Audrey P-51D build

This is how I spent part of the COVID season. My old company built a new facility and decided it would have a "history of aviation" theme. They wanted some employees to build some model airplanes and I got volunteered! 

Three of us did the P-51D, Corsair and Spitfire. I got the P-51 kit. What an adventure! 

 

This kit has so much detail on the inside but it had to be all buttoned up since it's on open display inside the lounge area in our building. 

 

The front cowling got a bit messed up. I got some airbrush cleaner mixed in with the black paint and it got all sticky but it just ended up looking more used and knarly which is what I was looking for. 

I used the Tamiya AS-12 Bare-Metal Silver in the small paint can. I've had good results with this paint on several projects. 

 

 

Getting the paint sealed with a clear coat was a challenge. I should have used Tamiya clear coat from a bottle with my airbrush but I used a big can of clear matte spray and it almost ruined the silver. I finally got things under control and got the decals started. 

 

From there, it was more clear coats and making things dirty. I was very nervous but I was pleased with the results. 

 

 

Finally, I got my Photoshop skills out and made a composite photo of the model plane flying over Germany (using Google Earth). Then I added some photoshopped clouds. I loved this kit so much that I added all three (Mustang, Corsair and Spitfire) to my stash. I want to make them as wheels-down, diorama displays so I can show off the internal details of the kits.