Revell P-51D-5

[jeaton01]

Finally got some work to show on this one. I had done some cockpit work before I started cancer treatment in March, and had gotten up to needing to add seat belts. I had to be away from home during much of the treatments, and then the side effects and need for caution about infections due to my immune system being compromised (the treatment is a form of transplant) made it so no modeling was possible. I still have to be careful but I am cleared back to the bench now. Unfortunately one of the side effects is that the tremor I have always had was made much worse. Putting together the HGW seatbelts was a 5 or 6 hour challenge but last week I got them done and installed. The interior parts are together and closed up in the fuselage. Don't know why but there are areas where I just couldn't get things to fall in to place without some gaps, but nothing too bad. Still, disappointing, and I don't thing it is all my errors. The way the exhausts and shrouds are engineered causes some complications as they have to be installed from the inside. I painted and assembled the exhaust parts, and painted the fuselage area around the exhausts the British Dark Green that the topsides are in for the scheme I am doing. Then I installed the exhausts from the inside. I will mask that area off before doing the rest of the topside painting.

 

[moon puppy]

Great to see you back on the bench John! Best wishes on your recovery.

I remember building this years ago and had the same issue.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Didn't know you were going through that John. Glad to see you posting and building again. Keep up with the struggle, we are all pulling for you!

 

[Brokeneagle]

Glad your back John and 'creds' to you getting back to the bench and getting the fiddly bits done on this one with all that you are going through.

 

[jeaton01]

I was really disappointed in how this one was turning out. I could deal with the gaps on the fuselage seams and the wing fit, but there is no way to disguise the fit of the windscreen which only fits if the fuselage is closed up properly in that area. I bought this kit when it was first released and it was only $30 or so, but now they are twice that. However, I was able to buy an open box kit for $30 missing decals and clear parts which of course I already have. So now I need to break apart the fuselage without damaging the cockpit module. I think by sanding down the internals I can get the new fuselage parts to close up. Since I have a nice tight fit on the front fuselage bulkhead I am pretty sure the cockpit module, which includes the bulkhead, is just too big in both vertical and horizontal dimensions. There is also something wrong in the area of the tailwheel.

 

[Steve Ski]

Looking great, John, and good to hear you're getting back up to speed. "Sniffin paint and gluing one's fingers together" is good therapy.

I've got a later release, or re-release of this Revell kit, or maybe not, I honestly am not certain. I'm guessing nothing has changed, so now I know what to expect. But this kit has a ton of detail within the fuselage, which I thought a bit strange. I recon when I get to it I'll find out how it goes.

The box says it's a P-51D-5NA, so it might be different all together. Box #85-5989. It was cheap, $34, new, unopened, so I snagged it. This kit was at B&B Hobbys in Spokane, got it in May. They are shutting down this month, retiring after 60+ years in the family business.

 

[Rhino]

It good to hear you're on the mend! A bit of grinding and cussing should set the D right!

 

[jeaton01]

Thanks, Chris!

Steve, that should be the same kit. I think the only differences between the two issues are the aft fuselage sections.

 

[centaur567]

So far so good. Gary S.