Hi all
So this has been on the workbench for a while but I've not had the chance to take any pics yet.
As you will see below I have made some progress and am about to button it up but before that some background info.
The Scalemates entry for this kit is unusually all over the place but from what I can gather this is a 2022 reboxing of an initial 2012 new tool, at the start of the Airfix resurgence. It comes with two marking options, both obviously post war given the 'F' designation - Air National Guard and my chosen option, South Korean Airforce - specifically number 13.
In this case I have hit the proverbial jackpot when it comes to this build, with plenty of information online, so far the most notable ones being:
So it turns out that no. 13 was apparently one of the first ten of "Truman's Gift" F-51D's for South Korea. It also just so happens that there is one very nice side on shot of the very plane I am building!
As you'll see below, I went with a semi-green cockpit....I basically took a chance having gone to the trouble of buying the green zinc chromate. I do now understand that it all depends on whether or not a plane went through the 1947(ish)(?) IRAN (Inspect and repair/replace as necessary) process. If so, the cockpit would have repainted black....accepting of course that given their history they would likely still have looked less than factory fresh.
You'll also see from the pic that the pilot does not sit properly in his seat, even when his head is at the right height. Also, I could not for the life of me work out what he had on his head....it wasn't a WW2 soft helmet, nor a hard helmet....in fact it looks most like one of those US Army Pile Caps, with the rear and sides up, worn over a grey leather type A-13 flying helmet.....which of course looks daft but it was the best I could come up with.
Usual range of pics below.
ACW
Andrew
Links:
Mike's Research: South Korean Air Force 1950-53: mikesresearch.com/2022/11/27/south-korean-air-force-1950-53/
Gary Wickham Scalespot review: scalespot.com/reviews/kits/p51korea-edu/review.php
Eduard Info Article July 2022: info.eduard.com/en/07-2022-1
-------------------------------------------------------------
No. 13 in the 'flesh'
Box and Sprue shots
Ready for buttoning up
So this has been on the workbench for a while but I've not had the chance to take any pics yet.
As you will see below I have made some progress and am about to button it up but before that some background info.
The Scalemates entry for this kit is unusually all over the place but from what I can gather this is a 2022 reboxing of an initial 2012 new tool, at the start of the Airfix resurgence. It comes with two marking options, both obviously post war given the 'F' designation - Air National Guard and my chosen option, South Korean Airforce - specifically number 13.
In this case I have hit the proverbial jackpot when it comes to this build, with plenty of information online, so far the most notable ones being:
- A lengthy article on the Mike's Research site titled "South Korean Air Force 1950-53"
- A Scalespot review by Gary Wickham on Eduard's Dual Combo KOREA Limited Edition kit (11161), which I have in the stash...and there is a LOT of plastic in there
- One of Eduard's free Info article downloads, that contains a 14 article on Mustangs in Korea. I'd not heard of these but they look like a fantastic resource
So it turns out that no. 13 was apparently one of the first ten of "Truman's Gift" F-51D's for South Korea. It also just so happens that there is one very nice side on shot of the very plane I am building!
As you'll see below, I went with a semi-green cockpit....I basically took a chance having gone to the trouble of buying the green zinc chromate. I do now understand that it all depends on whether or not a plane went through the 1947(ish)(?) IRAN (Inspect and repair/replace as necessary) process. If so, the cockpit would have repainted black....accepting of course that given their history they would likely still have looked less than factory fresh.
You'll also see from the pic that the pilot does not sit properly in his seat, even when his head is at the right height. Also, I could not for the life of me work out what he had on his head....it wasn't a WW2 soft helmet, nor a hard helmet....in fact it looks most like one of those US Army Pile Caps, with the rear and sides up, worn over a grey leather type A-13 flying helmet.....which of course looks daft but it was the best I could come up with.
Usual range of pics below.
ACW
Andrew
Links:
Mike's Research: South Korean Air Force 1950-53: mikesresearch.com/2022/11/27/south-korean-air-force-1950-53/
Gary Wickham Scalespot review: scalespot.com/reviews/kits/p51korea-edu/review.php
Eduard Info Article July 2022: info.eduard.com/en/07-2022-1
-------------------------------------------------------------
No. 13 in the 'flesh'
Box and Sprue shots
Ready for buttoning up
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