Revell 1/32 P-51D - Smithsonian

[LyleW]

Trade mark that and get a patent!!!!

YES!

I break those little wheelies off ALL THE TIME...

On most kits, I usually just go ahead and break them....it will happen sooner or later. This one has one of the flimsiest, weak excuse for a tailwheel I've seen. I'm not sure it will support the weight of the kit.

[LyleW]

Here is where I am. Probably done for the year. The flaps are a mixture of "I like that" and "crap, still not right". I think good enough will win....as the more I mess with it, the more likely I am to break them loose. Glued the front canopy on and tacked the main canopy. They really don't fit too well, either. Oh, does anyone else really hate the slot they put in the top of the fuselage to let you slide the canopy open and shut? Just more things to fill and sand.





Still a bit of sanding needed here. I think I'll hit it with primer tomorrow to see how rough it is. I've lost a lot of the raised rivets and panel lines. I have tried to soften the remaining ones.

[Thomas_M]

Well, you ready already nailed this one at the end of 2015, Lyle. First, I was sceptical on the flaps, but you managed to get them in shape. Added to the fuselage they look the part. Some little bit of cleaning of excess putty and you gave this oldie your personal touch!

Happy New Year, my friend!

[LyleW]

Well, you ready already nailed this one at the end of 2015, Lyle. First, I was sceptical on the flaps, but you managed to get them in shape. Added to the fuselage they look the part. Some little bit of cleaning of excess putty and you gave this oldie your personal touch!

Happy New Year, my friend!

Whew. Got in bed, so to speak, around 2 A.M. At a friends house. The excess putty was left to dry, as I had run out of play time. Appreciate the kind words.

[LyleW]

This is an all Krylon paint job. Used Krylon primer, Krylon gloss black, and Krylon Chrome Silver. I've not seen any crackling.







I'll say this, in the sunlight, it will blind you! Need to "buff" some of it and likely will have to attack one or both of the flaps.

[KSaarni]

That is shiny!

Who needs Alclad when you have Krylon !

- Kari

[Stikpusher]

[LyleW]

Yeah, almost too shiny. I have to go out today, may go try and find something a bit less so.

[Stikpusher]

A word of advice. Keep the fuselage as is, but on NMF Mustangs, the wings were puttied and lacquered to maintain the laminar flow effect. Try using another shade of silver metallic on them. Something a bit less chrome.

[LyleW]

we shall see how it works. I had "rubbed" the shine out and resprayed with another color of the Krylon - one called Metallic Silver. More muted. I went back and sprayed the fuselage with Silver Foil.

Whilst waiting impatiently for the paint to dry, started this gem from my son and bunch at Christmas. Not sure what he was thinking, but notice the scale. They actually show you how the canopy frame is painted....uh huh.





Anyway, if it weren't one thing it would be another. Started on the decals. So happy that I scanned them first. Every one I tried simply disintegrated in to salt-grain sized pieces. Not one would come off the sheet. I made a copy on white decal paper and as somewhat recommended gave it a brushing of the MicroScale Liquid Decal Film. Not my favorite stuff, but.......here is what it did to the laser decals.



I noticed it getting murky and it was removing the background color from the scan of the old sheet. Of course, could not wipe it off.



Anyway, I think I'm done with this bottle of crap. Only problem is I have several more. Anyone interested?