Here's my Tamiya Mustang Mk 3. I built this kit as a 3
Squadron RAAF aircraft (SN: KH616 CV-J) which was based at Aviano in
Italy during WW2 and was employed in the Fighter Bomber role, but mostly
used in ground attack. CV-J was 3 squadron's last casualty. It was shot down by a BF-109 on boxing
day 1944 whilst being flown by Warrant officer J. Quinn.
W.O. Quinn bailed out safely and avoided capture for 3 weeks
with the help of friendly Italian locals, but was captured by German forces
after an 'un-friendly' Italian tipped off the German forces in the area. W.O.
Quinn lived out the rest of the war as a POW. For more information on 3 Squadron
take a look at the
3 Squadron Association
website.
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images below to see larger images
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I wanted this kit to
be an easy, non-complicated build after building a Italeri F-22 (NIGHTMARE)! So
the Kit is pretty much straight out of the box with the only thing being added
was the brake lines on the Main landing gear and the aftermarket decals.
Tamiya's kit is lovely and goes together easily with only a tiny bit of filler.
The canopy was dipped in future for added clarity. I also drilled out the end of
the exhaust stacks.
I painted my Mustang using
Testors and Humbrol Enamels in the British temperate camo scheme. All metallic
areas were painted using Testors metalisers. I coated the model in Future then
applied the decals using future as a setting and solvent solution which worked
brilliantly. I used the Aussie Decals' 3 Squadron Mustang decal sheet with the
distinctive southern cross markings for the rudder which is a tradition
that is continued today with 3 Squadrons F/A-18's.
After a little weathering using
pastels and water paints, the whole model received a coat of Humbrol Matte Coat.
I also did a little dry brushing on the leading edges to give a worn in look to
match the spinner. The Spinner was first painted using aluminum plate metalizer,
then coated in future. After painting the final colour of insignia red, I used
normal full tack masking tape to rip some of the paint off to simulate the look
of peeling paint. I added a few little paint chips on random panels.
Hope you like it :)
Nathan
Click on
images below to see larger images
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