Subject: Re: P-51B By Alan Williamson
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "hurricane" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 20:44:36 -0700

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: hurricane 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:28 PM
  Subject: P-51B By Alan Williamson

    
  "Tamiya P-51B " 

  by "Alan Williamson"
  --------------------

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

  Kit: Tamiya P-51B 61042

  Addition: Aires P-51B/Cockpit Set 4223

                         Ultracsat P-51B/C Seat 48015

  Construction:

  I decided that I wanted to build another Tamiya P-51B to replace the one I build about five years ago I was not happy with the finished outcome. I sent Calum an E-mail and placed an order for two P-51B's and two more P-51D's, seem to be going though a mustang stage. When the kits arrived in post I went to work I normally have around ten kits on the go at any given time and starting this was no exception. The last P-51B I built I used the Eduard cockpit set in this time I wanted to use the Aires P-51B cockpit set. With that in mind I sent Craig at Aeroworks and E-mail to order the Aries cockpit. While I waited for the cockpit to arrive I set to work on stripping the decals and paint off my old P-51B, ready for a new look. When the Aires cockpit arrived in post I started the build.I set to work on making room for the cockpit to fit in the kit, I removed all of the detail on the insides of the fuselage halves with my sanding drill, once completed I re-scribed the entire kit like I do and then started on the Aires cockpit. I painted the cockpit in Model Master Cockpit Green with black boxes, with a dry brush of sliver over the top. The cockpit was now ready to dirty up I used the Tamiya weathering Master set B great stuff, to add some depth and life to the cockpit. Once I was happy with the dirty grimy affect I sealed the weathering wash in with airbrushing some matt clear over the cockpit. Now it was time assemble the cockpit with the fuselage halves, unlike other Aires cockpits that I have used this one went together and fitted into the kit with little fuss. In the past I have found that with an Aires cockpit I normally have trouble assembling the two halves of the kit together and end up with a substantial  gap around cockpit halves. But in this case the kit halves joint almost seamless the rest of the build went almost floorless.

        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  Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg  

  Paint:

  I Painted the overall kit in Model Master Aluminium Plate followed up with Model Master Olive Drab 34087 and Neutral Grey FS3621. After the paint had dried I gave the kit a wet rub to expose some of the Aluminium Plate under neath and then airbrushed a layer of Gloss clear ready for the decals. I liked the decal scheme Shangri-La and since I was building this one to replace the other kit also Shangri-La I went with the same decals. Shangri-La was flow by Capt. Don S. Gentile 336th FS/ 4th FG 1944. Once the decals were placed on I cover the kit with a layer of Gloss clear to seal the decals and ready it for the pastel wash. Now that the panel lines were highlighted I seal the Pastel in with an other cote of clear followed up with a cote of matt clear. I then used the Tamiya weathering set B to add exhaust stains, gun stains and to dirty up the wheel well, and sealed them with a light cote of matt clear.

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

  Finish:

  It was time to add the finishing touches landing gear + doors and cockpit window. The first P-51B I built I stuffed up the cockpit window and could not display it opened I made shore not to make the same mistake again this time.

        Click on images below to see larger images
       
        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg   Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg  Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 08.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 08.jpg  

  Thanks:

  To Steve Bamford again for all his work with the ARC

  To Calum for all the kits I have received off him lost count. Pay Calum a visit at www.gibstuff.net for a great look at kits for sale, kits Calum is building and photos of aircraft and ships.

  To Craig from Aeroworks for the Aires cockpit and Ultracast seat drop Craig an E-mail for a product list for mail ordering [email-masked]

        Click on images below to see larger images
       
        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 09.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 09.jpg  Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 10.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 10.jpg  Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 11.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 11.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 12.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 12.jpg 

  Photos and text © by "Alan Williamson"