More Revell P-51D "fix's"

[JohnB]

I've built several of these and always had problems getting the leading edge/guns section to fit into the wings. I'm beginning another build and decided to try this:

Cement the leading edge/guns pieces (parts #113/114) in place BEFORE attaching the lower wing section. This way you can adjust the fit much more easily. When you are satisfied with the fit slide the two wheel well pieces (parts #116/117) in place. It will be a light fit but they WILL fit. Then you can finish out the lower wing section and attach it to the uppers without having to contend with poor fitting pieces.

[PanzerWomble]

nice workaround 👍

[JohnB]

15 hours ago, PanzerWomble said:

nice workaround 👍

Thank you. This approach saves a lot of fit problem there.

[KevinM]

Looks like the solution John Thanks.

[Clunkmeister]

Excellent! 
 

One thing I’m thinking about here is creating a special area for workarounds such as this.  That way, they can all be moved there and anyone who has one can post it and help others. 
 

[PanzerWomble]

Any thoughts on the air scoop ? That was the other bit I found to be poorly matching , although happy to admit that might just be me 

[JohnB]

2 hours ago, KevinM said:

Looks like the solution John Thanks.

I wish I had tried it out sooner! Would have saved some cussing!

[JohnB]

2 hours ago, Clunkmeister said:

Excellent! 
 

One thing I’m thinking about here is creating a special area for workarounds such as this.  That way, they can all be moved there and anyone who has one can post it and help others. 
 

Sounds like a plan Ernie. I have some more "stuff" I can add.

[JohnB]

1 hour ago, PanzerWomble said:

Any thoughts on the air scoop ? That was the other bit I found to be poorly matching , although happy to admit that might just be me 

Yes indeed. It has been a problem also. Remove the raised areas flush with the air scoop. No more problem.

 

[PanzerWomble]

Nice - overall I liked the Mustang kit , better than the two Revell Spits I've built ( personally I wouldn't bother building it again) but was disappointed with some othe ways it  came together . The wing guns esp are an arse as they come too late in the build ot do much with them easily.

Might have to try one of their new Hurricanes as see if their engineering team has come on since then .

[JohnB]

24 minutes ago, PanzerWomble said:

Nice - overall I liked the Mustang kit , better than the two Revell Spits I've built ( personally I wouldn't bother building it again) but was disappointed with some othe ways it  came together . The wing guns esp are an arse as they come too late in the build ot do much with them easily.

Might have to try one of their new Hurricanes as see if their engineering team has come on since then .

The Spitfire just isn't up to par and I won't build another. I hope the Hurricane is better but we will see.

[CANicoll]

Thanks John!  I have one more Revell Mustang in the closet and a little while ago pulled everything out of the box, looking for the masks I have (found them!).  I have THREE sets of resin tires.  For this build I'll go with a mis-matched set (which apparently happened fairly frequently) so if any of the Mustang builders are interested in the remainders, send me a PM!

I also have a TON of extra Tamiya and Revell parts and decals from the previous builds (two each actually) so if you need something, you know how to reach me.

Chris

[CANicoll]

10 hours ago, Clunkmeister said:

Excellent! 
 

One thing I’m thinking about here is creating a special area for workarounds such as this.  That way, they can all be moved there and anyone who has one can post it and help others. 
 

Ernie,

I think this would be a great thing to add to the site.  There are so many smart and talented modelers here who share so many tips and how-tos.  A place to store all that knowledge would be terrific.

Chris

[JohnB]

6 minutes ago, CANicoll said:

Thanks John!  I have one more Revell Mustang in the closet and a little while ago pulled everything out of the box, looking for the masks I have (found them!).  I have THREE sets of resin tires.  For this build I'll go with a mis-matched set (which apparently happened fairly frequently) so if any of the Mustang builders are interested in the remainders, send me a PM!

I also have a TON of extra Tamiya and Revell parts and decals from the previous builds (two each actually) so if you need something, you know how to reach me.

Chris

I know what you mean by having extra parts left over. I have something like 3 kit size boxes full of left over P-51 parts and the same for Corsair parts. They come in handy sometimes!

[BlrwestSiR]

10 minutes ago, JohnB said:

I know what you mean by having extra parts left over. I have something like 3 kit size boxes full of left over P-51 parts and the same for Corsair parts. They come in handy sometimes!

My HB B-24 box is full of leftover parts from all my prop kits. The jet kit parts are in a Tamiya F-4 box that's overflowing.

[BlrwestSiR]

Thanks for the tips on the Revell P-51. I still haven't built the one that I have. 

[JohnB]

Here's another problem fix for this kit. The windscreen piece is just slightly too narrow and leaves noticeable gaps on each side when in place. My remedy is this: Cement in place a couple of short strips of thin styrene (about 1" long) as indicated by the arrow. This will go a long way in fixing THAT problem.  

[CANicoll]

Thanks for keep on this, John.  I had the narrow windscreen problem on a VERY early Revell build but not sure how your fix addresses that? Those early kits had problems with their canopies and windscreens.   But I'm sure I'm missing something in your fix.

My build of a later release (a year or so after the initial release) fixed the windscreen issue, but not the canopy clarity issue so I've always used AM or Tamiya canopies on my Revell builds.

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!  Chris

[JohnB]

7 minutes ago, CANicoll said:

Thanks for keep on this, John.  I had the narrow windscreen problem on a VERY early Revell build but not sure how your fix addresses that? Those early kits had problems with their canopies and windscreens.   But I'm sure I'm missing something in your fix.

My build of a later release (a year or so after the initial release) fixed the windscreen issue, but not the canopy clarity issue so I've always used AM or Tamiya canopies on my Revell builds.

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!  Chris

I've had problems with the windscreen on all my Revell P-51's. Here are the areas I am referring to. The windscreen is slightly too narrow and needs those strips to "spread" it slightly. Looks like the one in your 2nd photo fit okay.

[CANicoll]

Ahh, that is what the strips are for, to spread the windscreen!  Wish I had that idea when I built Lou IV (with the blue wings ) as it definitely would have helped.  YEP, that was definitely a problem with the earlier kit.  I have one last one so will definitely check out the fit on that build.

Now that I think about it, I am pretty sure Passion Wagon (the green Mustang) uses the Aerocraft clear windscreen and canopy.  Clear resin, polishes beautifully, highly recommended!  Solves both problems - the fit of the windscreen and the clarity of the canopy.

Chris

[JohnB]

28 minutes ago, CANicoll said:

Ahh, that is what the strips are for, to spread the windscreen!  Wish I had that idea when I built Lou IV (with the blue wings ) as it definitely would have helped.  YEP, that was definitely a problem with the earlier kit.  I have one last one so will definitely check out the fit on that build.

Now that I think about it, I am pretty sure Passion Wagon (the green Mustang) uses the Aerocraft clear windscreen and canopy.  Clear resin, polishes beautifully, highly recommended!  Solves both problems - the fit of the windscreen and the clarity of the canopy.

Chris

Aerocraft huh? Do you have a link? I'd like to check them out.

[CANicoll]

On 1/24/2023 at 10:05 PM, JohnB said:

Aerocraft huh? Do you have a link? I'd like to check them out.

Yep!  Click here.

I think the best solution is to use the Aerocraft windscreen, and one of the Tamiya canopies which has all of the framing detail.  Or graft the Aerocraft canopy top onto the Tamiya bottom, but I'm not talented enough to try that!

[JohnB]

3 hours ago, CANicoll said:

Yep!  Click here.

I think the best solution is to use the Aerocraft windscreen, and one of the Tamiya canopies which has all of the framing detail.  Or graft the Aerocraft canopy top onto the Tamiya bottom, but I'm not talented enough to try that!

Thanks Chris. I'll check them out. Just might be the way to go!

[JohnB]

I had forgotten I had posted this thread. At any rate, it should be some help to anyone embarking on a Revell P-51.