discussion 1:72 P-51D Mustang (Academy) Alclad 2 experiment.

[colin m]

Having bought some Alclad stuff, I needed a suitable model to experiment on. Hence the Academy 1:72 Mustang retailing at about £5.99 fitted the bill perfectly. This would have a polished aluminium fuselage and normal aluminium wings.

The polished aluminium needs a gloss black base to make it work, so, to make life easy I thought I would use the Alclad gloss black primer. What a waste of time. What ever surface I sprayed this on, it remained matt black. In the end I used a large tin of 'average everday' gloss black which worked great. Unfortunately, after so many coats of the Alclad 'gloss' black I lost a lot of detail on the fuselage.

As we know, surface prep has got to be 100% with alclad, and so I went over and over the model again and again. But still a couple of small seams still showed up under the alclad ! I'll use a magnifying glass next time.

So, there was no WIP thread, the kit goes together very easily with a nice level of detail for the price.

If you think the landing gear doesn't quite line up, you would be correct, after finishing the model, I dropped the thing ! Anyway, I have now discovered what many before me have already done so, alclad is brilliant. I thought a NMF model could be a bit plain (no pun intended) but, I'm converted. Well, what can I do next, can anyone recommend the Tamiya 1:48 Mustang ?

View attachment 37956View attachment 37957View attachment 37959View attachment 37960View attachment 37961

Colin M........

View attachment 42081

View attachment 42082

View attachment 42083

View attachment 42084

View attachment 42085

View attachment 42086

View attachment 155107

View attachment 155108

View attachment 155109

View attachment 155110

View attachment 155111

View attachment 155112

 

[yak face]

Fantastic results colin! Ive finally got my grubby little hands on some alclad too so your experiment has been very useful to me . I think i might use it on the Tu 22 blinder if i ever get the conversion up to a good enough standard . As for what next for your alclad , how about a nice B17 , the new tool revell 1/72 is supposed to be a beautiful kit ? Top work mate , just try and keep hold of it next time!!! (btw , i couldnt see anything wrong with the u/c anyway!!) cheers tony

 

[Ian M]

First attempt or not that is a great result. Well done Colin.

Now about this black base....They do a Black primer, which is matt and a Black base Gloss. So either I am not reading this right or you have maybe crossed a wire somewhere alone the line.

I have used both and have to say that the Primer is very black and very matt. The black base goes on like a black wash and the gloss builds up with subsequent coats.

Regardless, you have made a great job of it and as I said, for a first attempt with Alclad II and as a polished surface, it has really turned out a treat.

Ian M

 

[colin m]

Ahhh well then Ian, I wonder if the bloke sold me the wrong stuff ?? or simply picked the wrong tin up and handed it to me ? So it looks like I have a tin of matt black primer - No wonder I lost a bit of detail - automotive primer, then a number of coats of matt black primer, and then a gloss coat !! Well, it was an experiment after all !

Colin M.......

 

[Centurion3RTR]

Nice First attempt Colin, looks absolutely spot on mate. Can i give you a hint for your next attempt? Flying Fortress hehehe. Big five mate.

Have fun, John

 

[papa 695]

Hi Colin i've never used alclad, but looking at your first attempt i'm tempted to have a go.( I did say tempted) a great build well don

 

[colin m]

Thanks all for having a look. So, two votes for the B17. I have to say the Revell B 17 does looks very nice..............................