Modelcraft | No. 48-021 | 1:48 | North American F-82E Twin Mustang (WIP)
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/2/3/8/1667238-49836-98-720.jpg)
What a great idea... Stereo Mustangs!
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/2/3/9/1667239-49836-42-720.jpg)
There was some minimal assembly required for the cockpit - not too much. The instructions had no colour guidance, so I primed with Vallejo Nato Green and then a top coat with Vallejo Zinc Chromate. The issue with this kit is that the fit is very bad...The locator pins are either too big, too small, not deep enough or in the wrong place and the two halves aren't quite the same shape.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/2/4/0/1667240-49836-67-720.jpg)
An awful lot of flash and not very good moulding.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/2/4/1/1667241-49836-85-720.jpg)
There are pin injector marks on everything too.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/2/4/2/1667242-49836-58-720.jpg)
Instructions are also a bit duff!
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/2/6/7/1667267-49836-81-720.jpg)
I'm not going to indulge this kit in massive amounts of man hours to make it perfect. I'm really just building it as a 'side project' and because a twin Mustang is VERY cool! I will also tidy up headrest edging shown here. My usual colour touches to the minimal cockpit.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/2/4/4/1667244-49836-36-720.jpg)
Er, so it didn't want to play ball.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/2/4/5/1667245-49836-91-720.jpg)
Still squeezing!
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/2/4/6/1667246-49836-69-720.jpg)
The intake moulds don't fit. Propellers once assembled also are a bit 'shaky'...
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/2/4/7/1667247-49836-22-720.jpg)
Got it together.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/2/5/8/1667258-49836-17-720.jpg)
As you can see, it's not exactly a sharp mating of panels.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/2/5/9/1667259-49836-87-720.jpg)
Though in the end I was pretty happy with how I got this.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/2/6/0/1667260-49836-77-720.jpg)
Underside... Hmmm... Filler and lots of shaping and sanding anyone?
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/2/6/1/1667261-49836-64-720.jpg)
Er, that's a pretty mighty seam! Not exactly an invisible join.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/2/6/2/1667262-49836-85-720.jpg)
Mating centre section and drilling for wing pylons.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/2/6/3/1667263-49836-54-720.jpg)
Pulling middle wing section.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/2/6/4/1667264-49836-50-720.jpg)
Not bad.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/2/6/5/1667265-49836-38-720.jpg)
Zip Ties to ensure fit. Have also started sanding all leading edges to ensure they're a bit sharper.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/3/1/8/1669318-49836-68-720.jpg)
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/3/1/9/1669319-49836-15-720.jpg)
Resorted to cable ties!
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/3/2/0/1669320-49836-79-720.jpg)
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/5/5/7/1674557-49836-42-720.jpg)
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/5/5/8/1674558-49836-51-720.jpg)
To put it mildly, the canopy is not a very good fit!
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/5/5/9/1674559-49836-27-720.jpg)
That's the canopy, seen sat on the recess of where it' supposed to be, as you can see it's proud of fuselage by some margin.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/5/6/0/1674560-49836-27-720.jpg)
I'm going to heat it a bit to make the width a better fit.
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/5/6/1/1674561-49836-17-720.jpg)
After a lot of scraping, filling and sanding. I've shaped it into something more akin to a Mustang lid, much filler still to be added and further shaped. And of course the same to do on the other side also.
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/8/2/6/1702826-49836-65-720.jpg)
More Vallejo filler...
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/8/2/7/1702827-49836-99-720.jpg)
It is a lovely shaped bird though. And pretty BIG too!
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/1/5/9/1727159-49836-15-720.jpg)
I'm rapidly becoming a fan of Vallejo Israeli colour primer. It seems to have a nice consistency and takes wet and dry well.
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/1/6/0/1727160-49836-30-720.jpg)
Finding high points and low points. Filling and then re-scribing where required...
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/1/6/1/1727161-49836-46-720.jpg)
Vallejo gloss black primer 74.660 going on. Bit of polishing to do after...
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/1/6/2/1727162-49836-18-720.jpg)
What a great idea... Stereo Mustangs!
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/5/2/2/1755522-49836-54-720.jpg)
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/5/2/3/1755523-49836-92-720.jpg)
Working hard on getting tonal variations in on the metallic finish...
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/5/2/4/1755524-49836-35-720.jpg)
I've decided against using the kit stripe decals. I'm going to paint instead.
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/5/2/5/1755525-49836-46-720.jpg)
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/5/2/6/1755526-49836-61-720.jpg)
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/5/2/7/1755527-49836-61-720.jpg)
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/0/3/9/1757039-49836-83-720.jpg)
Not the sharpest of mouldings.
.
.
![Album image #40 Album image #40](/albums/img/0/4/0/1757040-49836-66-720.jpg)
There's a LOT of filing, scraping and sanding on every piece.
![Album image #41 Album image #41](/albums/img/4/2/0/1761420-49836-77-720.jpg)
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/4/2/1/1761421-49836-68-720.jpg)
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/4/2/2/1761422-49836-83-720.jpg)
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/4/2/3/1761423-49836-10-720.jpg)
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/4/2/4/1761424-49836-61-720.jpg)
WORK IN PROGRESS. UPDATED: 5/7/24...
Kommentit
42 7 February, 10:08
![](/profiles/img/49836-796-s.jpg)
Welcome Robert, Jennifer and Gorby, very pleased to have your interest 🙂 your definitely right there @gorby. I mean I'm used to building 'duff' old kits, but this kit is duffer than the duffest thing ever made by the worlds duffest person! If that makes sense! Hahaha 🤣🤣
20 February, 00:42
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With all the faith within me I summon blessings upon you in this build Neil. This one makes AA Models look like Hasegawa. With that said I felt a great sense of accomplishment upon finishing mine ( something I rarely feel).
20 February, 01:52
![](/profiles/img/21096-573-s.jpg)
it takes courage to even start such a great quality model.... but you are certainly getting good result out of it, looking forward the end result
20 February, 03:15
![](/profiles/img/49836-796-s.jpg)
Welcome! Thanks very much for all your encouraging words mates. You talented bunch are all very kind to show interest in my efforts with such a humble kit. It's definitely fighting me! I've got it a bit further along now, will add some imagery soon - we're at the primer, sand, prime, sand stage. Hahaha!
1 March, 09:23
![](/profiles/img/118183-835-s.jpg)
Thanks for wrestling with this beast of a kit so I don't have to. 👍 Looking good so far with lots of your elbow grease.
7 March, 21:56
![](/profiles/img/49836-796-s.jpg)
Cheers mate! 🙂 Thanks for your encouragement. I'll continue the battle on this one 👍
18 March, 19:53
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I'm used to building old kits that need 'help'. But this one needs a bit more than usual. After a lot of pre-paint priming filling/scraping/hacking/filing/sanding work and then more post primer fiddling, it's beginning to take shape somewhat. I couldn't resist giving it a blast of aluminium lightly on the wings last night! 😉 👍
10 May, 13:12
![](/profiles/img/20442-422-s.jpg)
Remarkable perseverance and patience Neil. Most people would have given up on it by now.
10 May, 14:16
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Hi Gorby 👍 Thanks mate! Yeah, I'll get it into some kind of Mustang shape hopefully.
10 May, 19:17
![](/profiles/img/15497-946-s.jpg)
I for sure would have given up!
a lot of work but the result is convincing 👍
11 May, 06:44
![](/profiles/img/106289-364-s.jpg)
Is it weird that I could feel your pain, just by looking at the photos of your build?
11 May, 11:36
![](/profiles/img/49836-796-s.jpg)
Hi Thomas 🙂 yeah, it's tried my patience that's for sure. Thanks for your words of encouragement though mate, really appreciated 👍 I'll get there. At the end of the day, if it looks (a bit) like a Mustang then it is a Mustang!! Obviously it's no Hasegawa! @mike, hehehe. Yeah I've kept my language polite, but not surprised my pain was still apparent! 🤣 Thanks for dropping by 👍
11 May, 12:39
![](/profiles/img/49836-796-s.jpg)
Thanks Nathan - I know you 'appreciate' this kit journey also! I'm really not sure that a stars and stripes aluminium scheme is gonna be the easiest finish to help hide imperfections of this kit either. But I'll do my best 👍
15 May, 12:16
![](/profiles/img/31412-245-s.jpg)
Following! Watching your builds of those older kits is something I can never get enough of because of the quality of your builds and the nostalgia factor. Big Respect from my side. Greetings, Patryk.
15 May, 12:57
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Hi Patryk 🙂 Thanks mate! That means a lot. It's true that more often than not, it's a bit of a slog to get these oldies into shape. It's often tempting to bin one, hahaha 🤣 Especially when I look on the feed and see all these wonderful new kits which seem to (nearly always) fit in such an accomplished manner. But I rather masochisticaly choose to continue! Who knows why!? You're very kind, especially as I'm aware of your own skills. Greetings back atcha matey 😎👍
15 May, 20:27
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Hi mates. Thanks very much for checking in again and your encouraging words, hope you're both well 🙂 👍 Your feedback is most gratefully received and buoys me up to continue attacking this dastardly duo! POW! BANG! KAPOW! 👍 😉
28 June, 09:35
![](/profiles/img/121752-978-s.jpg)
It'a always a joy seeing someone transform an older, ill-fitting kit into a work of art. following!
6 July, 15:20
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Hiya CaptGPF 👍 you're extremely kind to me, I'm trying to drag this kit into something respectable, it's not the best kit (understatement!) But it is a stunningly beautiful airframe and surprisingly large too! Thanks for your compliment 🙏
@Mr D thanks very much for your message also, I've built a few metallic finish aircraft of late, with each build my ability to add shade and depth to a metal finish is improving, though a long way from great! 👍
Thanks also for the likes to all who've dropped by too 🙂 I've parked it for a few days again to let everything cure. But more pics again soon 👍
6 July, 22:59
![](/profiles/img/141759-133-s.png)
See what you mean, the canopy is 1:46 scale 🤣, lve often had to re-make parts from old spru's n use super glue-gel to build up poorly moulded parts. It's not good but part of modeling l think.
Looking good 👌
7 July, 08:42