Muro

Paul Moore
Mathieu,
One more question … painting camo patterns comes down to masks with "hard lines" and airbrushing with "soft lines". It seems to me that most actual aircraft were painted with "hard" lines with the notable exception of Luftwaffe aircraft. On scale models, the "soft lines" of an airbrush might not be in scale, but make the model somehow …better looking and less "toyish". The camo lines on this P-40 seem to be soft ….but not too soft. I know that's a somewhat ambiguous statement. I think they look perfect and I was just curious to know how you did these (masks or airbrush) and generally your thoughts on it. Thanks and sorry for all the questions but you seem to have mastered the issue.

Paul

Mathieu Autor
Paul,
That's a bit far in memory, but I must have gone with paper mask held with rolled tape to keep them at approx 1mm of the surface. Sprayed perpendicular from above.
I also remember having gazed at a tremendous amount of FT pictures before committing to this.
That did not spared me the error of doing the rear deck interior green instead of outside camouflage. Next Warhawk will be correct on that particular side.
Cheers

Paul Moore
Mathieu,
Beautiful model! Your gear door scratch build are labeled #1-7. Are those one try after another till you were satisfied? Seems like we're missing the final photos on this masterpiece. Most of us will never achieve this level of craftsmanship.

Mathieu Autor
Hi Paul, Yes 7 Tries. I could have gone with a few more, but elected to manually crafte the little areas needing care for a good fit.
I have to report this build is still lying unfinished on top of a shelf. I am a bit lazy doing the missiles and tanks.
Now that I see the date on the pictures (2 years ago!!) I'll probably kick my ass and finish this up.

Cheers.

Mathieu Autor
Hi @Paul Morre.
Thank you very much for the kind words, and popping this build full of fond memories into my feed.
Glad to read you gonna start a Pony (BBD as well ?)

1. Aftermarket used: The barracuda cockpit goodies (decals and sidewalls) One heavily modded Yahu panel, and the HGW filmless stencils
2. The gun bays are not shown in the final pics but still accessible. Engine, I wish I had opted earlier to not show it, I would have ended with a better cowling adjustment. The engine is georgous, but the Mustang often displays awesome nose arts, wich imo are more eye catchers than the displayed merlin.
3. Splattered almost anything liquid that felt under my hand. The in progress album shows it more in detail.
4. Tamiya's LP, awesome metallic effect, and absorb punishment and weathering without damaging.
5. My wifes Fuji with a macro objective. She does cooking photography better than me doing models pictures with that stuff. taking the time to pose the pictures also helped.

Looking forward to your Mustang !
Cheers.

M

Clifford Keesler
That is one beautiful P-51 Mathieu, very well done sir.

Eric V I
Unbelievably beautifully made

Robert Podkoński
I agree with Eric, awesome job so far!