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Post by Daniel C on Dec 22, 2009 13:01:16 GMT -5
The Academy 1/72 scale P-51 in Tuskegee airmen colors. I have been in admiration of the Red Tails after hearing their story at the IPMS San Diego meeting a few years ago. I remember their comment on the models we displayed "No Tuskegee aircraft?" Since then I have wanted to build one and seeing the Academy kit I bought it. Time to build it! This looks like a good kit to honor them. Oh, the kit also comes with Academy's new tool "Jeep" kit, I will put a photo of the sprue in the next post.
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Post by Daniel C on Dec 28, 2009 1:28:25 GMT -5
ok, a little progress tonight.... the completed cockpit Airframe assembled, the wing root fit is fantastic on this kit. it is now ready for paint, natural metal finish, after a good polishing. I did make a dumb mistake, the fuselage is in four pieces (so they can do the B/C and D P-51's. I should have glued the front to the back on each side and then the two sides together, instead I glued the two sides of the back together then the two front sides together and glued the front assembly to the back. Here are the jeep they include with this kit, even an engine!! Detail freaks will love this. Gabe, make an offer on the jeep. ;D
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Post by Gabriel on Jan 5, 2010 2:51:26 GMT -5
How is the proyect Dan...? Get ready with that model, we are having a new movie from the red tails coming soon, next time we hope is p47 from the 201....hehehe... And the jeep, you need some help...? let me know...
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Post by Daniel C on Jan 6, 2010 2:25:06 GMT -5
this project is on hold, have to get that Panther done! Any good decals for the 201st? I have a 1/72 hasagawa kit, bubbletop P-47, did they fly the bubbletop or razorback p-47s?
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Post by mexmarine on Jan 6, 2010 23:00:47 GMT -5
When 201st first arrived to the phillipines some pilots used razorbacks from an american squadron, but then the new bubbletops arrived. The decals for the bbtops are quite generic all you need is a couple of FAEM triangles, some black numbers and amedican insignias, the razorbacks... a bit more complicated...
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Post by mexmarine on Feb 21, 2010 17:14:18 GMT -5
Where are the red tails?
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Post by Gabriel on Mar 11, 2010 23:47:29 GMT -5
How is the proyect??? No red tails...
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Post by Daniel C on Mar 12, 2010 1:54:03 GMT -5
I am actually working on it..... It is ready for the aluminum finish, need to mask and paint. Once that is done (this weekend) I will post a picture of the red tail....
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Post by Daniel C on Mar 14, 2010 3:38:18 GMT -5
Here's a red tail.... The decal sheet has marking for the yellow wing stripes, but I decided to mask and spray them on. Here the wings being masked.... OK! It actually worked, the only little problem was a little of the aluminum paint was pulled by the tape when it was removed. But the stripes came out great. Oh yea.... that red tail being added with vallejo paint. For the first time I added brake lines to the landing gear out of some of that mighty fine wire provided by Mike.... I was so happy with it I left the wire in natural finish. I was a bit unsure of the wing tips on this aircraft, the art on the kit is for Lt. Archer's aircraft, but I decided to do the alternate decals for Lt Toppins plane. The instructions were unclear if the wing tips should be red like Archer's or left in aluminum. The decal instruction for Toppins aircraft show both ways... So, I went with the red as that seemed logical. That is where the red tail is at.... Add the decals, shine a few panels, and finish the drop tanks and canopy and it will be done.
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Post by mexmarine on Mar 15, 2010 21:16:07 GMT -5
The last yard is the toughest one...will Dan finish the red tail? We''ll see... ;D
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Post by Daniel C on Mar 16, 2010 0:31:03 GMT -5
Hmmm, sounds like reverse pyscomeacology to me..... ;D
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Post by Daniel C on Mar 16, 2010 11:46:42 GMT -5
The before mentioned "brake line" And the decals going on..... too many little data stencils! Drop tanks done, just a few more stencils left on the decal sheet, then a little polishing and the canopy are all thats left.
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Post by Daniel C on Mar 22, 2010 1:12:10 GMT -5
Polishing begins.... First time I have tried SNJ powder, and of course I learned a few things for my next natural metal finish!! One thing I did try was "Post It" notes Label pads, they have the low tack adhesive like post it notes, but it is on the entire pad, not just the top 1" like normal post its. I was hoping I could mask over decals with them and not lift the decal. I learned that you can over large decals, but small ones like stencils will lift off, and you can't use a lot of pressure anyway. Anyway, they are what I used around a panel to mask the aluminum paint that I wanted to polish...... Then I rubbed the SNJ powder and buffed it..... And what I got was a panel with a slightly different sheen. I also learned that the SNJ powder and Model Master Aluminum paint look almost identical! There was not much shine in the way I used the powder, but I didn't use it like the directions wanted me too. I am interested to try the powder again, closer to how SNJ wants it used. Clear coated with semi gloss, only the canopy to go.....
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Post by Daniel C on Mar 23, 2010 12:12:27 GMT -5
;D Finished number 3 for the year..... Academy, 1/72 scale P-51C Mustang of the Tuskegee Airmen. This aircraft is "Topper III" flown by Capt Ed Toppins of the 99th fighter squadron of the 332 fighter group, 15th Air Force out of Italy. Again, a nice kit from Academy, the only things I didn't like was the fuselage breakdown (into 4 parts) and the canopy "glass" is a little thick when shown open. Details are very good, a good choice of underwing stores, drop tanks, bombs, or bazooka tubes AND a bonus 1/72 scale Jeep kit. Here is the portrait ;D
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Post by Gabriel on Mar 23, 2010 23:36:07 GMT -5
WWWoooooooowwwwww!!!!!!....... Hey you really did a great job Dan, it really look awsome!...I think this is the best airplane you have done, congratulations... Just add a base and presto!.. ;D
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