Airfix 1/24 P-51D to P-51B Conversion "Sleepytime Gal" Part 4

By Rodney Williams

"Sleepytime Gal"
Converting a 1/24th P-51D Mustang to a P-51B: part 4

To make this "long" wing fillet scribing template, I put on a section of Scotch #811 low tack masking tape on the fuselage. I just retraced the panel line with a pencil, and then transferred the tape to my cola/beer can aluminum, which I had flatten out. I slowly cut along the line with
a new #11 blade and removed the tape. After a few more passes with the knife, I separated the the two halves and sanded the edges. This photo shows the template slightly above the plastic in some areas, so I tape it down with the #811 and slowly cut along the line with a new #11
blade. I then scribe in the panel line with my needle in a pin vise, or use one of my scribing tools.

The next photo shows the model at a local contest. Since I had good luck with "Dallas Doll," I used the same method on this model. The wing section had been dry fit to the fuselage and all necessary corrections were made for a good fit. Both sections of the model was painted separate, except the wing fillet area where the wing joined the fuselage. I just put the model in my "alignment jig" and started to glue it together with super glue. I mask off the wings and fuselage, did my sanding, and adding the necessary panel lines. All I had to do was paint that area, and the model was finished. The insignias, fuselage letters, and the name was air brushed onto the model. I used some kit, and "non" kit decals on the prop and tail plane. I made my own decals for the pilot's name and the data block.

Here's the finished model! I put "Sleepytime Gal" next to my 1959 Caddy convertible, which was 1/25th. scale (?). It gives you a size relationship to a "big" car. The Caddy won several local first place awards and a first at the 1994 IPMS/USA Omaha contest.

Here's some photo's of how I displayed my model at the IPMS/USA National Convention in 1995. They had some beautiful trophies, and of course my model took a FIRST PLACE!

I'll have all 18 drawings in Part - 5 !

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Rodney Williams 2002

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This article was published on Wednesday, July 20 2011; Last modified on Saturday, May 14 2016