Steve Zodiac Autor
Usual Checking, washing and primer so it's ready to start in March. 😀

gorby
I remember doing this kit when I was a kid in the 70's. It was mind-blowing back then.

Steve Zodiac Autor
All washed, one of best tips I was given. Always have zip bags handy, for the clear parts and another for what broken off the sprue. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Making hay while the sun shines. Mustang now all primed 😀

Robert Podkoński
Watching with interest. Was an electric motor included in the set?

Steve Zodiac Autor
Yes, I have put a photograph up of it. But not sure if I use it, not put a motor in before 😀

Robert Podkoński
Thanks for your reply, Steve. I've seen the photo, but was not sure if it is something from the kit, or sold separately...

Mr D
Like this "Super Kit" l didn't recognise it as Airfix at first glance,
Be nice to have the motor to honour the originality of the Super Kit.
Good luck with it .....like your garden 😃👍

Steve Zodiac Autor
Hi Robert, apon reading the original instructions, I found the instructions to install the engine, but it says if you buy one so maybe your right with sold separately. All I know it was a return to my loical model shop and has sat in there scrap room for decades. Untill they asked me if I would have a go at a display model for them. I am lucky to have developed a very good relationship with them over the years. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Made a start, trying to work out paints I need for pilot and cockpit. First 3 pieces glued. Will leave arms off till cockpit assembled. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
I am thinking a trip to RAF Cosford on the cards. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Going for cockpit green.😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Now, I added aluminium, and I am thinking about a pin wash in the morning 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Had a play with painting and a dry fit. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
I bloody hate figures. That's as good as I am going to get it. Next pin wash to tone it down.😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Now pin washed and satin matt varnished once dry it should tone down a lot.😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Falcon coming on well, time for a ago at the Mustang.

1st job work out what I was doing🤣🤣🤣

OK, there is so much off the spurs that I will build the engine, and it keeps my options open.

The prop is only a dry fit for the same reasons.

Last next paint jobs for the interior. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Day of painting, the prop painting now finished.
Unfortunately, works calling 😢
But hopefully I get back to it my next batch of free time.
😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Managed a little today
Engine cowlings on exhaust together
And 64 holes drilled 😃

Bozzer
I've always wanted to do a Retail version of this. When I heard the story about those brave men, it inspired me.

gorby
I did wonder what you meant by the brave men in retail. Well I suppose some of those customers can be a nightmare.
I think auto correct has screwed that up for you Bozzer. 😉

Bozzer
Lol, it did mate!
I corrected it once, but it changed it again. The appropriate word, should read "Redtail"
You gotta love technology.

Steve Zodiac Autor
Glued cockpit in
And a dry fit.
I heard this kit was a bad fit. That's an understatement 😳

So I completed the engine assembly, but I'm still not sure I use it. 🤔

And yes I am hoping to do a Red Tail. 😃

Bozzer
Augie started this kit, a while ago, and she just might swing by? You guys are making me hungry, for a Mustang.

Steve Zodiac Autor
Managed a little painting today, engine now ready for gloss varnish followed by a pin wash and then sealed with a satin varnish. Plus, another interior panel added.😃

Steve Zodiac Autor
Little assembly little painting and last a correction. The radiator was too high and may explain the bad fit. Hope so. 😃

Guy Rump
Following 👍 I had one of these in the 70s that my dad built for me, I remember it looked really good once completed. Keep at it Steve. 👍

Steve Zodiac Autor
Now glued with a light pencil weathering 😃

Steve Zodiac Autor
Managed subsection 8 - 13 today. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Had a play with the Mustang
Bit the bullet
Added weight to the tail and left the engine out.
And the prop will be removable....for now 😀

Bozzer
I bit the bullet too, and finally hunted down and bought the Redtail version. Yep, we're all nuts! I don't even want to know how much I've spent on kits, this month! But this one, only cost me just less than £60 including shipping, so I can't complain.

Steve Zodiac Autor
Sub section 14 is all done, not too bad.

Next, starting on the tail.
But sunday is family day 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Sub section 15 completed
Really nice fit, but not gluing till the very end so I can spray easier.
Interesting the tail is slightly off set, thanks to a friend down under, its correct. The tail was off set for stability. Cheers Harry. 🍻 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Managed a little today
Painted and assembled.
Will give them light weathering tomorrow. 😀

Bozzer
Even little steps, is making progress, brother. Keep pecking away at it, and it'll soon be ready for service 👍

Steve Zodiac Autor
Had a bit of a run today
Adding the 50cals wheels flaps and clear lights.
Then I could not resist doing a dry fit, but once I started I could not stop.
🤣🤣🤣😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
A day of glueing and re glueing until I finally got the wings together
Sub Section 19, now completed undercarriage covers, will be added later. 😀

Bozzer
I seem to remember reading, that glueing the wings to the fuselage, requires patience. Something to do with the dehedryl? You might want to do a bit of digging on the internet, regarding this? But definitely, test fit from every angle, if this is true. Ideally, you shouldn't have any gaps where the wing meets the airframe. Looking at other builds, can only be an advantage.

Steve Zodiac Autor
Wings on but needs a little work. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
I am working on the underside, a slight problem no location holes for drop tanks, but not to big a problem.
It crashing on the floor and braking up was much bigger problem.
and last a dry fit. 😀

Bozzer
Pre-flight checks are a must!
Looking forward to seeing some more colour on this now 🙂

Steve Zodiac Autor
And back to the Mustang
Cleaned up the little bit of filling I did while working on the MDV.
Access panels done.
Holes for drop tanks done.
Found canopy frame brocken. Luckily, brocken part in off Sprue bag.
Repaired and last a test spray of silver. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Little by little, she is getting there.
I leave it 24 hours, then it's masking time 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Change of plan.
You make hay while the sun shines, so the first coat of silver is now applied. I will wait 24 hours before masking for red. 😀

Bozzer
Bloody rare to get sunshine, here in the UK, at the moment!
Let it set good, Stevo. Don't rush it now, after all this hard work?
I believe Thursday is going to be torrential, but weekend is warming up?

Steve Zodiac Autor
I am in the UK 🤣🤣🤣

Bozzer
Well send some of the bright stuff up north mate, this rain is depressing!

Steve Zodiac Autor
Masking and spraying the Red. 😃

Steve Zodiac Autor
Bugger, silver will need a respray, but first, I do the olive drab. Because if the worst happens again, I can hand paint the red and olive drab.
Little bit of tiding up by spray into the cans cap and hand painting, but looks OK. 😃

Steve Zodiac Autor
Panic over, just a very small amount of hand painting after the respraying silver. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
It is time to add the tail fins and undercarriage. The prop is still not fixed, but I could not resist a dry fit.
Next varnish and decals.
I also have to source some yellow as I will not risk masking and painting. 😀

Bozzer
Now it's starting to look like a Redtail! You'll be cruising to the finish line soon 🙂

Steve Zodiac Autor
Decals day, lots of options as these are original decals. Here's hoping 🙏 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Disaster
First decal disintegrated.
So I am trying out liquid decal film. 😒

Steve Zodiac Autor
41 decals done only 4 replacements.....so far.
Next, pick the version to do. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
No prizes for guessing the version I went with.😀
Got to love art work 💖
All but the yellow strips to go, but unfortunately out of time today.
😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Decals are all done. they just need sealing and then weathering and finally sealed again.
Then I know how well I masked the canopy 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Last bits added and some light pencil weathering. Last coat of varnish now going on. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
All done. 🍾🍾🍾🥳🥳🥳😀

Bozzer
She came out excellent mate! That's a pretty high bar, to aim for, I just hope mine comes out as good? Well done mate, your hard work definitely paid off 👍

Steve Zodiac Autor
Thank you, I am quite pleased with her, as I am not an aircraft builder as a rule.
But I enjoyed the research and both films.
I am sure your do fine, I find taking the time is the key with all modeling.
It should be fun. 😀

Guy Rump
Lovely result! Takes me back to the kit I had in my childhood back in the 70s, my dad built it for me, almost as good as yours, congrats! 👍

Steve Zodiac Autor
Thank you, it pushed me all the way. 😀

Bozzer
Next step Steve, is to scratch build a Lancaster, 1/24 of course. That should keep you busy for a while. 😉

Steve Zodiac Autor
Been asking if my loical model shop would like a 1/32 Lancaster for the shop, they are resitting at the moment, but never say never. 🤣🤣🤣 remember the Mustang came out of there scrape room.
As for the Mustang it will be a window display from Monday.
So if anyone around Mr Models in Bearwood Birmingham feel free to have a look. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Now on display in my local model shop. 😀

Steve Zodiac Autor
Even better news, Des phone to say someone like it so much they bought the classic reissue to have ago themselves.
But the good news is,
Thanks to that reaction in the new year I get access to there scrape room. Who knows what gems are in there. It's full of kits with things wrong with them as they been returned to the shop at some point.

Oh and Merry Christmas everyone.
🎅🎅🎅