1/48 Hasegawa P-51D Mustang

by Bill Lachance

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I built Hasegawa's Mustang using an Eduard photoetch set. The extra detail adds to this fine kit. I scratchbuilt two instrument panel lights, and used copper wire in the radio compartment. This kit was issued in '96 with Aeromaster decals for the "Checkertail Clan." I chose the markings of Double Nuthin', as this bird was kept clean and highly polished. Alcad II was used for the metallic finish.

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Since the flaps on the Hasegawa kit are molded closed, I had two choices. I could lower the flaps, or close the gear doors. The wheel wells on this kit are very shallow, and closing the doors would improve the appearance. I tried using the molded doors, but they don't fit well closed. Instead, I cut sheet styrene replacements.

Painting this scheme required careful planning. Since I was using Alcad Chrome for the fuselage and Polished Aluminum for the flaps and ailerons, these had to be painted last. You can't mask or use decal solutions with these two shades.

Painting began with the areas that would be checkered. These were first painted white, followed by Color of Eagles RLM 04 yellow. The checkers are printed as black and clear shapes, and shaped for each area. For the most part, they fit beautifully. Touchup was simple, using yellow and black paint.

Once these were sealed with Future, the wingtips and wing stripes were masked, along with the fuselage and flaps/ailerons. The wings were painted with Alcad Gloss Black Primer, and Future was sprayed over this. The exhaust area received the same treatment, and was painted Alcad Magnesium. Next came Alcad Aluminum on the wings. If the Aluminum is sprayed directly over the gloss black primer, it can crack.

Once dry, the wings and tail were masked and Alcad Gloss Black Primer was applied to the fuselage, flaps, and ailerons, followed by Polished Aluminum and Chrome. The tailplane fillet was carefully masked, primed, and painted Chrome.

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This was quite an involved way of painting an aircraft, but it was the only way I could see of doing it. I am pleased with the results.

The finish makes my other U.S. aircraft seem drab!

Bill

Visit my website to see other models of mine, I also build models on commission.  http://www.pix.prettyneatinc.com/

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Photos and text © by Bill Lachance