few minutes laterrr... ;D
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Crude, yes, it's gonna be closed inside the fuselage and never seen again, so it's more than good enough.
So now, guess it'll take a bit longer as i'm gonna remove the Merlin's exhausts and put the Griffon's in.
:cheers:
Thanks for clarifying 👍
The problem is that very few pics are ever taken of an aircraft head-on. :(
As for resin landing gear, most of them would be candidates for the 'Bad Idea GB'!
Resin is just too fragile, specially when they're built to 'true scale', as many of them purport to be.
Quote from: kitbasher on February 10, 2025, 11:47:14 PMThanks for clarifying 👍
My pleasure, mate! :thumbsup:
And i'm home on sick leave for the rest of the week so this helps to keep me entertained while coughing my throat out or draining my nose... :banghead:
This type of discussion is something i enjoy. I always end up either reading an article i haven't read before or finding pics i hadn't seen so it's always an opportunity to learn. :mellow:
One thing i'm almost sure will happen when i do post the finished build on Facebook groups is that there will be people saying stuff like "Oh. it's too heavy, it's too bulky, it's little improvement over the Merlin, etc, so it would never happen! :rolleyes: "
Sure, i'm also of the opinion that back during the war, as it happened, there was little to gain from putting Griffon-powered P-51s in production. They were doing fine with the Merlin and all the hassle to produce what would almost be a completely new fighter(like the P-51H) would take too long and wouldn't help the war effort in any significant way. And i've read that Edgar Schmued, the designer, wanted to keep the Merlins in the Mustang so,
But still, if the engine didn't really show any substantial advantage compared to Merlins, why did the Brits insist and kept the Griffon on the Spitfire all the way to the Spiteful/SeaFang? I believe that says something about the engine.
So, that's where i turn to the British, who apparently had 1000 of the H on order but cancelled it around the end of the war. They created the original Mk.X Mustang prototype so it makes sense to me that they'd be the ones doing it with the Griffon to create the Mk.XX.
Funny fact is that the Griffon might have solved the instability issues caused by the rear fuselage gas tank
on the Mustangs that made it tail heavy until the tank was almost empty but, obviously, it would also move the CG forward as it used up the gas in that rear tank...
Racing Mustangs with the Griffon were built from P-51D so, the original fuselage. On most of the racers you see the H tail fin and they seem to fly well, at least well enough for races.
And that's probably what it would take, the extended fuselage and bigger tail of the P-51H to further mitigate the Griffon's installation issues and, my idea for the build is that's what the folks at Rolls Royce thought as they decided to do it.
Instead of cancelling the 1000 airframes, the RAF would reduce the number to about 150, same number as the Spiteful order. The counter rotating props would deal with the engine's torque, i suppose.
Because this is a rather complicated subject, with this build i'm keeping the backstory simple, just creating a background where it was put into service for a brief period. This will be the prototype and maybe i'll only expand a bit more on the test period. :mellow:
Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 11, 2025, 01:38:08 AMThe problem is that very few pics are ever taken of an aircraft head-on. :(
As for resin landing gear, most of them would be candidates for the 'Bad Idea GB'!
Resin is just too fragile, specially when they're built to 'true scale', as many of them purport to be.
I think you can find a decent amount of pics of several jets although i admit that warbirds are harder to find from a head-on view.
In this case, there are plenty of close up pics of the Griffon Mustangs, especially of the cowling. Yes, it is even taller because of that intake on top but it's easy to see the wider section right above the exhausts.
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I understand why someone would say they're the same but clearly, these cowlings are all exclusively built for these racers so it would only make sense to make a cowling properly adjusted to reduce drag.
On my P-51H, i'll just say Roll Royce took the easy way and simply added the same bulges used on Spitfires to reduce development and production time. ;D
Regarding resin, i agree. I'm not the biggest fan of resin parts but, when the alternative is spending countless hours making my own parts, which would probably never have the resin bits' quality, i'll make the effort and dig out the CA tube. :rolleyes:
Those bits which i destroyed didn't make much sense as there were similar sized bits on the sprues and the way that they're molded, one side of the triangle was attached to the casting block, making it very difficult to cut off without damaging it.
After this long post, all i have to say is, although i feel like Cr**p, i may get some work done during these next days.
:cheers:
Get well soon, matey. Therapeutic modelling will do you good.
And thanks again for the Mustang/Griffon detail, although :banghead: you've made me want to throw a Griffon Mustang together!
Quote from: kitbasher on February 11, 2025, 07:07:30 AMGet well soon, matey. Therapeutic modelling will do you good.
Thank you! I'll try my best to have something to show before i get back to work. :thumbsup:
Quote from: kitbasher on February 11, 2025, 07:07:30 AMAnd thanks again for the Mustang/Griffon detail, although :banghead: you've made me want to throw a Griffon Mustang together!
I think you should follow your heart's wishes! ;D :thumbsup:
There's some Griffon Mustang profiles and 6-views at http://taichi56jp.g1.xrea.com/ Just small ones to view for free.
At least Red Baron, Precious Metal and Miss Ashley II (which wasn't really a Mustang but the fuselage was based on the Mustang construction).
Oh... He has been posting many larger profiles on facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/13949458301
Browsing his posts ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/13949458301/user/1261719831/ ), Precious Metal looks much shorter then Miss Ashley II, and Red Baron seems to have a much straighter nose.
Quote from: perttime on February 11, 2025, 10:20:38 AMThere's some Griffon Mustang profiles and 6-views at http://taichi56jp.g1.xrea.com/ Just small ones to view for free.
At least Red Baron, Precious Metal and Miss Ashley II (which wasn't really a Mustang but the fuselage was based on the Mustang construction).
Oh... He has been posting many larger profiles on facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/13949458301
Browsing his posts ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/13949458301/user/1261719831/ ), Precious Metal looks much shorter then Miss Ashley II, and Red Baron seems to have a much straighter nose.
Precious Metal was a normal P-51D lengthwise, with only the tail fin of the H, as was Miss Ashley, which had the H's complete tail so, they may have extended the rear fuselage before the tail was grafted on.
The Red Baron's cowling has an intake on top, similar to the one on Precious Metal but it's much wider and that's probably what makes the cowling look so straight.
I find it hard to judge their length on those profiles, especially with those smaller canopies.
News for the build, i've managed to extract the Merlin's exhaust pipes without damaging the surrounding detail so now its time to drill... :mellow:
Back to the build, issue with the exhausts out of the way. :mellow:
Yesterday i cut the Merlin engine's exhausts off so today i got my mini-drill out and after some pencil lines to mark the exact spots, i carved and drilled out the opening for the Xtrakit Spitfire Mk.22's exhausts.
Did it slowly, checking multiple times with the exhausts and the Griffon's cowling bulges in place to make sure i was drilling where i was supposed to...
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After both openings were done, some styrene strips were added on the interior of the fuselage to make a base for the exhausts. This way they can be painted separately and added later after all the paint work has been done of the fuselage. :mellow:
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Now it's the easy but boring task of cleaning up the molding lines and use a drill to carve up the interior of the Xtrakit exhaust pipes.
:cheers:
Nice work ! Love the Mustang. Then again, who doesn't !
Quote from: Captain Canada on February 12, 2025, 02:31:06 PMNice work ! Love the Mustang. Then again, who doesn't !
Thank you, Captain! :thumbsup:
Mustang is one of the most beautiful planes ever... and no matter how many cool stealth fighter designs are created, the Mustang's beauty can't be denied... it will always hold a special place in aviation.
Makes me wish i'd bought some of those HPM race plane kits back when they were all over evil-bay like a rash.
Most stealth fighter designs are just plain ugly to my mind anyway.
With the possible exception of the F-23, that's a beauty!
Quote from: zenrat on February 13, 2025, 03:18:01 AMMakes me wish i'd bought some of those HPM race plane kits back when they were all over evil-bay like a rash.
Same here... and i remember almost buying one when they were available at the PJ productions website. I had one in the cart along with a bunch of other stuff but then reality kicked in with the available budget for that month and i ended up removing it instead of the PJ 1/72 Mirage III/V kit before the checkout. :-\
Finding one now will probably be difficult and most likely very expensive. They are very good looking planes indeed.
Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 13, 2025, 04:45:58 AMMost stealth fighter designs are just plain ugly to my mind anyway.
With the possible exception of the F-23, that's a beauty!
I'll admit that although i do think that they could look better, i like some of the real ones we've seen so far. There are exceptions for me and, no, Fat Amy(F-35) is not in the same league as the Mustang, but i like the way it looks anyway. ;D
The YF-22 was horrible compared to the YF-23 but IMO, the F-22 became a good looking machine.
There's no denying the beauty of the YF-23 design but i know that if the wings remained the same size for the extended fuselage of the production model, it would begin to resemble a dart like the F-104... :wacko:
Seriously now, the images of the production model look good and like the F-22, i'm sure the F-23 would've looked even better than the prototype... That's why one of the 4 YF-23 kits in my stash is meant exactly for the purpose of building a production model. ;)
Back to the Mustang, today was pipe drilling day... ;D
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Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics but i was taking them while talking to the guys at my "local" modelling club on messenger. ;D
Yup, definitely an improvement so the work payed off... :mellow:
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Now i can concentrate on finishing the interior bits so i can close the fuselage and move on with the build. Not much to do before that happens, just have to assemble the tailwheel's support structure and glue it in place, same with the cockpit...
:cheers:
Nicely done. :thumbsup: I hate to think how many I would have ruined, trying the same thing...
:thumbsup: :mellow:
:thumbsup: Klasse !
Hotte
Quote from: Rick Lowe on February 13, 2025, 07:57:38 PMNicely done. :thumbsup: I hate to think how many I would have ruined, trying the same thing...
You and me both. Exceptionaly well done, wish my hands were even marginaly as steady as that nowdays.
Thank you, gentlemen! :thumbsup:
It was something i just had to do cause those pipes looked awful.
Unfortunately i haven't done anything else since then cause i've been fiddling with detailing the Heller Alouette III's engine.
Well, finally got the pilot assemble in the proper position but it still needs some work. That won't hold up the rest of the build, the pilot should be easy to put in place after the fuselage is closed.
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Look'n good! :thumbsup:
Well, haven't been doing much at the bench lately but finally got the pilot done and started assembling the interior...
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Hoping it won't take another two or three weeks to get some more work done on this... :banghead:
Small update on this one...
Instrument panel and pilot in place and the tail wheel assembly is sorted so i'm finally ready to close the fuselage.
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This kit really needs some attention when assembling the tail wheel because the whole assembly sits on two small round holes present on the side of both fuse halves and that's it. There's no way to put it in place and leave it so, i had to find something to support it.
As always, i had a few bits of scrap sprue on the bench so i just used a round section to serve as an internal support to attach the tailwheel assembly to and make it stronger.
It's possible to insert it into the gear well after the fuselage is closed but i think that makes it much harder to put it in there and have it stay aligned with two milimeters of contact area on the interior so i'm staisfied with this solution and i'll just have to be careful to avoid snapping the tailwheel off.
Looking good so far Rui 👌
:thumbsup:
Nice. :lol:
:thumbsup:
Last night i got the fuselage closed up and, like every other part of this kit, they needed serious clamping to stay together...
Had to get the Canopy cut off its sprue to check the fit because it's molded with the framing and the panel around the windscreen in one piece and it'll also need some forcing to fit flush with the rest of the surrounding fuselage.
Quote from: DogfighterZen on March 26, 2025, 03:09:35 AMLast night i got the fuselage clones up and, like every other part of this kit, they needed serious clamping to stay together...
One of my current builds is going that way as well (all down to me I hasn't to add :rolleyes: ) but 4 clamps and some medium super glue solved the issue ;)
Quote from: NARSES2 on March 26, 2025, 06:24:49 AMQuote from: DogfighterZen on March 26, 2025, 03:09:35 AMLast night i got the fuselage clones up and, like every other part of this kit, they needed serious clamping to stay together...
One of my current builds is going that way as well (all down to me I hasn't to add :rolleyes: ) but 4 clamps and some medium super glue solved the issue ;)
No need for super glue here this time but i did have to use a bit of grip strength to convince it... ;D
Tonight i got the wings done and this was also an exercise in finding the right spots to sand and scrape some excess plastic that was in the way of the best possible fit.
I knew this kit needs work so it's nothing to be surprised about by now...
IMG_20250326_212328_3.jpg
After the wings were firmly glued in place, i moved over to the instrument panel coaming, which needed some serious trimming to allow the canopy to fit properly. This meant that all the original shape and detail present had to be erased and reshaped. No big deal as it will hardly be noticeable with the canopy in place.
IMG_20250326_223739_8.jpg
The small step visible in the pic above is not a problem when the canopy is slightly pressed into place but i really had to reshape the IP coaming or else i was risking cracking the windshield.
I also had to remove the pilot to sand down his bottom as it seems to be too big and the poor guy was hitting his head on the canopy... :rolleyes:
:cheers:
Quote from: DogfighterZen on March 26, 2025, 05:35:30 PMI also had to remove the pilot to sand down his bottom as it seems to be too big and the poor guy was hitting his head on the canopy... :rolleyes:
:cheers:
;D ;D Tickled my sense of humour ;D ;D
Nice work on the exhausts !
Nice work going on here, Rui! :thumbsup:
Thank you, gentlemen! :thumbsup:
This build has picked up some momentum and i've already taken care of the radiator intake. It also needed some careful clean up but it's now looking good in its place.
Now it's time for some PSR on most of the seams and some will need some sprue goo for gaps... Probably rescribe some panel lines in the end of the PSR sessions.
Parts left to go on besides the prop and landing gear are just the radiator's exhaust door, horizontal stabs and canopy but, before i install the canopy, i still have to put the gunsight in place, hoping this doesn't get in the way of the canopy. If that goes well, paint the reshaped instrument panel coaming and the canopy's sliding base, mask and glue the canopy on.
Coming along nicely! :thumbsup:
And always remember - "If Brute Force and Ignorance don't work, you're not using enough of them!"
Quote from: Rick Lowe on March 27, 2025, 09:35:35 PMComing along nicely! :thumbsup:
And always remember - "If Brute Force and Ignorance don't work, you're not using enough of them!"
That sentence suits this build perfectly. Every single part needs some force to stay in place.
Last night i managed to glue the gunsight in place and i'm ready to paint these last cockpit details and glue the canopy in place.
:cheers:
I agree with everyone about the Mustang... I did these a few years ago.
(https://i.imgur.com/QuksFeS.png)
https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=48909.30 (https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=48909.30)
Oooh I like that. Kind of Martin Baker meets North American. :thumbsup:
Quote from: NARSES2 on March 28, 2025, 06:32:40 AMOooh I like that. Kind of Martin Baker meets North American. :thumbsup:
My thoughts exactly, except it looks as if it's Allison powered with the carb intake on top of the cowling.
Quote from: PR19_Kit on March 28, 2025, 07:37:02 AMQuote from: NARSES2 on March 28, 2025, 06:32:40 AMOooh I like that. Kind of Martin Baker meets North American. :thumbsup:
My thoughts exactly, except it looks as if it's Allison powered with the carb intake on top of the cowling.
I did wonder about the carb, but as I know nothing about engines whatsoever I stayed stumm :angel:
Quote from: NARSES2 on March 28, 2025, 07:47:17 AMI did wonder about the carb, but as I know nothing about engines whatsoever I stayed stumm :angel:
The original Allison powered P-51As had carb intakes like that, the Merlin powered ones are underneath. Or most of them are anyway.
Cockpit is done and ready for the canopy. Got some masking tape strips painted with XF-57 Buff as seat belts for the pilot, removed the molded-on gunsight lense and replaced it with a bit of clear plastic from some product packaging.
486284352_990390873073022_8120584263472665631_n.jpg
486498823_1565462964128354_8715380324733428949_n.jpg
Canopy will now be glued on and the painting masks applied later. After that, PSR on the gaps and seams begins...
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Exxxxcellent matey 👌 ;D
Also check out Volbeat..Servant of the mind ;)
Thanks, gents! :thumbsup:
Last night i still managed to get the canopy and horizontal stabs on and already started on some seam work... Hoping to get the PSR out of the way and maybe get started on the armament today.
4X20mm cannons will do the trick for this one, no rockets, bombs or even drop tanks... maybe i'll use more when i build the Modelsvit or the other RS models kit i have in the stash.
Starting to look like a plane now... :wub:
486215952_676267914874504_5400363971701182456_n.jpg
Getting to a stage where i really wanna see his one finished soon... Can't wait to have it in the cabinet next to the Spiteful Mk.XV... And then, the rest of the "Super Prop" collection is waiting in my stash. Maybe i'll get the Tempest Mk.II going... :mellow:
Quote from: Wardukw on March 29, 2025, 10:42:02 PMAlso check out Volbeat..Servant of the mind ;)
I have and i like most of the songs on that album... :mellow: 🤘
Quote from: DogfighterZen on March 29, 2025, 11:15:47 PMThanks, gents! :thumbsup:
Last night i still managed to get the canopy and horizontal stabs on and already started on some seam work... Hoping to get the PSR out of the way and maybe get started on the armament today.
4X20mm cannons will do the trick for this one, no rockets, bombs or even drop tanks... maybe i'll use more when i build the Modelsvit or the other RS models kit i have in the stash.
Starting to look like a plane now... :wub:
486215952_676267914874504_5400363971701182456_n.jpg
Getting to a stage where i really wanna see his one finished soon... Can't wait to have it in the cabinet next to the Spiteful Mk.XV... And then, the rest of the "Super Prop" collection is waiting in my stash. Maybe i'll get the Tempest Mk.II going... :mellow:
Quote from: Wardukw on March 29, 2025, 10:42:02 PMAlso check out Volbeat..Servant of the mind ;)
I have and i like most of the songs on that album... :mellow: 🤘
Yeah ..a damn good album ..definitely ;D 🤘🤘
The rift in alot of those songs is simple but so damn good ;D
Quote from: DogfighterZen on March 29, 2025, 11:15:47 PMMaybe i'll get the Tempest Mk.II going... :mellow:
Yes please, one of my all time favourite aeroplanes :wub:
Quote from: NARSES2 on March 28, 2025, 07:47:17 AMQuote from: PR19_Kit on March 28, 2025, 07:37:02 AMQuote from: NARSES2 on March 28, 2025, 06:32:40 AMOooh I like that. Kind of Martin Baker meets North American. :thumbsup:
My thoughts exactly, except it looks as if it's Allison powered with the carb intake on top of the cowling.
I did wonder about the carb, but as I know nothing about engines whatsoever I stayed stumm :angel:
Downdraught versus updraught carburetor. Most V-1710 installations had the former, the latter common on the Merlin.
Interestingly the V-1710 used a Bendix-Stromberg pressure carburetor, on the market since 1938, which was not a float-type carburetor and thus not effected by negative G. The Merlin had a float-type carburetor which was the cause of its problems with cutting out in negative G conditions. "Miss Schilling's orifice" was partially successful as a short term solution, it was not installed at the time of the Battle of Britain, contrary to some stories. Rolls-Royce finally adopted the Bendix-Stromberg carburetor on the 60 series engines, after years of working with the RAE and redesigning the float carburetor to try to get it to work under all conditions. All of the Packard built V-1650s had a Bendix-Stromberg carburetor from the start.
Now imagine if R-R and the RAF had adopted the Bendix-Stromberg design back in 1939. During the Battle of Britain the 109s wouldn't have been able to use their "power-dive and runaway" escape tactic because the Spitfires wouldn't have the negative G fuel starvation issues caused by the use of a float type carburetor.
Ignoring the Bendix-Stromberg seems to contain an element of NIH syndrome.
:wacko:
Quote from: Wardukw on March 29, 2025, 11:47:28 PMYeah ..a damn good album ..definitely ;D 🤘🤘
The rift in alot of those songs is simple but so damn good ;D
Yep, these guys are good. It's actually one of my brother-in-law's favorite bands. :thumbsup:
Quote from: NARSES2 on March 30, 2025, 01:16:26 AMQuote from: DogfighterZen on March 29, 2025, 11:15:47 PMMaybe i'll get the Tempest Mk.II going... :mellow:
Yes please, one of my all time favourite aeroplanes :wub:
I know you like the Tempest, Chris. :mellow:
I admit i prefer the look of in-line piston engine fighters but the Tempest Mk.II is one of my favorite radial piston engine fighters along with the F4U and P-47. I've built those two already so, next on the list is definitely a Tempest... Can't forget i'm still working on this Mustang and the real world PoAF Alouette helicopter so, it may be a while till i dig the Tempest out of the stash... and i also want to begin work on the Hobby Boss M706 Commando's conversion into the Portuguese Chaimite APC for my dad... :rolleyes:
Quote from: jcf on March 30, 2025, 01:59:33 AMIgnoring the Bendix-Stromberg seems to contain an element of NIH syndrome.
:wacko:
Situation normal then...................