Hasegawa 1/32 N.A. P-51D "Cripes A' Mighty" IV SN 44-14906.

[KSaarni]

Very nice Bruce, very much so indeed!

- Kari

[Stikpusher]

So shiny...

[speedgraflex]

Thank you so much for your replies, Kari and Carlos! I am still waiting for my pilots to arrive. I will feel much better once the last large element to the project is properly fitted.

[Duke Maddog]

Sensational work Bruce! I hadn't tried BMF before, although when I was working at Prestige Hobbies I did stock up on it. I never used it and when I pulled it out after many years, it had cracked and dried up. Maybe someday I'll get some more and try it before it cracks. Your work here is inspirational; I'm so thrilled to be following this build.

[speedgraflex]

Thank you so much for your reply, Mark. I sincerely appreciate your support throughout the process of building this model. I really am humbled by the qualities of your own work—tackling so many subjects the way you do—and your knowledge when it comes to working in 1/72 always serves to inspire. The work of all the 1/72 modelers here on SPA Modeler is exciting—because you really have to make hard choices about details and forms. Your camouflage painting is an inspiration to me, too—it’s always a bit of a wonderful shock to the senses when the scale is revealed.



Archer sent a mass email featuring their guide as a free PDF. Did you receive their email? My plan is to scribe paneling and punch rivets as needed. One reason I picked up new superglue is to use this as a hardened seam filler, but I wonder if Milliput will work as well. I still am not entirely sure which way to jump. The Hasegawa plastic takes very kindly to Mr. Cement Deluxe so far, but I need to cover molding alignments. There are some delicate rivets touching those seams.

[speedgraflex]

... looks like the radiator door is closed; it must operate to control air flow; I seem to remember reading about how this works at some point; I think I am gonna model it closed based on what I am seeing during these period photos (the restoration Mustangs seem to keep the door open, maybe that helps keep air flow going through the supercharger; my brain is mush right now). Any thoughts?

[speedgraflex]

Ah ha. Internet to the rescue:

[Stikpusher]

Radiators are usually minimally open in flight and max open on the ground to reduce overheating when the airflow thru is reduced.

[speedgraflex]

Thanks so much, Carlos. Now I need to modify the door to close properly!

[speedgraflex]

Cockpit views- the figures shipped out tonight. I am prepping the cockpit seat supports.



Actual- for comparison.



Original kit cockpit- for posterity.