Tamiya 1/32 P-51K Mustang - K. J. Bricknell - Canberra, Australia

The subject is KH677, a P-51K flown by Squadron Leader Murray Nash (No 3 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force) in northern Italy in late 1944/early 1945. About the only thing needed to convert the D to a K was to replace the kit's Hamilton Standard with an Aeroproducts propeller from Grey Matter Resin.

As a relative newcomer to the hobby, I found it advisable to first buy the excellent ADH book How To Build Tamiya's 1:32 P-Mustang and then study it assiduously - assiduously, I say - before I touched a single sprue.

There is some conjecture as to whether KH677 was painted in the RAF's standard Ocean Grey, Medium Sea Grey and Dark Green, but the weight of evidence seems to support a factory paint job using the closest matching ANA colors of 613 and 603 on the upper surfaces (in the so-called ("T.O." pattern) and 602 on the lower. I went with the Gunze equivalents of the ANA colors.

The exterior decals are by Xtradecals, Squadron Leader Nash's codes were painted using masks by Montex Masks, and the cockpit was enhanced with Barracuda Studios BC32010 P-51D Mustang Cockpit Stencils and Placards. Since I wanted the model to have a "used" appearance, I did a little modest hairspray-induced paint chipping and grimed-up the exterior using MIG washes. I got pretty much the result I was after, but I now regret that I didn't take the trouble to putty the wings.

Unfortunately, KH677 did not survive the war. Sometime in early 1945, Squadron Leader Nash's codes were transferred to an NMF P-51K (KH716), and KH677 was re-coded with a diamond character replacing Nash's "P". She was shot down by FLAK on 11 April while being flown by "Jungle Jim" Edmonds, who was No 3 Squadron's last combat fatality of the war.

Barracuda Studios products used:
BC32010 P-51D Mustang Cockpit Stencils and Placards