[Elmer]

Eagle Eye Blackie!! You 'da man, Black 6! Thank you. I may be late to jump on board the INA wagon, but this is one beautiful model and aircraft. For those of you who do not know the history of this aircraft, go here:

http://www.fantasyofflight.com/aircraftpages/p51c.htm

for the real deal.

This aircraft was built in 1944, delivery taken by the USAAF in May 1944. According to Joe Baugher's excellent serial number database, the aircraft was then sent to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation in October 1945. Obviously, it escaped the scrapper. It was restored to Buddy Archer's mount, but was not the original mount. Does anyone know the serial of his original mount???

This one was built at the Dallas plant. It is, indeed, a C variant, one of 199 produced from Block 10.

[Elmer]

Does anyone have pictures of Tex Hill's P-51 which Eagles based its model on?

[lanslide]

Is it my imagination or are the props on these models overly twisted? Are they an accurate representation of the real thing?

[parsig9]

I just got the Ina Macon Belle and must say mine did not turn out quite like the photos. I have a bit of a gap in the wing root. I pushed on it like crazy to get it together the best I could and may have even bent it a tinge, but there is still a gap. The ones in the pics below look super tight! Is it the pics? My little magnetic radiator cover does not fit like the one in Mhackl pics either. It snaps on sure enough but it's not tight and neither is the one on my Shangri La. My camera is on the fritz right now but I'll post some pics eventually.

Also came with a spot of what I guess is glue under the port wing that only one of us nerds would notice but it's there. Looks like a dried raindrop at least but it won't come off.

All that aside, from 3' away, behind glass, it looks like a million bucks! I am happy to have it but not thrilled like some of you.

8/10 despite the few flaws which are only noticeable if you're holding the thing and looking for flaws like we do.....

By contrast, my C1 models are 11/10.
I guess I expected an Audi and I got a nice Volkswagen.

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by parsig9

I just got the Ina Macon Belle and must say mine did not turn out quite like the photos. I have a bit of a gap in the wing root. I pushed on it like crazy to get it together the best I could and may have even bent it a tinge, but there is still a gap. The ones in the pics below look super tight! Is it the pics? My little magnetic radiator cover does not fit like the one in Mhackl pics either. It snaps on sure enough but it's not tight and neither is the one on my Shangri La. My camera is on the fritz right now but I'll post some pics eventually.

Also came with a spot of what I guess is glue under the port wing that only one of us nerds would notice but it's there. Looks like a dried raindrop at least but it won't come off.

All that aside, from 3' away, behind glass, it looks like a million bucks! I am happy to have it but not thrilled like some of you.

8/10 despite the few flaws which are only noticeable if you're holding the thing and looking for flaws like we do.....

By contrast, my C1 models are 11/10.
I guess I expected an Audi and I got a nice Volkswagen.

Parsig,
I have found that dropping the flaps and pressing in on the screw tab while driving the screw in usually helps in getting a tighter fit at the wing root area, also, the cockpit might be mounted too high on the wings and keeping the wings from fitting correctly.

[parsig9]

Originally Posted by hworth18

Parsig,
I have found that dropping the flaps and pressing in on the screw tab while driving the screw in usually helps in getting a tighter fit at the wing root area, also, the cockpit might be mounted too high on the wings and keeping the wings from fitting correctly.

I'll try the flaps thing.


Too high? I do see that the cockpit may be interfering but I thought that, if anything, it might be too far forward not too high. I'll look at it...

Seems the seat almost hits the canopy, or does!


Thanks.

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by parsig9

I'll try the flaps thing.


Too high? I do see that the cockpit may be interfering but I thought that, if anything, it might be too far forward not too high. I'll look at it...

Seems the seat almost hits the canopy, or does!


Thanks.

If the cockpit isn't seated correctly on the wings, it will hit the inside of the canopy and keep the fuselage from fitting tightly to the wings.. This plane was designed with tight tolerances but assembled by low pay workers who don't always care if things are correct..

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by parsig9

I just got the Ina Macon Belle and must say mine did not turn out quite like the photos. I have a bit of a gap in the wing root. I pushed on it like crazy to get it together the best I could and may have even bent it a tinge, but there is still a gap. The ones in the pics below look super tight! Is it the pics? My little magnetic radiator cover does not fit like the one in Mhackl pics either. It snaps on sure enough but it's not tight and neither is the one on my Shangri La. My camera is on the fritz right now but I'll post some pics eventually.

Also came with a spot of what I guess is glue under the port wing that only one of us nerds would notice but it's there. Looks like a dried raindrop at least but it won't come off.

All that aside, from 3' away, behind glass, it looks like a million bucks! I am happy to have it but not thrilled like some of you.

8/10 despite the few flaws which are only noticeable if you're holding the thing and looking for flaws like we do.....

By contrast, my C1 models are 11/10.
I guess I expected an Audi and I got a nice Volkswagen.

These fit issues are endemic to all the EI Mustangs (at least the four I have, and all the pictures I have seen); there will always be a bit of a gap, especially in the radiator housing area. The glue problem is also a terrible QC issue. The last two I purchased also had a drop of glue (yes, it does look like a raindrop on the NMF finish), both on the starboard upper wing surface. You can contact OMI about the glue drop... they may be able to remove it for you.

The first two EI Stangs I purchased came without a QC issue; the last four purchases I have made (2 Stangs and 2 Texans) all came with minor to major QC issues which have made me skiddish about making anymore EI purchases. However, OMI provides terrific support to correct lemons.

[Ara1]

I just got my Patty Ann and assembled it 10 minutes ago. Had to fight with it and really think the design thru, but it ended up looking fine. I will need to glue the landing gear, possibly... or leave it a bit shaky.

It's tough to find a "safe" place for your fingers during the moments of high torque! But it works out.

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by Ara1

I just got my Patty Ann and assembled it 10 minutes ago. Had to fight with it and really think the design thru, but it ended up looking fine. I will need to glue the landing gear, possibly... or leave it a bit shaky.

It's tough to find a "safe" place for your fingers during the moments of high torque! But it works out.

All right Ara! You finally got one! Now you have arguably the best diecast model made. And the model is of arguably the best fighter of WWII.