P-51D Grim reaper Tamiya - built progress
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/3/9/3/250393-21096-70-720.jpg)
nice looking box, as usual in tamiya
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/3/9/4/250394-21096-34-720.jpg)
spue
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/3/9/5/250395-21096-92-720.jpg)
sprue
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/3/9/6/250396-21096-27-720.jpg)
clear sprue
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/3/9/7/250397-21096-36-720.jpg)
decals, that mostly i will not use
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/3/9/9/250399-21096-96-720.jpg)
when I saw the grim reaper option i decided i had to use it.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/4/0/0/250400-21096-61-720.jpg)
took a while to get the aires kit "correctly"in place
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/4/0/1/250401-21096-85-720.jpg)
in both sides
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/4/0/2/250402-21096-59-720.jpg)
painted aires kit
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/4/0/6/250406-21096-65-720.jpg)
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/4/0/3/250403-21096-42-720.jpg)
painted aires kit, other side
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/4/0/4/250404-21096-46-720.jpg)
photo etched parts painted
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/4/0/5/250405-21096-44-720.jpg)
continuing with aires kit
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/4/0/7/250407-21096-17-720.jpg)
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/4/0/8/250408-21096-87-720.jpg)
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/4/0/9/250409-21096-19-720.jpg)
decided to replace propeler axis. Later, I added some extra reinforceent
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/4/3/9/250439-21096-27-720.jpg)
ready to remove the weapons, reference picture to be used for alignment
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/4/1/1/250411-21096-33-720.jpg)
too complicated option, maybe i should have use the epoxy bicomponent puty as i saw in grumman F6F by Jose Miguel Rodriguez (Shaky962) MyAlbum | Album by Shaky962 (1:72)
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/4/1/2/250412-21096-72-720.jpg)
making the tip of the weapons
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/4/1/6/250416-21096-84-720.jpg)
it seems to stay in place, and it should not move anymore... but maybe too complicated.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/4/1/7/250417-21096-42-720.jpg)
it does not look that bad at the end
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/4/1/8/250418-21096-40-720.jpg)
may be it is my fault, but it did not fit that well there...
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/4/1/9/250419-21096-29-720.jpg)
without aires kit, it fit like a globe. With it, i had to use quite a lot of filling
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/4/2/0/250420-21096-61-720.jpg)
specially at the bottom, the filling was really needed. maybe aires, maybe my fault
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/4/2/3/250423-21096-40-720.jpg)
added some metal pins, to help fitting the cover. later i replaced two with a thin wire.
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/4/2/1/250421-21096-28-720.jpg)
semigloss black done, masked for yellow
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/4/2/2/250422-21096-38-720.jpg)
fuselage finally closed, copkit masked for black alclad base....
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/4/2/7/250427-21096-55-720.jpg)
a bit of fixing needed
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/4/2/8/250428-21096-19-720.jpg)
certainly i like it more than simple plastic. brass makes it much nicer
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/4/2/9/250429-21096-52-720.jpg)
masking the wells
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/4/3/0/250430-21096-96-720.jpg)
wire is now visible
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/4/3/5/250435-21096-21-720.jpg)
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cut from the kit parts. no after market used here
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/4/3/2/250432-21096-43-720.jpg)
replaced with some aluminium. i will be a lot stronger later.
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/4/3/3/250433-21096-58-720.jpg)
again, replaced with aluminium. took a while to cut and get the correct shape
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/4/3/4/250434-21096-18-720.jpg)
alclad duraluminium in the wings. plus some pannels in different color
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/4/3/6/250436-21096-21-720.jpg)
masked areas later will be done with airframe aluminium
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/4/3/7/250437-21096-70-720.jpg)
airframe aluminium after gloss black base
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/4/3/8/250438-21096-69-720.jpg)
forgot that is should also be done with duraluminium (or at least not airframe aluminium)
![Album image #40 Album image #40](/albums/img/4/4/0/250440-21096-44-720.jpg)
black base later alclad... to later realize that it it is actually black and white....
![Album image #41 Album image #41](/albums/img/4/4/1/250441-21096-96-720.jpg)
trying to make my own... replace plastic with thin steel tubing
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/4/4/2/250442-21096-60-720.jpg)
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/4/4/3/250443-21096-75-720.jpg)
plan B, resin aftermarket
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/4/4/4/250444-21096-96-720.jpg)
i did not work enougth in plan A... a few holes there...
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/4/4/5/250445-21096-87-720.jpg)
probably i will use plan B... i have only done one set of plan A yet anyway
![Album image #46 Album image #46](/albums/img/4/4/6/250446-21096-63-720.jpg)
some areas ready for airframe aluminium
![Album image #47 Album image #47](/albums/img/4/4/7/250447-21096-44-720.jpg)
duraluminium done, masking gone, ready for masking of the first part, to receive airframe aluminium
![Album image #48 Album image #48](/albums/img/4/4/8/250448-21096-45-720.jpg)
![Album image #49 Album image #49](/albums/img/4/4/9/250449-21096-64-720.jpg)
![Album image #50 Album image #50](/albums/img/4/5/0/250450-21096-82-720.jpg)
![Album image #51 Album image #51](/albums/img/4/5/1/250451-21096-89-720.jpg)
all the mask ready, some steel color will be used there too.
![Album image #52 Album image #52](/albums/img/4/5/2/250452-21096-91-720.jpg)
![Album image #53 Album image #53](/albums/img/4/5/3/250453-21096-26-720.jpg)
alclad starting to cover....
![Album image #54 Album image #54](/albums/img/4/5/4/250454-21096-47-720.jpg)
the after market kit for exausts
![Album image #55 Album image #55](/albums/img/4/5/5/250455-21096-41-720.jpg)
looking shinny... not too bad for my first exentive use of Alclad. but it can certainly be done better
![Album image #56 Album image #56](/albums/img/4/5/6/250456-21096-57-720.jpg)
![Album image #57 Album image #57](/albums/img/4/5/8/250458-21096-66-720.jpg)
different shades of alclad
![Album image #58 Album image #58](/albums/img/4/5/9/250459-21096-57-720.jpg)
some areas will need some re-touching later
![Album image #59 Album image #59](/albums/img/4/6/0/250460-21096-34-720.jpg)
![Album image #60 Album image #60](/albums/img/4/6/1/250461-21096-58-720.jpg)
after all the filling and sanding.... it still does not look right to me.... but too late to do anything anymore 😛
![Album image #61 Album image #61](/albums/img/4/6/2/250462-21096-80-720.jpg)
![Album image #62 Album image #62](/albums/img/4/6/3/250463-21096-51-720.jpg)
i will do the invasion black and while stripes with the airbrush, instead of using the decals
![Album image #63 Album image #63](/albums/img/4/6/4/250464-21096-58-720.jpg)
lots of work, but i think it will be worth at the end....
![Album image #64 Album image #64](/albums/img/4/6/5/250465-21096-80-720.jpg)
all the manipulation has certainly make some of the airfram aluminium areas not look good anymore, but here will be black and white anyway...
![Album image #65 Album image #65](/albums/img/4/6/6/250466-21096-95-720.jpg)
trying to use paper to shield from paint, rather than masking all around that will make the shiny alclad.... not so shiny 😛
![Album image #66 Album image #66](/albums/img/4/6/7/250467-21096-86-720.jpg)
white is finished here, time to mask for the black color
![Album image #67 Album image #67](/albums/img/4/6/8/250468-21096-80-720.jpg)
![Album image #68 Album image #68](/albums/img/4/6/9/250469-21096-69-720.jpg)
voilá! all the masks have been removed. time to fix some damages to the shiny alclad (duraluminium does not need any fixing)
![Album image #69 Album image #69](/albums/img/0/1/6/253016-21096-38-720.jpg)
i was ready to add the decals... and after a few small ones decided to place the stars... and realized that I did use the decals in the kit as a base for the masking of the invasion strips.... but the invasion strips for grip reaper are diferent 🙁
![Album image #70 Album image #70](/albums/img/0/1/7/253017-21096-39-720.jpg)
ok, masked again, hopping for alclad to survive... white has been applied and i am about to add black.
![Album image #71 Album image #71](/albums/img/0/1/8/253018-21096-58-720.jpg)
well, small retouch on the alclad was needed, but no big poblem at the end... ready to get the stars applied.... airbrush has just given up on me. so final coating after the decals will have to wait for some time.... 🙁
![Album image #72 Album image #72](/albums/img/9/6/6/256966-21096-74-720.jpg)
decals seem to go the way i wanted, small damage trying to mark the panels.
![Album image #73 Album image #73](/albums/img/9/6/7/256967-21096-18-720.jpg)
the grim reaper decal is incredibly thin... film will disspaear completely when i can get a new airbrush and give a coat
![Album image #74 Album image #74](/albums/img/9/6/8/256968-21096-21-720.jpg)
cocpkit finally visible
![Album image #75 Album image #75](/albums/img/9/6/9/256969-21096-96-720.jpg)
general view... now wait to have time for airbrush...
![Album image #76 Album image #76](/albums/img/4/0/9/266409-21096-14-720.jpg)
ok, i may have jump a few steps, but here is, finished. more pictures in completed album
Kommentarer
113 10 April 2016, 21:48
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thanks, I am stuck now due to airbrush problems.... I will probably need a new one, and i will need to wait a bit for that 🙁
11 May 2016, 06:15
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looks nice so far... to bad about the AB. With Aires the cockpit is ok dimensionally, but the thickness of the plastic is too thick then...
11 May 2016, 08:05
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yes, it took a lot of sanding to get the aires cockpit in place. and I bit more probably would have helped too. fuselage without it fitted real nice
11 May 2016, 17:49
![](/profiles/img/21096-573-s.jpg)
well, it is finally finished. i have learnt a few things about Alclad, clear coating, and specially about weathering, some not in the best way, but usually the hard way is the most permanent.... washes affected some of the decals, because the layer of alclad aqua gloss was obviously too thin. I will give a try with Future next time😉
there is another album with just pictures of the finished model.
30 June 2016, 20:42
![](/profiles/img/21096-573-s.jpg)
thanks Clifford. you can see the final results in my other album P-51 Grim Reaper (completed) | Album by hetspanjaard (1:48)
2 July 2016, 16:36
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thanks James. yes, that was nto easy. i cut the big decal in several pieces, to make it easier. but getting them to match was also tricky.
the decal is really thin, which is great because it looks better once done. but the problem is that if you handle it too much, it can break too
in fact, some days after i finished, a tiny bit of it dissapeared. just on white square and a blue one. i had to repair the damage with with paint. it is not perfect, but it will have to do.
2 July 2016, 21:01
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Nicely done!! I some how missed this build. I have intensions of building the exact same kit and decals, but after 3yrs it still sits waiting.
1 August 2020, 14:25
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Looks sharp and shiny, Spanjaard. Thanks for guiding me through your building process
1 August 2020, 18:19
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thansk Tim and Lode, honoured that you both like it!
@Tim, Tamiya kit fits like a globe, and those decals are simply fantastic. most complicated part was to fit the aires cockpit. but the details are worth the effort. pity i did not sanded it a bit more to get proper fit
1 August 2020, 22:33
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Very sharp and clean built Spanjaard👍
Excellent detailwork and like that paintjob.
Congrats mate
1 August 2020, 22:45
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Spanjaard it is still a very respectable build. We are our own worst critics! We all need to learn the patience that Lode has!
1 August 2020, 23:30
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thanks brianireland. I see you have it now in your wishlist, go for it 🙂
4 September 2020, 08:34
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Beautiful Mustang Spanjaard, hope mine turns out half as nice.
4 September 2020, 23:57
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Sip se me ha idp la foto del crio jajajaj presioso mustang
13 September 2020, 03:02
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Het leek niet simpel, maar het resultaat mag er zeker en vast zijn. Prachtig gedaan, Spanjaard.
14 September 2020, 14:18
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hi Bahram thansk for your comment. Well, it is almost 3 years ago... but fortunately, I had some comments with the pictures. Alclad black base, and then
- duraluminium in the wings. plus some panels in different color (not sure which one, sorry), see picture 40
- airframe aluminium for most of the rest. see picture 59 and others
- duraluminium. See picture 43 and 51
- steel, see picture 55
all of them, from Alclad.
23 December 2020, 21:06
![](/profiles/img/21096-573-s.jpg)
maybe I should have used some clear varnish over the Alclad before masking. but it was my first time using Alclad. not the last time, i can tell you that 🙂
23 December 2020, 22:09
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Just popped up for me - nice work there! Like the metal job, the minor decal damage actually adds grit and realism to the final appearance and I definitely think the brass work on the 50cal muzzles paid off in the final appearance! 👍
2 January 2021, 23:05
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Excellent paintwork and masking. Getting the fuselage stars/bars aligned with the invasion stripes is tricky. Looks great.
15 February 2021, 01:43
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thanks a lot Jim. i wish i would have been as careful with other aspects, like the black strips on top of the wings, they are a bit out of their correct location...
15 February 2021, 10:50
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Oh boy mea culpa, I didn't checked the date, just flipped though the pics. Sorry mate, congrats for that completed beauty!
15 February 2021, 13:34
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thanks my friend, no worries 🙂
I am surprised to see this build coming back to the newsfeed. I like it, but it has several flaws, to be honest.
15 February 2021, 13:52
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Wow... awesome build... I really like the technique you did on the guns... Will most definitely try that out... great results...
19 March 2021, 14:25
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I finally got this kit [well basically, the 60323]. Tamiya had it half price back around April-May. Also got the Spitfire Mk. XVIe half price free shipping. Both are superb kits.
20 March 2021, 03:34
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Good purchase! It is certainly a great kit. Got the spitfire in my stash, looking forward building it someday
20 March 2021, 19:43
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thanks a lot Major Flannel for your kind comment.
Probably I dipped the canopy in Future, but I do not see anything in my comments of that time.... and after 5 years, i honestly can not remember!
29 September 2021, 14:34
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I have had the same kit for years and never opened it … a caged bird so far
Besides your mustang is super bad ass! Like the cockpit
27 January 2022, 12:41
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open it Chan, it is a joy of a kit 🙂 of course, you can make it more complicated with the Aires cockpit, but i think the effort is certainly worth it.
27 January 2022, 13:59
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Very nice looks mint
I love to see all steps in the build
So I can see how its done
Thanks for sharing it all
3 February 2022, 11:40
Album info
this is the built process (most of it). if you want to see completed model go to P-51 Grim Reaper (completed) | Album by hetspanjaard (1:48)