Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Detailing the P-51D Mustang's wheel well is done

I've been furiously sticking bits and bobs into the wheel well of my Hasegawa 1/32 P-51D Mustang, in order to try and up the detail there. It is sadly lacking in the kit-standard form - it's a bit dire down there.


So I've been looking up references online, and trying to replicate a rough representation of the real-world confusion of pipes, bends, wires and equipment.

Here's what the kit looks like without any additions:

1/32 Hasegawa P-51D Mustang scale model wheel wells



As you can see, there's not a lot happening in those Hasegawa wheel wells.


Here's what a real Mustang's wheel bay looks like:

Real P-51D Mustang wheel well
There is a LOT of stuff in there!  Source.



And here is where I'm currently at:

1/32 Hasegawa P-51D Mustang scale model wheel wells

1/32 Hasegawa P-51D Mustang scale model wheel wells



I still need to make two of those piston thingees that lower the flaps, and I still need to scratch build a landing light, but I am going to leave these off until the landing gear is installed in place, otherwise I can just see myself breaking them repeatedly during construction and painting.

It's tough to make both sides look fairly organised and mirror-images of each other. My style of scratch building detail can be best summed up as "Aaargh, close enough, it's a looks-like feels-like sorta vibe", and that doesn't readily lend itself to precise replication on both wheel wells! ;)

Until next time.

Cheers,

Dave






2 comments:

  1. Shep Paine has been quoted as saying, "Model only what you can see." Detailing wheel wells is a waste of time and effort.

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    1. It is kinda satisfying though. I don't get modeling the entire interior of a tank, say, but a wheel well can be seen any time you view the underneath of an aircraft model.

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