I've waited a long time for a GOOD 1/32 P-51B/C kit. Now Eduard has issued a really good one. "Margie Maru" is the subject I'll do. I've been busy removing parts from their castings and I have to say, I"m NOT a big fan of the need to cut them off the little bitty, delicate, and numerous molding "strips". Awfully tedious and requiring very careful "surgery" to keep from breaking something. For me it's a big PITA 🤪 to have to do BUT a small price to pay for the high quality of the parts.

Looking forward to seeing this.

Any thoughts on how you'll tackle painting the landing gear bays?

32 minutes ago, FG2Si said:

Looking forward to seeing this.

Any thoughts on how you'll tackle painting the landing gear bays?

I figure it'll be a "looker" when finished. I haven't decided on what I'll do for the LG bays. Looks to be a bit fiddly but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. 🤪

Some good progress on the cockpit parts. I used FineMolds belts instead of the kit belts.

Edited August 19Aug 19 by JohnB593

Eduard P-51B wheel wells paint. The instruction sheet and enclosed reference book show one thing and their buildup on FB shows another. Sooooo when I get to that on my build I'll likely go YZC on the main spar and natural aluminum on the rest as Dana Bell posted on Hyperscale a while back. I think he has it right.

Edited August 19Aug 19 by JohnB593

Astonishingly detailed. The hydraulic lines, in particular, look very realistic.👍

2 hours ago, FullArmor said:

Astonishingly detailed. The hydraulic lines, in particular, look very realistic.👍

Excellent details for sure. 😀

Cockpit and interior added and fuselage halves cemented together. Still have to clean up seams, etc.

Edited August 20Aug 20 by JohnB593

Well along on the gear wells.

Superb work on the wheel wells they look great.

Cheers

Dennis

3 hours ago, Spitfire said:

Superb work on the wheel wells they look great.

Cheers

Dennis

Thank you Dennis! I appreciate the nice comment. 😃

This build has some fit problems. 😒

13 minutes ago, JohnB593 said:

This build has some fit problems. 😒

😬

3 hours ago, JohnB593 said:

This build has some fit problems. 😒

That's a disappointment. Hopefully it's not hard to sort out.

hmmm. contemplating buying this kit, but will follow this build first.

Great work so far

1 hour ago, Jeroen Peters said:

hmmm. contemplating buying this kit, but will follow this build first.

Great work so far

I recommend it Jeroen even though it is a bit "pricey". 😃

Everything smoothed out and correct now. CA cement, Zip Kicker, and White Putty come in very handy. 😀

5 hours ago, JohnB593 said:

Everything smoothed out and correct now. CA cement, Zip Kicker, and White Putty come in very handy. 😀

Good save.🙂

Nice save, but that's a bit shocking for a new tool kit.

Cheers

Dennis

5 hours ago, Spitfire said:

Nice save, but that's a bit shocking for a new tool kit.

Cheers

Dennis

It wasn't quite as bad as it appeared but still needed some work.

Time to start applying the invasion stripes.

Top of the wings done. Undersides next then the fuselage. 😃

Looks sharp there John. Those invasion stripes are certainly neater than any done on D-Day.

14 minutes ago, FG2Si said:

Looks sharp there John. Those invasion stripes are certainly neater than any done on D-Day.

Thanks. I know but I want neat, not crude. I may add a little bit of "crudeness" later just for the sake of "historical accuracy".

Edited August 23Aug 23 by JohnB593

But then again John depending on who applied the application some neat..some not so..the neat guys might not even be visible so much in 1/32?

Nice by the way John mine is in the stash.

Edited August 25Aug 25 by KevinM