This is my version of the P-51D Mustang. After creating many versions of this plane as a child, I have decided I needed to do it right.
There are so many people thank for this design but most notably Ralph Savelsburg (
www.flickr.com/photos/madphysicist/4542525001/in/gallery-... ), particularly for this model his Corsair and his Zero. Also, thanks to Legohaulic (
www.flickr.com/photos/legohaulic/3172946592/in/faves-thir... ) and Psiaki (
www.flickr.com/photos/pmiaki/4532674261/in/faves-thirdwig/ ) for their designs that influenced this creation.
I modeled this version of the P-51D on a variation of the Tuskeegee Airmen planes, as I wanted a little red in the markings. I used a number of SNOT techniques to make many of the surfaces to look the way I wanted. Particularly difficult was the radiator scoop and how it blended with the wing and the landing gear. Through turning pieces upside down, and other directions as was able to get the shape I wanted. Ralph's designs where heavily influential in the landing gear, in fact the rear was almost a direct copy from his Zero. The wings ended up getting the shape right, though I did not like the way the front inside met the fuselage. Cheese slopes gave the leading edge, and smoothed the front cowling, both on the upper and underside. I went back and forth on the canopy as I was not sure I wanted to use the windscreen I did. I also could not decide on clear or dark trans-clear for the color. Both presented problems. I also spend a lot of time on the invasion stripes, but like the way they turned out.
Thanks for looking, and take a moment to look at my other pictures as well.
More pictures with instructions are posted
here.
