Big Beautiful Doll [1/48 Otaki P-51D]

[KSaarni]

You have me about ready to go by Hobby Lobby and grab another Airfix Mustang for this sort of thing Bruce. I did a similar amount of Frankenstein work on my Otaki FW-190A using spare parts from Eduard and Tamiya. In the long run, you get more for your money doing that part of improvement than by investing in resin sets...

This idea & approach is fantastic ! And makes total sense above expensive resin sets etc!

- Kari

[tempestjohnny]

If I didn't have a ton of other builds going, I'd have to get my Mustang out, just for John.

Me too. And I have a lot of choices

[speedgraflex]

You have me about ready to go by Hobby Lobby and grab another Airfix Mustang for this sort of thing Bruce. I did a similar amount of Frankenstein work on my Otaki FW-190A using spare parts from Eduard and Tamiya. In the long run, you get more for your money doing that part of improvement than by investing in resin sets...

I think this is a cost effective option to use the Airfix as a donor. We have spent as much or more on resin where the details need to be finessed. This way, every component holds a certain amount of potential. The cockpit interior is a no brainer. It drops into place as though made for the kit. I trimmed the rear lower exhaust section (behind the tanks) because it was not necessary to keep it. The bulkheads fit perfectly. Now I cannot vouch for any other configuration of kits but with this one, I think a new, detailed cockpit is worth it. Also, wheels, struts, oleos are available. And it may be possible to use the split canopy of the Airfix by performing surgery on the Otaki one-piece version.

[speedgraflex]

You have me about ready to go by Hobby Lobby and grab another Airfix Mustang for this sort of thing Bruce. I did a similar amount of Frankenstein work on my Otaki FW-190A using spare parts from Eduard and Tamiya. In the long run, you get more for your money doing that part of improvement than by investing in resin sets...

This idea & approach is fantastic ! And makes total sense above expensive resin sets etc!

- Kari

Yes, it is also easy. At least so far. I think the potential for wheel well replacement is possible using the Airfix parts, however surgery will be necessary on the Otaki kit.

[jkim]

I'd be happy to offer my opinions, Bruce so let me know! The main "issue" I've seen with Mustang wheel wells is that they aren't boxed in per the outline of the forward well openings. They extend forward of that. Even Tamiya got it wrong on their older P-51B kit. But given that this isn't an angle that you could view on the posed model, the effort/benefit ratio to correct is not exactly favorable. Not only would you need to match the outline of the Airfix wheel well to the Otaki well opening, you'd have to match the dihedral and all of the other vertical catchpoints to avoid gaps between the new wheel well and Otaki wing. If you don't get it just right, the landing gear goes askew. Maybe it's simpler than that but without any visual references, those prospects enter my mind.

If I didn't have a ton of other builds going, I'd have to get my Mustang out, just for John.

Me too. And I have a lot of choices

Great! Just great!

[jkim]

So let me get this straight... planning on putting in the Airfix cockpit, wheel wells and canopy onto the Otaki kit? Why not just build the Airfix kit? What advantages are you getting by using the Otaki fuselage? It would be much easier to refine the surface of the Airfix to match the Otaki kit rather than trying to retrofit all of the Airfix internals into the Otaki.

[speedgraflex]

Thank you! You raise and illustrate very good points, John. My decision came from how much construction time I have and a stronger commitment to the Otaki kit. I can commit to updating each kit. I am far more comfortable with a razor saw than a Rivet-R punch, however.

• Case I: Airfix
  Add missing rivet details; measure, sand and prime
  
  Case II: Otaki
  Remove existing wheel well; glue Airfix wheel well in place

Comparing construction times, there will be four or five hours to rivet fuselage as opposed to one hour to saw off the wheel well. I believe I am going to spend a lot more time with the riveter than the saw. However the results will be (if done well) superior to the Otaki. Otaki has three issues: lack of wheel well detail, lack of cockpit detail and shape of the sprues which is native to my eBay transaction.

The Airfix is newer, more detailed and accurate, so it is difficult to even compare it to the older and dated Otaki. Airfix is better in many respects. I intend to examine the feasibility of adding the new wheel well in place of the old one to at least see if the geometry lines up.

[speedgraflex]

CASE STUDY II

Should we call this the Otaki/Airfix?





I only stabbed my thumb once doing this. Not bad.

[Stikpusher]

No turning back now.... You’re off and running!

[speedgraflex]

Next up I wonder should I cut open the tail wheel box and use whatever Airfix designed for their kit.



Well sheet. Here I am, stirring my own pot. Looking at the tail wheel, perhaps all that is needed will be the canvas boot. Perhaps, perhaps.