BlackMike Models

I do like the Beaufighter, it always seemed like a Working Class Mosquito to me! Proof that the Heavy Fighter concept wasn't a completely blind alley too. Very nice work on updating the kit Jamie. Duncan B

Thanks, it has to be said that when the cockpit parts are as nice as these it's a doddle to make a half decent fist of the cockpits. The interior of the wheel bays are really nicely detailed too so an oily wash will bring the detail out in them too. Duncan B

10 minutes later the fuselage of No.1 has clicked together. Shaving down that frame and cleaning up the mating surfaces of the cockpit floor made all the difference. That joint looks hideous in the photo but it is actually really good. I think it’s the glue marks that make it look bad. There is still a slight step between the 2 halves under the nose. Not sure what could be done to avoid this as there is a spacer in the front that fits nicely. I will go over the joints with Mr Surfacer 500 anyway. It’s on to building up the undercarriage bays and the wings next. Duncan B

I slapped some Mr Surfacer 500 on the fuselage joint of No.2 last night (No.2 seems to have leapt ahead slightly). This morning I used a cotton bud damp with Mr Color Thinner on it to rub the excess away. The top of the fuselage is looking good but there was a slight step under the nose and the radiator intake so we’ll have to see how that looks after a coat of primer. No.1’s seatbelts have been fitted and the cockpit glued into one side of the fuselage, it slots into place with a satisfying ‘click’. Last look before it disappears. I’m hoping that the fuselage halves will fit together perfectly this time as I have trimmed down the cockpit mating faces and the frame over the fuel tanks (you can see that in the last photo). Duncan B

It goes to show what a tough bird the Skyraider is. The Mustang really doesn't look to have taking much damage in the second photo but he really didn't have a lot of time to make up his mind so the fact he's still around shows he made the right choice. I am going to make BBD but I don't want to build it to look like a museum piece. I will try to find some period photos of it and build it as it looked during the war. I'm planning on building the other one as the aircraft on the box lid. I have 8 sets of the decal sheets to play will so could make a few of them before I get bored!! Duncan B edit: looking at the contact again you have to wonder how the Skyraider pilot couldn't see the P-51 as it must have been at '1 o'clock' and slightly ahead of him!

The cockpits are 99% complete now with the sidewalls also in place. I was going to add some shading and stains but did a dry fit and saw how much disappears and then decided not to waste my time. I’ve still to add the seat belts to this one. I guess you are all wondering how the fuselage halves fit together with all that stuff inside, I know I was. The answer is not too bad once you trim the bottom of the cockpit frames off. I think the frame (the green bit running across the way near the back of the cockpit opening) over the fuel tank was too wide and pushing the rear cockpit area out a bit hence the clamp. I have trimmed the frame down on the other one so we’ll see if that helps. Duncan B

That's lovely that is, looks great. Duncan B

Impressive result for a quick build, nice job. Duncan B

The P-51 was a complex beast so the engineering of the kit is quite complex in places. (I’ve never built a 1/48 Mustang before so don’t know how the likes of Tamiya and Airfix deal with the parts breakdown). The lower fuselage area around the radiator outlet looked ‘interesting’ in the instructions but it actually goes together very positively. Both are at the same stage. I need to finish the cockpit side walls off before I can close the fuselages up. Duncan B

This morning has been spent painting the wheel wells. I have followed the colour call outs suggested by Eduard to a point. The Dash 10 (which is No.2) is obviously from an earlier batch than Dash 20 (No.1) so I have gone with the spars and frames in Chromate yellow with the skins in NMF. The Dash 20 has had all of the wheel wells sprayed yellow chromate. I followed the same pattern for the tail wheel well too although Eduard called it out as Yellow Chromate for them both. I have some detail painting to do and then it’s on to installing the cockpits and other internals into the fuselages. Both kits are now at roughly the same stage in the build so it’ll be double bubble from now on. Duncan B

Jamie also thinks the spars would have been chromate yellow on the early ones. Most of the models I've ever seen built up have been of the green, including a D-5 in SAM from a few months back. Once it's built I'll not be looking in the wheel wells again so it's not a stumbling block for me. Duncan B

The instructions are saying all aluminium for the D-10 and chromate yellow primer and aluminium for the D-20. Jamie thinks the green was used when the Mustangs were refurbished (after the War?) but before Korea. DB

More progress or just more? How about double helpings? I’ve still the detailed painting/chipping to do on No.2 and seatbelts to add to both (will need to buy another set of belts). I’ve also been throwing some silver paint around the interior structures. I’ve trying time work out the colours for the inside of the wheel wells too, seems they changed how they were painted as time went by. Duncan B

Yes I realised the AC plonk in the back would either have to sit with it in his lap or would shoot it off but they could have put it across the underside of the wings. Just seems very clumsy and even more of a weight penalty having to die a retraction mechanism. Daft, probably designed by committee!

Sorry to repeat the boxart again but I have always wondered what went on in the BP design office the day they agreed that the Defiant was a good idea in general and that sticking the aerial mast underneath, running fore/aft, was fine too? Am I the only one that thinks the boxart has got the rear mast way too long and the undercarriage would have to be 12 feet high not to drag it in the mud? Duncan B p.s. Why didn't they consider attacking from underneath a la Schragemusik attacks?