This all started with yet another 1/72 Heller P-51D Mustang a good friend sent me (thanks a million, hamsterman!) and this one actually came in a box!
You've got to admit, that's some impressive box art. Can't you just feel the drama? Will our Mustang hero make it back in one piece? Will my model make it back in one piece too?
For better or worse, it did, thank goodness. There's no in-progress shots as the only mod was using an Airfix P-40C prop instead of that pricey, 4-bladed one that came with the kit. I also added the fin filet hoping the dark color scheme would help obscure the join. Except for the prop & decals, this one was OOB.
These Heller Mustangs are great! While totally 1970's vintage, they build up nice & easy. Only a half an hour in and I had it all together. Then it was off to the paint shop.
The old hairy stick was loaded up with a boatload of Model Masters Insignia Blue acrylic. The canopy was tinted on the inside with Poly Scale RLM-something Lichtblau. The anti-glare strip (absolutely crucial on dark aircraft) was done with Model Masters Flat Black. The exhausts were painted Model Masters Jet Exhaust and a custom mix was used on the guns.
Decals were a hodge-podge. The stars-and-bars and NATC markings came from a dodgy Meircraft F6U Pirate sheet that's got to be at least 30 years old. The numbers came from a Hobby Boss Wildcat and the warning placards are Penn Central railroad decals. I don't know if you can make it out, but the ones under the wings say "Close and Lock Door Before Moving". This was to denote the manual wing-fold mechanism for carrier deck crew.
Before I forget, here's the "money shot" (U.S. penny for scale).
Once again, this was built in another "old guy's" blitz. I started Thursday evening and finished it last night. I'd like to thank Bill for his kindness in sending me the kit. I couldn't have done it without him!
I hope you enjoyed the U.S. Navy version of the famous Mustang and reading a little more forgotten aircraft history even if the so-called "experts" think it all comes from the imagination of some kind of mental maverick.
Brian da Basher