µP-51D Microstang (finished page 2)

[Tophe]

    For my birthday (2 days after Christmas), my dear wife offered to me a P-51D Heller 1/72 kit. In fact, this was my own choice, not a surprise, because this kit includes 2 injected canopies and I needed one for my resin Ju-109 (https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=51121.0 ). What to do with the rest of the P-51? Many possibilities (I am a what-ifer)...
The main thing here will be to discard the big wings (maybe for a future flying car project), replaced by the little tailplanes, remove the belly scoop below, and move rearward the canopy and nose (this one being turned upside down like inverted V engine DB-601 or 605). Simply.

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/P-51_profil11_hm.jpg

[Tophe]

Of course, there will be a width matching issue, the canopy basis being wider than the rear fuselage, but the canopy will act simply as an umbrella, and there will be no need of waterproof joint as no pressurized cockpit (this Microstang would be for low altitude only).

[Tophe]

I have been surprised that this kit from my usual provider is now no more the usual p-51D Heller but a "starter kit" containing paints (and paintbrush and glue). Normally I would not have used them, preferring my usual skyblue Tamiya acrylic paint, but... one of these unexpected paint is "metallic silver" and I am tempted to use it, 44 years after my last model in metal color... (1978?)

[mexchiwa]

Going to be a racer?  I'm trying to think of another race aircraft that had the conventional fuselage layout but no horizontal tail - I think it's a French 30's racer - anybody know what I'm talking about?

Ed- it was the Simplex Arnoux racer

[kerick]

Happy Birthday to you!
The tinystang looks interesting!

[Tophe]

Going to be a racer?  I'm trying to think of another race aircraft that had the conventional fuselage layout but no horizontal tail - I think it's a French 30's racer - anybody know what I'm talking about?
Ed- it was the Simplex Arnoux racer

I didn't remember the Simplex Arnoux tailless racer (of 1922). Google found it in the web site Nurflugel that I know but it seems I had forgotten, sorry. A scratch model of it, 1/72, is presented at https://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal9/8001-8100/gal8034-Simplex-Racer-Stern/00.shtm

Happy Birthday to you!
The tinystang looks interesting!

Double thanks !

[Tophe]

Here is the kit content concerning plastic parts:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/IMG_6707_muP51.jpg

And here are the few parts I plan to use:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/IMG_6713_muP51.jpg

Starting to build the model with glue:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/IMG_6718_muP51.jpg

Truncating step:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/IMG_6724_muP51.jpg

Gluing again after truncation:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/IMG_6725_muP51.jpg

The Microstang takes shape:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/IMG_6732-muP51.jpg

Then adding putty:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/IMG_6735_muP51.jpg

[mexchiwa]

The wing loading is going to be a little on the high side...

But looking good!

[Tophe]

The wing loading is going to be a little on the high side...
But looking good!

Thanks!
You are right for the aeronautic side of the scale 1 thing, but mine is a 1/72 deco object for shelf, not intended to fly for real...  

[Tophe]

Here is the slanting view of the project, yes like looking fast (if it were flying):

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/P-51_persp_D_ea.jpg

[Tophe]

And, as drawing, it takes just a minute to "build" the related twin:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/P-51_persp_D_ec.jpg

[Captain Canada]

Happy Birthday Tophe ! Have a Micro Christmas 

[Tophe]

Thanks Captain, have a happy new year soon!

Well, I am looking at my model and I dislike the nose scoop (without hole on the Heller kit), above the spinner now (below the spinner normally with the Merlin engine). I plan to reduce it or discard it if not too much PSR to be done.

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/IMG_6736_muP51.jpg

[Tophe]

After sanding and gluing the "wings" (micro ones):

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/IMG_6741_muP51.jpg
EDIT : the nose scoop has been reduced almost to zero.

[Tophe]

This view shows as expected the problem of width, the narrow rear fuselage being far too small to receive the canopy, ahem:  

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/IMG_6746_muP51.jpg