Subject: Re: [Submission] 1/72 Academy P-51C Mustang
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Eddie C.H. Lau" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:44:31 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Eddie C.H. Lau 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 8:09 AM
  Subject: [Submission] 1/72 Academy P-51C Mustang

  Gallery Template #04

  1/72 Academy P-51C Mustang 

  by Eddie Lau
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here  

  At the Beginning...

  P51 was one of the most popular topics between modellers and manufacturers. It was widely used in Europe, Mediterranean and Pacific theatre, massive number of them were built. 

  The Kit

  The kit is P51C by Academy, which has a “common” P51B/C body and wings, separate tail section, in this case, they provide one tail with vertical fin and RF antenna for CBI theatre. It includes three decals: Nationalist China AF and 311FG in China, one 15AF in Italy respectively. Note that the 15AF one is a late P51B. For payload, it has two types of drop tanks, 4.5”rockets and 500lb bombs.

  Assembly

  For building of kit, started from the cockpit as usual, and it was reinforced with Eduard photo-etch to make it more detail. The overall fitting was quite good, even the tail section and body section are separated. For the rest parts, like wing, wheels …etc also not too many special attentions needed, quite straight forward and enjoy indeed. Just need to decide which version to build and select the correct parts mentioned in the instruction.

  Click on images below to see larger images

         Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg   Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg  

  Painting and Decaling

  I chose the decal on the box art, the “Princess” in 311FG, China 1945. First, paint the yellow tail first. After that, masked the tail yellow parts and painted the whole plane with black. Next, masked the black two bars at tail with masking tape and over the whole plane with silver spray. At the end, paint the rest parts, like wheels, wheel bays, the anti-glare olive green at the top of the plane. I added some black to sliver to paint the exhaust pipe and gun bay cover, sadly over done this time.

  Up to now, still felt enjoyment, but sadly only until now. Decal definitely the worest in kit, even I only need to apply few of them only. Basically, it was not achieve and brittle, which made it cannot stay on the surface, even decal solver did not help, I dilute the envelope glue with water as decal glue, it’s quite work. At the end, I applied a layer of gloss finish and wash the panel lines with black enamel. I skipped the weathering to keep the plane shinning.

  Last but not least

  Thanks my friend Alex for the kit, he did not why there was a plane kit inside a AFV kit from auction bid, Haha. Also thanks for advises and comments from ARC experts. :)

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here  

  Photos and text c by Eddie Lau