P51D Mustang; #5 flugvélasveit, Icelandic Commonwealth AF 1945

[Doug K]

In my fevered imagination (the same world as I've used to create my Royal Scottish Navy & Airforce models elsewhere), the ancient Libertarian Capitalist government of Iceland wasn't subsumed by the Norwegian crown in the 13th Century but survived through to the mid 20th.
The P51D was supplied to the Icelandic Commonwealth airforce to bolster anti-aircraft activity far out to sea, including as far as the Faeroes and even Northern Scotland. This role dictated the colour scheme which is based on some proposed Costal Command Arctic camouflage developed for the RAF in 1943.
The flugvélasveit (squadron) symbol, a Norse/Celtic design for Mjölnir, Thor's hammer, adorns the tail and the heraldic crest for the Commonwealth adorns the wings and fuselage.

IMG_5475 by doug_alba, on Flickr

IMG_5476 by doug_alba, on Flickr

IMG_5477 by doug_alba, on Flickr

IMG_5478 by doug_alba, on Flickr

The colours are based on Sir Peter Scott's work on the Navy's Western Approaches camouflage for ships from MTBs upwards and was never actually applied to any aircraft, but when I found them in SAM around Christmas I knew I had to try it. I sort of combined an RAF pattern a little with US Navy practice and used the closest Tamiya acrylics I could find. The model is the Airfix 1/72 P51D, OoB. I still paint with a hairy stick and I've never used this much Tamiya acrylics before but, given how crappy my recent experience with my previously preferred Humbrol has been of late (especially with white), I thought I'd give it a go.
I'm happy enough to decide this this is a recently delivered machine so have not really weathered it at all!

[TomZ]

 

TomZ

[NARSES2]

That does look good 

[Doug K]

Thanks guys, I have a feeling the next one in this paint will be an Airfix Beaufort..... or maybe an ex Norwegian He115

[Old Wombat]

 

[zenrat]

The colours (not the scheme - just the shades chosen) have an IDF feel to me.
And of course the white tail is very Australian.

I like it a lot.  Good job.

[Doug K]

The colours (not the scheme - just the shades chosen) have an IDF feel to me.
And of course the white tail is very Australian.

I like it a lot.  Good job.

Yeah, I see what you mean, almost US Navy aggressor too. I build model ships too, so I've seen plenty Fairmile D and Flower Class corvettes using similar, though some times more of a splinter (which I may try next). Continuing the white tail was inspired by US Navy Hudson's etc that I've seen and the fact I needed the background for the decal 😉

[Captain Canada]

Glad that I was pointed in the direction of this beautiful build ! Love it ! The Mustang is such a beautiful machine to begin with, and she looks so good in this scheme !

[kerick]

That's a great job. I love the colors and the pattern. And unless the aircraft are in terrible conditions and heavy war use I don't believe there is need for much weathering. The military has a love of cleanliness.

[Glenn Gilbertson]

A good idea and beautifully modelled!