SPA Modeler

I started this while I was waiting for parts for the Revell 1/32 P-51D. Thought I would see what would happen if I tried one of these no locating tab small part kits with my really shaky hands due to recent medical treatments. It has been a challenge but I am getting there. I didn't do anything in the cockpit other than the aft bulkhead because the parts supplied looked more appropriate for a go kart and the windows are small and the clarity was poor. I just painted the inside of the canopy Tamiya Smoke and the rest black. I have a Collect-Aire 1/48 kit and I promise to do a better cockpit on it if I ever get to it. The fit was really pretty good on the major parts. Getting the horizontal stabilizers on in the right location and in trim with each other was interesting. I am using the Testors glue that comes in the black square bottle. It has good tack but cures slowly allowing adjustments until things look right. Definitely an iterative process when your hands have a mind of their own.

Well done!

Very cool!

Now that's not a subject you see every day!

Following this one John - it looks great so far.

Cool subject!

Getting closer on this one. I am trying really hard to keep the white looking clean, which I find difficult. Using cotton gloves to handle it.

Your effort is paying off John as that looks excellent!

Looks pristine! Lovely work.

Nice!!

Thank you all for the kind comments. It was a challenge for me because of the limited run kit and small size, coupled with my shaky hands, which thankfully seem to be getting a bit more steady.

Mel Apt lost his life in this one. It was a loss of control due to inertial coupling, a new and poorly understood at the time phenomenon that affects high speed aircraft with long thin (and I think swept) wings and not enough tail surface area. High altitude thin air is also a factor. The aircraft tumbled uncontrollably about all 3 axis and was unrecoverable.

The last flight was the 20th, and reached Mach 3, the record at the time. The landing gear was a bit spartan I thought, a nose wheel and some retractable skids. There was a wheeled trailer for normal ground movement.