[Elmer]

Can anyone explain why EI's "Ding Hao" (and all their P-51B models) have a seam/panel line w/rivets running along the top of the cowl (right down the center) and Gemini's "Ding Hao" (and all their P-51B models) do not? Which is correct?

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by Elmer

Can anyone explain why EI's "Ding Hao" (and all their P-51B models) have a seam/panel line w/rivets running along the top of the cowl (right down the center) and Gemini's "Ding Hao" (and all their P-51B models) do not? Which is correct?

I've looked at some 3-view line drawings for the P-51B/C (found one in a KoKu Fan japanese magazine) and it does seem to indicate that the seam/panel line running along the top of the cowl is there where it should be. As for the rivets running along side of it, that I'm not so sure of.

Man, you sure are a stickler for details aren't you... but I'll give you that.

[mhackl]

Originally Posted by Elmer

Can anyone explain why EI's "Ding Hao" (and all their P-51B models) have a seam/panel line w/rivets running along the top of the cowl (right down the center) and Gemini's "Ding Hao" (and all their P-51B models) do not? Which is correct?

The panel line and riveting are correct for all variants. I've attached images of both a B and D model mustang to illustrate this.

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by flyXwire

Man, you sure are a stickler for details aren't you... but I'll give you that.

Yeah, some would say anal... but we better not get into that discussion again!!

Thanks Mark for the pictures. I did find some 3-view line drawings myself that indicated the panel line down the center is correct. Hmm... I wonder why Dragon and Gemini chose to represent their models without the panel lines?? What about GA's mantra "As real as it gets?"

[Canucklehead]

Panel lines are tricky beasts, especially in 1/72. Consider that the line on the top of the cowling (and most panel lines for that matter) would be about the width of a couple sheets of paper in 1/1, and the rivet heads are smaller than pennies. The only way they could accurately do it in 1/72 is if they decaled or pad printed them on, and they would be tiny. Doing it that way would also open up the doors for many more mistakes, and you'd have to do a lot more QC to make sure everything came out right. Then you have to consider the overall look of the model as well. Getting everything on there might be accurate, but odds are it would look really bad.

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by Canucklehead

Panel lines are tricky beasts, especially in 1/72. Consider that the line on the top of the cowling (and most panel lines for that matter) would be about the width of a couple sheets of paper in 1/1, and the rivet heads are smaller than pennies. The only way they could accurately do it in 1/72 is if they decaled or pad printed them on, and they would be tiny. Doing it that way would also open up the doors for many more mistakes, and you'd have to do a lot more QC to make sure everything came out right. Then you have to consider the overall look of the model as well. Getting everything on there might be accurate, but odds are it would look really bad.

Good point, and I agree with you. On the other hand, Gemini and Dragon obviously went to great lengths to detail their models with panel lines and rivets. Why leave this one panel line off?

[Canucklehead]

Originally Posted by Elmer

Good point, and I agree with you. On the other hand, Gemini and Dragon obviously went to great lengths to detail their models with panel lines and rivets. Why leave this one panel line off?

It is curious. Corgi, Witty, and Matchbox have also decided to leave it off their moulds.

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by Canucklehead

It is curious. Corgi, Witty, and Matchbox have also decided to leave it off their moulds.

This might come as a surprise, but Dragon has done it too!