Andrew's 1/72 Airfix F-51D Mustang (South Korean Air Force)

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Great attention to detail Andrew. Paint is looking great and I like the hand pained touch below the cockpit.

[adt70hk]

Very nice updates and your bird is looking great.

Nice effect on the aluminium Andrew

Great attention to detail Andrew. Paint is looking great and I like the hand pained touch below the cockpit.

Thanks as always for the support gents and glad you like the finish. There has been more progress and it's nearing the finish line as we speak.

Steve - glad you like it. Unfortunately the one on the port (camera) side was a bit heavy but the other side has turned out nicely.


Thanks again guys

ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Ok chaps, so we're nearing the finish line.....the decals are on and have gone down pretty well but then they are Cartograph, so what else would you expect.

NOTE......A word of warning about markings to anyone wanting to a ROK F-51 or indeed any ROK aircraft. Like the US, ROK planes only have markings on one wing on top and underside***. However, they are on the opposite side to the US practice. Now this is the important bit, both Airfix and Eduard get this wrong, as you will see below.

As you will also see, some of the decals are really rather small, one of the downsides of the doing 1/72!! That said, I only lost one of them!!

FYI The model has also had the post decal gloss clear coat, so it obviously looks a bit shiny.

ACW as usual.

ATB

Andrew


***Obviously the RAF approach is the correct one but I'll let that one go!
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Proof about the destructions being wrong on the markings front
Courtesy of the article on the South Korean Air Force 1950-53 on the 'Mike's Research' blog.
mikesresearch.com/2022/11/27/south-korean-air-force-1950-53/


The Airfix destructions with my correction (Eduard gets it wrong too):







The photo evidence:











Damn these are small.....











The decals in situ.....

[flyjoe180]

Mustang is looking superb Andrew, and your research for accuracy is admirable. That blog was a very interesting read.

[yak face]

Looking excellent andrew , lovely natural metal finish . Top sleuthing too , just goes to show it pays to do a little digging and research . Nice to see a Mustang in other markings too , cheers tony

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Looking lovely Andrew. When that masking comes off and propellor added it will look really well.

[adt70hk]

Mustang is looking superb Andrew, and your research for accuracy is admirable. That blog was a very interesting read.

Looking excellent andrew , lovely natural metal finish . Top sleuthing too , just goes to show it pays to do a little digging and research . Nice to see a Mustang in other markings too , cheers tony

Looking lovely Andrew. When that masking comes off and propellor added it will look really well.

Thanks as always for the support chaps, I'm genuinely humbled and glad you found the research useful.

ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

OK chaps, so we're nearly there.....

The exhaust stains are on, one side went better than the other. I also did a full matt varnish coat, rather than my usual satin/semi-satin, to kill any shiny-ness and to try to represent the matt patina. Not entirely successful as I should have done more of the grey misting coat over the top but it's killed the real shine.

The rockets are drying as we speak, so tomorrow we finished the assembly.

ACW as usual.

Andrew

[HAWKERHUNTER]

I like that finish Andrew. Looks like an operational aircraft.

[Airborne01]

Lovely job mate!
Steve

[adt70hk]

I like that finish Andrew. Looks like an operational aircraft.

Lovely job mate!
Steve

Thanks chaps. Glad you're liking it. Update to follow shortly.

ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

OK chaps, so this has crossed the finish line but unfortunately, upon removing the canopy mask, I discovered a band of something greyish across the front of the canopy and a smaller patch in the rear.

No idea what it is....not sure it's a paint because if it had been a leak through a gap, I would expect a lot more within the canopy - plus it's very localised and concentrated - and I would expect to see black from the primer coat too but there isn't. The only alternative is that somehow the new canopy glue I tried reacted in someway but I was put onto it by a good friend and so I know I can trust his recommendation - but I've never had this issue before with any canopies ever.

I've still not made up my mind on how address but I'll work out something.....but I'm not going to try removing the canopy at this stage - that is more trouble than it's worth.

Regardless though I am very pleased with how it's turned out....so much so, I've just ordered another one, to see if I can do a better job! The matt coat worked a treat in killing an shiny-ness.

A couple of taster shots are below before I do the usual full set.

ACW as usual.

ATB

Andrew

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The potentially offending glue.....








The taster shots....

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Any chance of a close up of the canopy issue Andrew. Real sorry to hear about it. I have followed this build from day one and know the work that went into it. It is still a lovely result so well done for that, The only glue I ever use on clear perspex is the Micro Krystal Klear. Amazing stuff.

[Jim R]

Well, Andrew, despite the canopy issues that is a cracking model. Very nice indeed.
I have heard that fumes from CA can fog clear parts. Not come across this glue though so can't help, sorry.

[PaulTRose]

Still looks good

Trick with using ca is to apply it then leave for a minute or so to let the fumes vanish then stick parts together....i always use thick ca too