This is Tamiya's F-51D Mustang (kit # 61044) from the Korean War that I built back in 1998.

Some of the aftermarket detail items I used were;

•  Eduard`s #48-200 P-51D Mustang detail set 

• True Details P-51 Mustang Wheel set #48008

• Aero Master decals #48-099 "Mustangs over Korea"

I used bare metal foil (chrome finished) on the fuselage and used model master aluminum paint (not metalizer).  For the wheel wells, I used Testors #1184 zinc chromate paint. 

This is the easiest kit I have built.  The idea for for using metal foil for the fuselage came about, because there was a guy in the hobby shop I go to that was getting aggravated with his decals on his P-51, because of the paint he was using and he wasn't happy with the look of the finished results.  

We got to talking and I thought hmmmmmm......I would like to build one,  but would love to make it real shiny.  So I came up with idea to build the USAF Korean War F-51, which has more of a shine to it then WW2 P-51's.  Plus the fact the guys at local hobby shop said the decals would show up bad on metal foil.....after hearing them say that I guess had to do it.

After the paint and foil was done I sprayed the plane with Testors gloss coat let it sit for 24 hours.  I then put the decals on and very  lightly used decal set.  After using decal set on the aircraft, I let it sit for about 8 hours then cleared coated it again.  Finally I let it sit for rest of night.  The next day, I dry bushed and used a #005 drafting pen to high light the panel lines.

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