1/72 Smer P-51A Allison Mustang

by coolrunnings_99

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This is a "Smer Hi-Tech" kit, correct in outline and panel detail, but with quite crude plastic and some big fit issues.  Bonus is that you can build a variety of Allison engined ponies, plus you get 2 resin wheels with some basic PE interior details.  I opted for "Jackie", a CBI Mustang since those planes really do give you a "weathering playground", and that I do like.  Wheel locks, brake lines, radios, antennas, gunsights, open canopy with hinges, oil cooler and drop tanks with pylons were scratchbuilt, 50.cals were represented by syringes.  Exhausts came from Quickboost resin set. Model was painted with MM metalizers, Tamiya OD, NG acrylics and Gunze lacquers (gloss and flat).  Chipping was "toothpicked", and weathering done with Tamiya Smoke, couple of different shades of OD, and artists pastels.  

Click on images below to see larger images

  

 

Two palm trees were from Verlinden, and figures are from a CMK USAAF set. Diorama base was slighty enhanced with some PSP leftovers, mud stick, and done with several coats of HO railroad models types of soil, in order to represent a soil similar to a CBI airfield of yours and Capt. Englands choice ;)

All in all a very nice build, plagued by final matt cote, which led to some serious repair work on up till then quite cool paint job.  Aircraft and figures were brush painted, apart from gloss and matt cotes, which were courtesy of various Gunze spray cans.

Kind regards,

coolrunnings_99

 

Photos and text © by coolrunnings_99