1/144 P-51B "Dotty"

[Phil]

Damn Ray, you're just so freakin' good at it!

[Texman]

Thank you all for the kind comments.

[airdave]

hey Ray...wanna try Evalina at 1/144!??!



or how 'bout maybe 50% of what it is now? so I can at least judge the build issues.
and I will let you do a 1/144 version too!
(I'll even resize it for you, if you like)

[jimkrauzlis]

Hey, Ray!

Outstanding build, as usual!

How did you find working with those formers; I always seem to have a problem figuring out how best to assemble these kits, the wraps usually are off a bit here and there...I know it's me so I must be missing something that I should be doing to make the pieces fit together correctly.

I love your builds and hope to see many more, they are always a real treat to see!

Cheers!
Jim

[Texman]

Well how ya doin Jim! Hadn't heard from ya in quite a while. Hope all is well for you.

As to the formers, they were oversized for sure. I trimmed to just inside the line (about 1 pixel if I had to guess:0) I also used a really thick cardboard, and only used one of each former. This way, the skins lined up on each side. I probably could have shaved just a little more off each one, just to tighten it up a little, other than that, no problem.

[jimkrauzlis]

Thanks for the tip, Ray...always knew I was approaching this type of construction wrong...I'll have to warm up that pixalated modeling knife to get the correct cuts next time...:D

I've been just playing around on a few builds when I get the spare moment or two. I hope to be able to post a new thread soon on barry's Spruance, which I started a few weeks ago but got waylaid by other things. I also recently started a project I had been wanting to do for a while, another sailing ship but a tad smaller then my Constitution, which remains sadly neglected for so very long...really got to start that one up again before I have too many projects going on at the same time...how does that happen?

Always looking forward to seeing what little gems you have going on, Ray, so hopefully you will treat us again real soon!

Cheers!
Jim

[Wily]

LOL!! I'm sending these to the pilot. He'll think they're fantastic!!

Wonderful - thank you!!

But...I have corrected the cockpit panels - the ones on the fuse.

A little background on this airplane - it's a P-51B that flew from China bases 1944-45 while attached with the 528th FS, 311th FG. Her pilot is William Creech - he unfortunately parted company with Dotty one day after being hit by flak. She went one way, he went another...his landing was soft, Dotty's rather hard. And explosive.

You can learn more:
Amazon.com: The 3rd Greatest Fighter Pilot (9781420844726): William T. Creech: Books

Suffice it to say, Dotty was an airplane that was worked hard.

[Texman]

I'm honored that you consider it done well enough to send him the pictures of my humble build.

[Wily]

Bah...humble build?! It's a crazy-cool build! Your eyes must be like microscopes!

But I will surely let you know the response - he thinks it's pretty neat that a cardmodel is in existence of his airplane.

I am sad that you got the wrong canopy, however. :(

But, it's fixed in the retail version. Thank goodness.

Back to your tiny builds - it'd be interesting to watch over your shoulder to see how you manipulate paper so well. You definitely have a talent and skill with that - a couple friends of mine are surgeons and they speak of people who either "have it or not" - you probably "do."

[Texman]

Originally Posted by Wily

I am sad that you got the wrong canopy, however. :(

I assume your referring to the two aft windows? I wondered about that, and forgot to mention it to you. Such is life.