Wirecutting Mustang Operation Kadesh
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/1/7/5/1359175-86785-21-720.jpg)
I want to depict the plane in flight with rudders and flaps not in neutral. As the Tamiya kit does not offer the possibility of separate flaps/controls I had to cut them out.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/1/7/6/1359176-86785-32-720.jpg)
All controls were then replaced by those of the respective CMK kit. This required a bit more modification than just cutting out the controls, particularly at the wing root.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/5/4/3/1359543-86785-47-720.jpg)
Very much to my dismay Tamiya did not provide a decal for the instrument panel. Time for instrument decals and my punch tool
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/5/1/6/1359516-86785-45-720.jpg)
I could not definitely clarify whether this plane featured the original interior green or was repainted black in Isreal or Sweden (from where most of the israeli Mustangs have been bought). I opted for green and painted the fuselage halfs accordingly.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/8/5/7/1359857-86785-60-720.jpg)
With the precision and engineering we know from Tamiya, everything fits together nicely. So, time to close the fuselage.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/8/5/5/1359855-86785-16-720.jpg)
Minor imperfections will be addressed with Mr. Surfacer 500.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/8/5/6/1359856-86785-56-720.jpg)
Same on the underside. The wheel wells are closed already too. This worked quite well with only little modification necessary.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/8/5/9/1359859-86785-96-pristine.jpg)
The wing gun nozzles were replaced by brass ones from Master.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/3/4/0/1360340-86785-45-720.jpg)
Some cables at the battery/avionics compartment added.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/3/4/1/1360341-86785-70-720.jpg)
All flaps and controls positioned and the pilot test fitted.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/7/8/2/1360782-86785-57-pristine.jpg)
I did not know which gear the early israeli pilots used, so I chose an english RAF pilot to man the cockpit.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/7/8/3/1360783-86785-45-720.jpg)
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/7/8/4/1360784-86785-51-720.jpg)
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/4/2/1/1363421-86785-60-720.jpg)
I crammed the pilot into the cockpit and even persuaded him to grab the control stick
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/4/2/0/1363420-86785-97-720.jpg)
Looks the right way for a right turn I'd say.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/4/2/3/1363423-86785-54-720.jpg)
Primer and preshading of the underside. I prefer brown over black as the contrast is not as harsh.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/4/2/2/1363422-86785-32-720.jpg)
Underside done. Took a moment to figure out where the paint borders to the interior green at the cooler outlet.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/0/0/1/1364001-86785-97-720.jpg)
Base color of the upper side is on.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/0/4/5/1364045-86785-18-720.jpg)
Some color variations were achieved with lighted base color and a template.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/6/2/9/1364629-86785-36-720.jpg)
Masks were cut refering to internet pictures of a Mustang in Hazerim, the israeli Airforce Museum close to Beer Sheva.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/6/2/6/1364626-86785-86-720.jpg)
Variations in the paint were achieved with the same technique as mentioned above.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/6/2/7/1364627-86785-72-720.jpg)
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/6/2/8/1364628-86785-32-720.jpg)
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/2/6/5/1365265-86785-45-720.jpg)
Grrrrr. Although I masked the whole plane to prevent just that, I must have left a gap somewhere and black paint from the anti glare area found its way onto the wing root. I hope that 3000grit sandpaper and/or polish can fix that without ruining the underlying paint.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/6/4/5/1365645-86785-16-720.jpg)
As I couldn't get my hand on any decals with the identification stripes of operation Kadesh/Musketeer, I decided to paint them.
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/6/5/8/1365658-86785-83-720.jpg)
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/6/5/7/1365657-86785-84-720.jpg)
Didn't turn out too bad. Let's see whether I can live with the flaws if I look at it in a few days.
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/6/6/0/1365660-86785-80-720.jpg)
The decals are Frankenstein'ed from various with a similar font that I found in my decal box. They still need some touch ups to get No 38 I am after.
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/6/7/9/1365679-86785-59-720.jpg)
Preliminary result.
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/6/8/0/1365680-86785-93-720.jpg)
Not too far of the original I think. So, let's polish the canopy, repair the overspray, complete the numbers and then further onto weathering.
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14 11 December 2022, 21:09