Coen's "Old Crow" Tamiya P51D Mustang 1/32

Coen · Post by **Coen** » Thu May 22, 2014 12:51 pm

Hey guys!!!
So I'm going to be building Tamiya's 1/32 P51D Mustang in D-Day markings... namely "Old Crow" in full camo for the GB.
Paul says that I'm completely nuts doing a mustang in camo, but I like being the odd man out.
Everyone else does these in spectacular metal finishes that dazzle the eye and make you stare for far too long.
I wanted to build something that will make you go .. Meh... yawn and walk away.
haha.
Nah... I'll beat her up a bit and give her the proper attention.
This is also a bit of a buddy build with Paul and one other... but he hasn't got his kit yet so I didn't want to say anything yet.

I've been working to clear my bench as much as possible these last couple of months just so that I can concentrate on this build for a couple of weeks.
She's a big one and one worthy of attention.
I won't be trying to win any prizes with this one as I'll probably take too long to finish her.
4 months really isn't long enough for me to build something like this and build a couple of other pieces on the side.
That liberates me in a way though as I'm not confined by a looming deadline... So I'll probably finish early in spite of myself haha.
I have decided that I'll be doing a few vids on this build, no live builds though. She's too complicated and I don't know enough about the aircraft.
Mostly updates to youtube.
The build will be focused here with you fine folks.

Here's the video that I shot last week or the week before for the build...

[youtube]PJbKlIrPx_w[/youtube]

And here are the obligatory sprue shots.

The Box Art

Zee Box

The instructions and references... mine and theirs.

The Sprues!!!

Decals, and amendment, safety sheet ... weird bits, and a box that I've never opened.

I'll be starting this the first thing tomorrow morning.... I'M SOOO SCARED!!!

Post by **Lee** » Thu May 22, 2014 12:58 pm

Nice one buddy

T3hGuppy · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Thu May 22, 2014 1:11 pm

Cool choice.

I too want to do a P-51 in camo.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Thu May 22, 2014 1:14 pm

YEEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHH BUDDDDDYYYY

Still think your a heathen for painting it green but hey-ho

Coen · Post by **Coen** » Thu May 22, 2014 1:17 pm

That's what happens when tread heads build airplanes... it's all fire and brimstone
Muhahahahah!!!!

EasyEight96 · Post by **EasyEight96** » Thu May 22, 2014 1:19 pm

Will make sure I watch all your vids bud

Willem · Post by **Willem** » Thu May 22, 2014 1:25 pm

Yeah baby! P51 fest. Green huh?

Go for it. It will look the Wasp's nipples!
(Bee's knees only so much better).

DC87 · Post by **DC87** » Thu May 22, 2014 1:48 pm

This will be great to watch, will you be going full hog and building the engine etc or covering a void with the superb panels ?

MarkVerploeg · Post by **MarkVerploeg** » Thu May 22, 2014 3:33 pm

Looks like a cool kit
And your are right if it military slap some camo on it
Who needs shiny planes anyway it is just proof they where to lazy to paint the bloody thing
CAMO RULES

peppie · Post by **peppie** » Thu May 22, 2014 5:02 pm

Willem wrote:Go for it. It will look the Wasp's nipples!
(Bee's knees only so much better).

You british and your language

That's why I'm also a big fan of "The Blackadder"

Anybody remember him (and the lovely Baldrick of course..

)

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Thu May 22, 2014 5:40 pm

this going to be so cool. Now get cracking 1st thing and get her finished lol

mannloon · Post by **mannloon** » Thu May 22, 2014 6:00 pm

I am trying to recall if I've seen a D in camo. Either way it should be interesting. I was in a hobby shop here and saw that kit a few days ago. It is beautiful even in the box, but out of my price range to say the least. I'm sure you'll give it the beans.

A little P-51 story

I take my son to the EAA Fly-In every summer. If you're not familiar with what that is, it's a very large airshow/convention thing that lasts a week. Half a million people show up every year. There is a living WWII section and a whole giant field of warbirds. It's heaven for WWII aircraft enthusiasts. It's right off of a major highway so even before I used to go all the time, the airshows would happen, and if you were driving by you would have odd encounters. My favorite of these was I was driving past the airfield where they have the shows on my way to Milwaukee. I notice out of the corner of my eye, to my right a P-51 D was flying along side me almost on the deck next to the highway. I did that look at it, then look back the road as to not crash thing repeatedly. As it pulled ahead (this all lasted maybe a few seconds) it tore off back in to the sky.

It was loud and amazing.

UKguyInUSA · Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Fri May 23, 2014 4:09 am

This'll be like a "Battle of the Giants" between Paul and Coen's Mustang builds! Will this get heated...will mistakes be made under pressure?! Make sure to tune in next week.....same Bat time, same Bat channel.

Apple · Post by **Apple** » Fri May 23, 2014 6:13 am

Very nice..!! Specially the camo

fly1ngdutchm4n · Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Fri May 23, 2014 8:57 am

Sweet!

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Fri May 23, 2014 5:23 pm

Very nice sir and I just know it will look fantastic when done (but don't paint it gold!)

Tobias · Post by **Tobias** » Fri May 23, 2014 5:26 pm

Looks like a nice kit never seen a camo one should be interesting

Coen · Post by **Coen** » Fri May 23, 2014 6:09 pm

I didn't know that it was going to be handbags at dawn between Paul and I haha. I left my pink sequence one that's filled with rocks at the office haha.
Oh well... I'll use the old be leather grandma carpet bag instead

mannloon wrote:I am trying to recall if I've seen a D in camo. Either way it should be interesting. I was in a hobby shop here and saw that kit a few days ago. It is beautiful even in the box, but out of my price range to say the least. I'm sure you'll give it the beans.

A little P-51 story

I take my son to the EAA Fly-In every summer. If you're not familiar with what that is, it's a very large airshow/convention thing that lasts a week. Half a million people show up every year. There is a living WWII section and a whole giant field of warbirds. It's heaven for WWII aircraft enthusiasts. It's right off of a major highway so even before I used to go all the time, the airshows would happen, and if you were driving by you would have odd encounters. My favorite of these was I was driving past the airfield where they have the shows on my way to Milwaukee. I notice out of the corner of my eye, to my right a P-51 D was flying along side me almost on the deck next to the highway. I did that look at it, then look back the road as to not crash thing repeatedly. As it pulled ahead (this all lasted maybe a few seconds) it tore off back in to the sky.

It was loud and amazing.

That was a really cool story bud!!! Really cool!!!

Coen · Post by **Coen** » Fri May 23, 2014 6:57 pm

mannloon got me thinking that a wee bit of history of "Old Crow" is in order.

First off... here's what she looks like.... oh boy she's a sexy beast!!!!!

Bud Anderson as he appeared in 2011. Anderson is seated second from the right, in the white cap. This picture was taken at EAA AirVenture 2011, as Anderson tells a large crowd his war stories. He sits next to a P-51 Mustang painted in his World War II colors.

"Bud" Anderson, on the wing of his P-51 Mustang "Old Crow"

[youtube]3mTUmGIKguU[/youtube]

[youtube]uNXGDi79aPw[/youtube]

Here's a wee bit of history about Bud and Old Crow... taken from Wikipedia.

Clarence Emil "Bud" Anderson (born January 13, 1922) is a retired officer in the United States Air Force and a "triple ace" in World War II.

Anderson was born in Oakland, California, and reared on a farm near Newcastle, California. In January 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army as an aviation cadet and received his wings and commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces in September 1942.
Anderson flew two tours of combat against the Luftwaffe in Europe while with the 363rd Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group, based at RAF Leiston, England, and was the group's third leading ace with 16¼ aerial victories. His P-51D-10-NA Mustang, AAF Ser. No. 44-14450 B6-S, nicknamed Old Crow[1] (after the whiskey of the same name), carried him safely through 116 missions without being hit by fire from enemy aircraft and without Anderson ever having to turn back for any reason. He returned to the United States in February 1945 as a Major.

With over thirty years of military service, Anderson was a test pilot at Wright Field following the end of World War II, where he also served as Chief of Fighter Operations, and later at Edwards Air Force Base, where he was Chief of Flight Test Operations and Deputy Director of Flight Test). He also served two tours at the The Pentagon and commanded three fighter organizations at the squadron and wing level. From June to December 1970, he commanded the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, an F-105 Thunderchief unit, during its final months of service in the Vietnam War, and retired as a Colonel in March 1972. He was decorated 25 times for his service to the United States.
After his retirement from active duty as a colonel, he became the manager of the McDonnell Aircraft Company's Flight Test Facility at Edwards AFB, serving there until 1998.

During his career, he flew over 100 types of aircraft and logged over 7,000 hours. Anderson is possibly best known for a close friendship with Brigadier General Chuck Yeager dating from World War II, where both served in the 357th Fighter Group, to the present. Yeager once called Anderson, "The best fighter pilot I ever saw."
In 1990, Anderson co-authored the book To Fly & Fight—Memoirs of a Triple Ace.
On July 19, 2008, Anderson was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

Awards

COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png Command pilot

Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit (two awards)
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg Distinguished Flying Cross (4 oak leaf clusters)
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star
Air Medal ribbon.svg Air Medal (15 oak leaf clusters)
CdG45.gif Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)
American Fighter Aces Association life member
Fellow, Society of Experimental Test Pilots
Aerospace Walk of Honor, 1993
Crystal Eagle Award, 2011

5Craven · Post by **5Craven** » Fri May 23, 2014 7:48 pm

Err I don't want to be a rivet counter here

but it might pay to check your sources. I'm not a Mustang expert but the wartime pictures I have seen and the painting above show this aircraft as either a P-51B or Mustang III razorback fitted with a Malcolm Hood. Now it maybe that she was modified into a bubbletop aircraft in service since the modern photos (and the portrait shot above) show that configuration or they may be another P-51D but painted in that scheme. I really hope this doesn't cause you too much grief as I am really looking forward to seeing you build this.

Coen · Post by **Coen** » Fri May 23, 2014 11:36 pm

You're right David... Something isn't right with this picture haha.
The pictures that I used to plan the build came from trying to find a p51d with camo and invasion stripes. I came across a decal sheet with old crow on it, but it was drawn ad a D not a B as it should have been. This lead me to think that it was cool to build this aircraft. Bzzzzt?
Wrongo!

It should look like this....

It also means that it isnt appropriate for D-day. I can't find a record yet that says that she flew on d-day itself. So I may be screwed.

I think that what I'll do is build it the way that I intended anyway since I've already ordered the decals.
shit on me eh? Haha

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Fri May 23, 2014 11:46 pm

Dude its got invasion stripes thats good enough for me, just build that scheme and you will be fine

Coen · Post by **Coen** » Sat May 24, 2014 1:23 am

Technically I'd be building the one in the videos that I posted... not the actual plane flown on D-Day.

That's fine though. I may yet build it up to a certain point and go an find another decal set that will work before I paint it.
That's weeks away and I'll worry about it then.

Here's some photos of todays work.
I got the cockpit built up into sub assemblies so that I can take it apart for painting.
It's all mostly friction fits in these shots.
This thing just falls together, but both Paul and I discovered that paying attention to the intstructions is kinda important.
Oops.

A few tiny booboos along the way, nothing serious though.

So here's the cockpit of Old Crow in it's present condition...

And here's were I've gotten her so far. Tonight I'll be painting her as much as I can.
Then I'll finish cleaning up the pilot and painting him.

mannloon · Post by **mannloon** » Sat May 24, 2014 2:02 am

That is just amazing looking. What an impressive kit.

George · Post by **George** » Sat May 24, 2014 2:13 am

Looking great. Can't wait to see it all painted up.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sat May 24, 2014 9:55 am

Nice one dude, where at almost the same stage, mines just broken down ready for primer

Apple · Post by **Apple** » Sat May 24, 2014 10:51 am

There are actually more than 1 old crow's

http://www.cebudanderson.com

And on Airliners.net (They do pretty good backgrounds) This is listed as a P-51D

And more:

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?album=9333

josepedro · Post by **josepedro** » Sat May 24, 2014 11:06 am

Great project!

Looking forward to this!

EasyEight96 · Post by **EasyEight96** » Sat May 24, 2014 11:35 am

Wow that was fast great job Coen

gaz45 · Post by **gaz45** » Sat May 24, 2014 12:11 pm

very nice work there dude

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Sat May 24, 2014 3:37 pm

wow look at the detail on that thing and you are making it look easy mate top job

mannloon · Post by **mannloon** » Sat May 24, 2014 6:10 pm

Apple wrote:There are actually more than 1 old crow's

http://www.cebudanderson.com

And on Airliners.net (They do pretty good backgrounds) This is listed as a P-51D

And more:

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?album=9333

That's a D, no doubt about it.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sat May 24, 2014 6:12 pm

That engine and cockpit with pilot. is amazing - detailed and painted up, it would make a great looking display as is!

Tiger131 · Post by **Tiger131** » Sat May 24, 2014 6:38 pm

looking real good buddy you got that done rather quick as well...keep on rocking

chief5437 · Post by **chief5437** » Sat May 24, 2014 6:39 pm

Looks bloody awesome! Nice work Coen

fly1ngdutchm4n · Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Sat May 24, 2014 8:23 pm

I agree with that!
Bloody awesome!

JohnP · Post by **JohnP** » Sat May 24, 2014 11:11 pm

Coen: It also means that it isnt appropriate for D-day. I can't find a record yet that says that she flew on d-day itself. So I may be screwed.

Anderson's Fighter Group itself flew several missions during the invasion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/357th_Figh ... nd_support

I'm building Academy's 1/72 P-51B with Old Crow markings but I'm not sure if it's accurate specifics wise.
Not sure about the markings accuracy. Mine came with invasion stripes - so it might've flown on D-Day.
Then again, maybe yours are right and my kit is wrong.

Coen · Post by **Coen** » Sun May 25, 2014 12:03 pm

I spent pretty much the entire day yesterday working on the mustang and watchin Dr Who haha.
I got a lot done and I thought that it looked pretty good.
Then I saw Paul's.

Ah well... He is the master of paint and rightly so. It's beautiful work and very inspiring.

So I didn't go anywhere near the level of work that Paul went to. I looked and what would be visible once the kit wS built and decided that I didn't want to paint what I wouldn't see later. So I kept things in those areas simple.

Here whee she stands as of last night.... She's got a couple of washes on her now and the side walls are all built and ready for paint. I'll take some pics of that after the paint is on.

rodrant · Post by **rodrant** » Sun May 25, 2014 12:08 pm

Looking good , a quite impressive kit that is .

5Craven · Post by **5Craven** » Sun May 25, 2014 12:08 pm

Thats is all!!!

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Sun May 25, 2014 12:24 pm

fantastic work mate.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sun May 25, 2014 12:30 pm

Excellent work mate, liking the pilot figure

JohnP · Post by **JohnP** » Sun May 25, 2014 3:13 pm

Very nice work, sir!

gaz45 · Post by **gaz45** » Sun May 25, 2014 10:57 pm

awesome job mate

Coen · Post by **Coen** » Mon May 26, 2014 1:16 am

Another day of work work work!!!
Today I got the side walls built and painted, the details picked out, and ready for decals and washes.
I made a few more tweaks to the cockpit and the engine... mostly because of seeing what the Paulywog has been doing haha.
And the Tamiya book on Building the P-51D... WOW there's a lot of goodies in that book.
Thanks to Tim at Value kits for access to it. Wonderful library he's got there !!!

Here's a few shots of the work so far. I'll be filming a brief vid later tonight and that will be up tomorrow.

I've added another wash of some oil leaks and some grease to the engine.

I also dirtied up the cockpit a bit more as well. I still need to wipe off the excess wash but you get the idea.
I didn't bother too much with painting the pilot below the waist as it will never be visible.
I'm regretting even using him now as he's terrible. The only good thing about him is his head. It's not too bad. I could have AMed him though and been much the happier. I hated painting him and it shows.

TonyCnyc · Post by **TonyCnyc** » Mon May 26, 2014 2:52 am

Coming along great!

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Mon May 26, 2014 9:01 am

Smashing work mate can't wait to see it all buttoned up.

T3hGuppy · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Mon May 26, 2014 9:54 am

Coming along great dude.

Love the engine weathering.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Mon May 26, 2014 10:16 am

Great progress mate. Liking that weathering. Hoping to get to
Mine this afternoon once I've done some painting (in the house

)

Coen · Post by **Coen** » Mon May 26, 2014 12:41 pm

House painting.... BLAH!!!!!