Tamiya 1/32 P-51D Nooky Booky II. 357th FG, 362nd FG

[mikem]

I will be building the Tamiya 1/32 P-51D as Nooky Booky II, flown by Capt Leonard "Kit" Carson

Leonard Carson ended the war as the highest scoring Ace in the 357th Fighter Group, with 18.5 kills, 5 of which he claimed in one day, only the second 357th pilot to do this and the last.

This was first of Leonard Carson's two P-51D models, his fourth and final P-51 was a K model named Nook Booky IV, the original Nooky Booky, was a P-51B, this aircraft was lost in May of 1944 when being flown by Lt Roger Hilstead's

The P-51D-5, G4-C, 44-13316 was delivered to the 8th Air Force on the 4th June 1944, and is believed to have been delivered to the 357th on the 7th June 1944 complete with full invasion marking's.

The aircraft was given the name Mildred, in an interview after the war neither Carson or his Crew Chief could remember where the name came from, but within a few days the name was change to Nooky Booky II

I will build this model to show Nooky Booky II after the 29th of July 1944 as this is the day Capt Carson claimed his 5 kill to become an Ace.

I have made a start on this model but only up to the stage of cutting and cleaning parts up, and building the wheel bay (well still working on that part) as I have been waiting on some PE to arrive which it did yesterday.

As there are no decals available for this aircraft, I am having a set of paint masks made for this aircraft

[mikem]

This is what I have been working on since last Thursday

This only a representation of what is in the wheel bays and is done just to make it look more interesting

All of the wiring has been done with various sizes of lead wire

The color of the wheel bay is Chromate Yellow Primer FS33481, thou it does look a bit greenish in the photos

This was laid over a primer coat of Mr Surface thinned with lacquer thinner and pre-shaded with Matt Black

I still need to weather the bays, but will start this once everything is dry and I have laid down a coat of Future to seal everything

[FishBowlMan]

Excellent wiring looms

[gaz45]

nice detailing there dude

[jbellos1]

Looks fantastic!

[mikem]

I have been working on the cockpit of the P-51, this is what I have been able to do so far, just finished the seat belts and letting them dry before fitting them. I have not fitted the canopy opening handle yet as I do not want this broken of. Hope you like it so far.

[UKguyInUSA]

Wow! Awesome job so far, mate!

[Willem]

Looking promising, Mike.... some great details. Can't wait to see some more mate.

[jbellos1]

Stunning work Mike! The stencils are fantastic! I'll be starting my pit alls this weekend and as I have next week off I hope to make some serious progress on my build.

What a fantastic kit. I may just have to get the Pacific version.

[Gb64c]

Wow, amazing detail, are the gauges decals?

[mikem]

Wow, amazing detail, are the gauges decals?

Yes and they are the kit ones.

The way Tamiya designed it the decals go on behind clear plastic and then show through