SPA Modeler

Alternate Title: Flying Boobs & Bazookas

More Wordy Title: 1/48 Airfix P-51D, SN 44-13859, Lt Walter “Moon” Mullins, 55th FS, 20th FG, 8th AF, Kings Cliffe, England, September 1944

Or Simply: Another P-51D

Part 1: The Part No One Will Read But I Enjoy Writing

Naked Ladies, Paper Drop Tanks & Flying Bazookas.

The P-51D. Those she inspires will get where I am coming from, because this is straight from the heart: I love the design. Regardless of your thoughts on the best fighters in the skies over Germany or Japan, the Mustang has no need of a press agent; she will always be symbolic. She simply is, free of any encumbrances, a beautiful prop driven flying machine and one of the most popular, if not the most popular, subjects for model builders. You may also note I am biased. I have a few kits. I will concentrate on the Quarter Scale ones.



Initially I was going to crack the seal of my very own Famous Fighter kit from Aurora. This is in investment grade condition; it may be one of the very few kits I know which has its original cellophane intact on the outside. It’s gorgeous in all its possibilities. I have never seen inside! Who knows what is within? That is part of the fun. It could be empty! It could be like the Ark of the Covenant in Raiders: magic dust from 70 year old styrene, just waiting to loose a few wraiths and liquify and or blow me up.



I read about Stuart’s current troubles and I asked myself if I still had the fillet less Airfix kit, and as it happens I do, the same one apparently. I know somewhere (ahem) on Facebook Kari (not here) is building both the Airfix and Eduard versions. So I thought I would attempt to build this one here. I also have kits by ICM, Meng and Tamiya. All Quarter Scale! But I want to give this one a push. I also feel in so doing I can satisfy Blacksheep Tom’s GB requirements, but I do not know precisely if they is the case or even if I am wanted as part of a Group Build. That is another story!

My subject choice happens to be on the current second release by Eduard. I am using Italian decals printed by Sky. Many choices here, but I am going to choose Lt. Walter “Moon” Mullins P-51D. I am adding copies of its scheme as Eduard’s artwork depicts because Eduard did such a nice job depicting this. Love their profile art.



At this point, the meaning of the title should be relatively clear, I hope.

Flying Bazoombas?

I’m in

Hahaha!! Yes. Flying Funbags, perhaps?? Too bad “Jug” is already in use. And bless you. Popcorn on a bone-chillingly cold desert night in Angel City is most welcome, my friend. Very, very welcome. So in honor of friendship, here’s Giada DeLaurentis’ recipe for popcorn with a “kick,” I guess that means a little spice?

Lemon Popcorn With A Kick

Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 tbsp (¼ stick) unsalted butter
Grated zest of 1 lemon
⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
7 cups popped popcorn (from ½ cup of kernels)
½ tsp kosher salt

Directions

1. In a small sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
2. Add the lemon zest and cayenne pepper and swirl to let the flavors mingle.
3. Pour the butter over the popcorn in a large bowl and toss gently to coat.
4. Season with salt and serve.

I must admit that I have not yet had too big trouble with my Airfix P-51D kit.

Could it be that Stuart got a bad batch of sprues or things just went south, as we know, can happen even with Tamiyas and Hasegawas!

Of course, I have not mated the fuselage halves yet, so might still be I will face some fitting problems. There is pretty much stuff one need to squeeze inside the fuselage, in my opinion uneccessary details that will not even be visible at all.

Comparing to Eduard, the Airfix kit lacks most fo crispyness in details that Eduard has.

I am very curious Bruce to see your opinion of the kit!
(we still have the Revell 1/32 in our stash waiting for better days...)

- Kari

I hope I don't have the problems that Stuart did. I have 5 in the stash

Bruce,

I read your beautifully-written into/mission statement first thing this morning and enjoyed the hell out of it! Shoot, man, how could I not? With a title like that!

There’s a lot of Stang love going on here and in other segments of the modeling community, and I for one at very happy to see you throwing your own hat into the ring. Especially with such a cool Stang subject!

I’ll be watching intently!

Very well written. So true regarding the Mustang. Somewhere I read a pilot saying, “If you want to impress your girl, fly a Mustang. If you want to come home to her, fly a Thunderbolt.” Some truth in that.

So, a one-man group build? Love it.

Watching. I say crack the cellophane on the Aurora kit and watch collectors scream in agony! Kits were meant to be built! I really should dust off my Revellogram 1/48 kit and work on it.

That could make an interesting Group Build theme....old collector kits.

The biggest surprise you would get if you open that Aurora box is that instead of the P-51D on the box art what you will find is a P-51H inside.