Tamiya Mustang P-51D "grim reaper"

alextheblue · Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:30 am

Love following this one Nige, it is just jaw-droppingly good!!

You have the patience of a saint, your hard work and skill is really paying off - absolutely stunning!

fly1ngdutchm4n · Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:43 pm

Sunglasses required!

That's all...

MrModelling · Post by **MrModelling** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:51 pm

Awesome, I even wanna try out that foil technique

strawnobi · Post by **strawnobi** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:09 pm

An interesting build indeed. I used to build and fly R/C in the states. I remember all the headaches I had learning to cover aircraft with heat shrink. Your technique is fun to watch here. Can't wait to see how it all looks in the end.

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:55 pm

Again thank you all for the kind comments.

Right update time.

So tonight I started on the very tips of the wings. I think the best way do to this will be a half at a time

Top.

And with it smoothed down.

Once they have dried I'll burnish the edges with wire wool to help hide them and the bottom half should go on nicely.

Same on the other side.

The elevators were done with the same method as the wings smoothing it round the edge.

Then it was onto the fuselage the nose and around the cockpit

And this is where I'm at.

So next time the bottom of the wing tips and hopefully I should get the tail done.

Thanks for looking guys your comments are making it all worth while so thanks.

5Craven · Post by **5Craven** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:23 pm

Holy crap Nige! The work you have put in on this is amazing and the results are spectacular.

Mind you I with all the work you have put in I can see why someone developed Alclad!

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:28 pm

5Craven wrote:Holy crap Nige! The work you have put in on this is amazing and the results are spectacular. Mind you I with all the work you have put in I can see why someone developed Alclad!

Cheers mate the thing is I think I would rather do this then use alclad no nasty smells and cheaper lol plus when is all covered I don't know if you can put graining on the panels if you know what I mean.

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:41 pm

Another quick update.

So on with the wing tips. As you can see hopefully the edge is quite rough.

So it's out with the fine wire wool remember the finer the better

Hopefully you can see that is a bit smoother. You sort of feather the edge so it becomes smooth.

The bottom goes on

And you feather it again with the wire wool and your left with an almost seamless join.

Just one real problem doing this finish when it's sunny you get blinded lol

And a few more panels done on the fuselage

And where she stands at the moment.

Again thanks for looking back soon.

UKguyInUSA · Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 9:45 pm

Almost there! Patience is a virtue!

Joesdad · Post by **Joesdad** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 10:04 pm

Brilliant Nige... Have you counted the panels?

T3hGuppy · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:50 am

Damn thats cool.

All the foil looks great.

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 5:24 pm

Cheers guys and no I haven't count the panels if I had I may not have done it lol.

chief5437 · Post by **chief5437** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 8:00 pm

Outstanding work Nige! Well done mate. I might try this on a P-38 I've got in the stash.

Good luck with the rest of it

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 6:37 pm

Cheers chief.

Right just another quick update.

I've got about 2/3rds of the fuselage done up to now hope you like it.

And thanks again for all the encouragement it's really helping keep this build on track.

Jamesday1998 · Post by **Jamesday1998** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 6:44 pm

wow just wow

you have done so much work on it and it really has paid off!

MarkVerploeg · Post by **MarkVerploeg** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 6:55 pm

Seems Nige likes bling bling
Maybe you should sell it to the local jewelery and get some more hobbycash for it
Darn that is shiny ,great work

GIACOMER · Post by **GIACOMER** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 8:25 pm

Thank you for showing us your awesome work mate.

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 9:44 am

Cheers guys.

AchtungPanzer · Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 10:55 am

Super idea with this foils and super execution .

Well done mate !

fly1ngdutchm4n · Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 3:37 pm

Nice!
With the sun shining on it, it gives a great effect. Looks great

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 8:34 pm

Thanks guys for all the great comments.

Another quick update I think the finishing line is in sight well with the foil anyway.
I've got nearly all the the upper surfaces done just a bit more work on the tail.

And I've done some parts on the underside.

Any way that's the lot hopefully another week and it will be ready for some paint.
Again as always thanks for looking.

FishBowlMan · Post by **FishBowlMan** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 9:43 pm

As the legendary Sid Waddell once said: "Great Darts Jocky!"

martin57 · Post by **martin57** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 11:44 pm

just got myself up to speed on this thread , great work a lot of hard work and dedication gone into it . it will be intresting to see how you weather it . great work

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Fri Jun 27, 2014 5:29 pm

Cheers guys.

Right time for an update.

It was time to start on the belly radiator
So I start by apply to the glue.

Then I gently fed the foil inside and with a cocktail stick I eased it to the contors of the opening.

Once that was dry I feathered the edges so I could line the outer part up and because it's a complicated curve I need to cut a bit out to make it easier to conform to the curves.

So that's the rad drying and we will come back to it in the next update.

So in between the rad bits I cracked on getting the front of the nose sorted.

Again using the same method for the radiator.

I was debating drilling the grill holes out but with the foil pierced with the tip of a knife I think it looks ok.

So all that's left is the bottom rear of the fuselage and the tail fin which I hope to crack on with tonight so there might be another update tonight or tomorrow.

Again thanks all for looking

Willem · Post by **Willem** » Fri Jun 27, 2014 5:33 pm

Brilliant work, nearly there!

MarkVerploeg · Post by **MarkVerploeg** » Fri Jun 27, 2014 5:47 pm

And now we bring you :
Nige , king of kitchen foil

The mustang is looking great

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Sat Jun 28, 2014 4:41 pm

Cheers guys it's nearly done two panels to do later then its ready for a clean.

gaz45 · Post by **gaz45** » Sat Jun 28, 2014 5:45 pm

That is really some stunning work mate

Mike00 · Post by **Mike00** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 3:44 pm

Looking Great!!!!!

UKguyInUSA · Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 3:48 pm

Hey, Nige.....I've been away for 2 1/2 weeks on vacation so haven't had the chance to check the site until today. Looks like you're almost there with the foil work....great patience and perseverance you're demonstrating with that, mate!

You'll soon be onto the next stage, can't wait to see this finished, looks great so far!

Martin

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 4:07 pm

Cheers guys really means a lot.

So as promised the foiling is done

just got to wait for it to dry for a couple of days and then I can clean all the glue of that is still about in places. Bet enough talk on with the photos.

Again thanks for looking once it's clean the next step will be to add some grain to the panels and that will be in a couple of days.

UKguyInUSA · Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 4:31 pm

Sweet!

ncf · Post by **ncf** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:14 pm

I have to say, I've never seen a metal finish like that in a build before. Top work mate, it's looking damn amazing!

Coen · Post by **Coen** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:21 pm

DUDE!!!!
That's awesome!
I was thinking that on larger scale aircraft that would look even better.
I'm not going to be doing it to my mustang... you're a much braver man than I am.
But I many try it with another aircraft in 1/32, just to see how that looks to.

It's beautiful Nige.!!! Excellent work bud.

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:31 pm

Coen wrote:
DUDE!!!!
That's awesome!
I was thinking that on larger scale aircraft that would look even better.
I'm not going to be doing it to my mustang... you're a much braver man than I am.
But I many try it with another aircraft in 1/32, just to see how that looks to.

It's beautiful Nige.!!! Excellent work bud.

Cheers mate a star fighter would look cool or maybe a P-38 lighting a nice twin boomer

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:33 pm

UKguyInUSA wrote:Sweet!

Cheers mate.

ncf wrote:I have to say, I've never seen a metal finish like that in a build before. Top work mate, it's looking damn amazing!

Thanks buddy

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:59 pm

Looking good Nige

FishBowlMan · Post by **FishBowlMan** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 6:12 pm

Excellent work, Nige. That looks amazing.

fly1ngdutchm4n · Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 6:29 pm

Wow... looking great!

Willem · Post by **Willem** » Sun Jun 29, 2014 9:02 pm

I keep going back to the beginning of your build and reading it through. It's epic mate.

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Mon Jun 30, 2014 6:18 pm

Thanks you very much guys.

So another quick update once all the glue had dried it was time to give it a clean with IPA and some lint free wipes which I can get from work but can be gotten from other places. One it was clean and dry it was time to add some grain to the "metal" to do this I used some extra fine wire wool.

This is before.

And after hopefully you can see it lol

This is done to every panel and in different directions

Once it's been done it needs another good clean.

Again once dry I need to clear it as paint WONT stick to the foil.

I've had this bottle for about 5 years so it was a good buy at the time.

The way I use it it I pour some into the cap and use a wide brush.

And that is all I use this brush for.

And I go in the direction of the airflow.

Front to back or back to front it makes no difference

I'll put a couple of coats top and bottom the leave it to dry for a day or so then is on to the scary bit the masking

alextheblue · Post by **alextheblue** » Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:48 am

Nige, that is utterly brilliant!!

Apologies, I've been following your thread closely from the start and each time I take a look I'm so blown away with how good it looks, I end up spend ages looking for my jaw on the floor and forget to leave a comment as a result.

Brilliant mate!

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Tue Jul 01, 2014 12:17 pm

alextheblue wrote:Nige, that is utterly brilliant!!

Apologies, I've been following your thread closely from the start and each time I take a look I'm so blown away with how good it looks, I end up spend ages looking for my jaw on the floor and forget to leave a comment as a result.

Brilliant mate!

Cheers Alex your not the only one I can't believe how well it's gone so far.

Coen · Post by **Coen** » Tue Jul 01, 2014 12:25 pm

Wonderful work Nige and a fine demonstration of the method as well.
Top marks my friend!

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Tue Jul 01, 2014 1:36 pm

Its coming along great guns nige, cant wait to see this finished

ncf · Post by **ncf** » Tue Jul 01, 2014 1:49 pm

i really like the wire wool effect!

Keep on with the great job, I can't wait to see it finished!

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 5:51 pm

Cheers guys

Right update time well once the clear had dried it's was time to mask up. I was going to show you all how I masked it but once the tape was removed had a little problem.

What you are looking at is the paint peeling of not the foil I think it was the klear had not stuck to the foil has it was peeling of where there was no tape.
Not to worry I managed to remove the klear with IPA and the remaining paint and I've just now sprayed some matt clear on it to see if that will stick and I'll report back in the next update.

Again thanks for looking and your support.

Mike00 · Post by **Mike00** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:35 pm

OH NO!!
I used to sell paint for living. Aluminum is a different animal than other metals. The Klear acrylic or even an oil base may not stick to aluminum. It probably need a waterbourne bonding primer or an etch primer. The problem is I don't know of any that are clear. If the dull coat does not work try Dupli-Color Adhesion Promoter. This is an adhesion primer for automotive surfaces. I use it as a clear primer for my models and it has worked on photo etched parts as well, brass and aluminum accept paint in roughly the same way. Just remember it's not the end of the world, it's just an inconvenience.

I hope it turns out OK and and hope I was able to help.

Willem · Post by **Willem** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:42 pm

Mike00 wrote: OH NO!!
I used to sell paint for living. Aluminum is a different animal than other metals. The Klear acrylic or even an oil base may not stick to aluminum. It probably need a waterbourne bonding primer or an etch primer. The problem is I don't know of any that are clear. If the dull coat does not work try Dupli-Color Adhesion Promoter. This is an adhesion primer for automotive surfaces. I use it as a clear primer for my models and it has worked on photo etched parts as well, brass and aluminum accept paint in roughly the same way. Just remember it's not the end of the world, it's just an inconvenience. I hope it turns out OK and and hope I was able to help.

Mike's advice sounds good mate. The other alternative may be decaling the stripes, it's already a gloss surface. Any in the kit? There may be an aftermarket set about or could be a case of custom printing.

Either way, good luck Bud, you'll sort it.

Ok. Just read back through- You've got the under fuselage stripes, if they work you just need the wings.

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:21 pm

Mike00 wrote: OH NO!!
I used to sell paint for living. Aluminum is a different animal than other metals. The Klear acrylic or even an oil base may not stick to aluminum. It probably need a waterbourne bonding primer or an etch primer. The problem is I don't know of any that are clear. If the dull coat does not work try Dupli-Color Adhesion Promoter. This is an adhesion primer for automotive surfaces. I use it as a clear primer for my models and it has worked on photo etched parts as well, brass and aluminum accept paint in roughly the same way. Just remember it's not the end of the world, it's just an inconvenience. I hope it turns out OK and and hope I was able to help.

Thanks for the tip I'll look into it the dull didn't stick either so this maybe the root I go down.