1/48 Tamiya P-51D with Staff Car

by Burt Gustafson

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For your viewing pleasure, here is my 1/48 scale Tamiya P-51D with Staff Car. The model in the photos depicts the "Millie P" flown by Maj. Edward B Giller, 343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group.

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CONSTRUCTION

Like most Tamiya kits, this was a straight forward hassle free kit to build. Parts fit beautifully, requiring very little filling and sanding. It was an out of the box build all the way.

PAINTING

I airbrushed the cockpit, rudder, prop blades, rear fuselage and upper cowling with Model Master Enamels.  The NMF portions of the model were airbrushed with Alclad II Aluminum, after a primer coat of Model Master Gloss Black. This was my first experience with Alclad II paint and it was a good one. Alclad II Aluminum covers well, dries quickly, and as hard as a rock. No worries about paint peeling off. The spinner was painted with Tamiya Racing Green (T-43). Tamiya provided painting masks which came in very handy.

DECALS

With painting complete, I airbrushed the model with a coat of Future in preparation for decals. These went on well with a touch of Micro Sol. After decaling, I wiped the model with a damp cloth to remove any glue residue, then airbrushed the model with another coat of Future. For the final finish I airbrushed the model with Model Master Semi-Gloss Clear Lacquer Finnish.

THE FIGURES

Tamiya included three figures with the kit; the original seated pilot, a new seated pilot, and a standing officer. The new seated pilot is turned to the left looking out the cockpit with an elbow resting on the sill. The officer has his hands in his pockets. I painted the figures per Tamiya's painting instructions, then applied a thin wash to enhance the figures.

THE STAFF CAR

Construction and painting of the staff car was quite simple. The interior parts were painted while still on the sprues. The main body was airbrushed with Model Master Olive Drab, followed by a coat of Future in preparation for decals. I applied a pin wash to enhance the car panel lines and finished it off with a coat of Model Master Semi-Gloss Clear Lacquer finish.

CONCLUSION

This was a very enjoyable lit to put together and the figures and staff car added to the package. Tamiya certainly knows how to keep us happy.

Burt Gustafson

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Photos and text © by Burt Gustafson