Model Aircraft – August 2019

always in contention. It looked a little bright at

irst, but after a weathering wash with Tamiya’s

brown panel line wash, it was dulled down

nicely to what I saw as a realistic shade. Paint

chipping around the cockpit was done after

painting and clear coating, using Tamiya X-11

enamel. I like using enamel for post-painted

chipping because it can be easily removed with

odourless solvents if not happy, or the efect

can be softened up by using less solvent. Dry

brushing was done with my new favourite

method, using oil paint on a very dry brush.

In most cases, especially around the engine,

silver oil paint works best, but the colour can

be changed around according to whatever is

being dry-brushed. The advantage, as with

the chipping, is that odourless solvents can

again be used to reduce the efect if you ind

you’ve overdone it. The only care that needs to

be taken is to give a light clear coat between

chipping and dry brushing, to prevent the

solvents from removing the previous steps.

The next step saw the fuselage buttoned up

around the cockpit and engine assembly. The

it again was lawless of course, and once the

inal elements around the engine and cowling

framework were complete, it was time to add

the tail stabilisers and wing assemblies. Once

again, Tamiya uses etched parts skillfully to

allow movement of laps and light control

surfaces. The system of rods and hooks is

simple and most importantly, works well. At

this stage, for ease of painting, I deviated from

the order of construction suggested by the

instructions, which will have the windscreen

and canopy towards the end of the build. I

added those components at this stage and

tacked the movable canopy down with a little

Mr Masking Sol Neo. It provides great adhesion

yet is able to be removed later when needed.

I used the same method to anchor down the

removable cowling covers to keep them irmly

in place for the painting process. Whilst working

on the main body of the model, I constructed

and painted the spinner and propeller, the

landing gear, gear bay doors and bombs. I used

a combination of Tamiya and Mr Hobby acrylic

paints according to what I needed and what

I had on hand. Metallic surfaces were painted

with Vallejo Metal Color, which gives a great

inish free of visible metallic particles. Tamiya

provides the ability to convert this plane from

parked to in-light mode, however, I chose

to show the landing gear into position and

the gear bay cover that would normally be

placed for in-light made an excellent mask for

painting. Also, because there is more than one

propeller variant, I was able to use the spare

spinner hub to help hold the cowling covers

irmly in place for painting, again using Mr

Masking Sol to keep everything in place. The

painting procedure followed my usual method

of black primer and mottled sequential paint

layers. With the entire plan covered in black

primer, I started by tracing out the camoulage

pattern with light pencil lines and I then laid

down the Olive Drab. Next, I carefully outlined

the camoulage edges with Tamiya vinyl

tape which work well for all but the tightest

of curves. Once I masked the gaps between

the vinyl tape, I proceeded to lay down the

Sea Grey. I then masked-of the entire upper

surface to prepare for painting the undersides

Masking of the canopy

...I began masking of

the camoulage using

Tamiya tape to deine the

cur ves.....

The smaller

parts ready to

be ixed

The wheel wells

and landing gear are

very well detailed

After a base coat.....

(^44) NORTH AMERICAN P-51D/K MUSTANG WWW.MODELAIRCRAFTMAG.COM