New BBI Mustang!

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:34 pm

Wahoo!!

I got my 2 (of course) bbi P-51s today. Wow, what a plane. I ripped it out of the box and put it together lickity split. I pulled down my Lou IV and took a goodly number of comparision photos. Check them out in my Webshots account!!! I did a couple side-by-side shots. Enjoy!!

Yeah, its an awesome plane. Detail is top notch. A couple interesting things. You'll notice them in the photos. The control surfaces (elevators and Rudder) use a combo hinge and tab design. You pull on the lower (or inboard) tab and pull on the surface to deflect. It works but I would caution on repeated use and I feel that too much usage and you wear out the "lock-in". If that wears, you'll have hanging flight controls. The flaps are completely tabbed. You pull on the flap and tab exposes itself (which is curved) Careful here as you can crack the middle tab (check photo) by pushing too hard downward, itself no big deal. Anyways, the flaps don't drop to full position due to the limited curvature of the tab. Kinda disappointing as a lot of WWII photos show completely dropped flaps with the plane parked. The external tanks are awesome and easily detatch from the pylon since they are mounted with pegs. Neat idea. Interestingly, the pylons mount into the outboard ammo chute for the .50 MG. I dunno why they did this (check out the photo).

As mentioned above, the cockpit detail is insane. Check out the pics. The gear isn't all that great as they are a bit too small and as I mentioned before, lack the "forward rake" of the real thing. I think this has to do with the difficulty of replicating the design as the same thing applies to the 21st Mustang. Sorry if I am coming off negative, I don't mean to be. It IS the best plane made in 1:18 IMHO.

The pilot looks great except the hanging mask and inaccurat goggles make the helmet less than stellar (check the close-up shot). The crusher is classic and makes him by far the best pilot of the bunch. This is the first time that my desk display aircraft has it's pilot! I usually leave him out altogether.

Decals and painting as mentioned before are exacting! This plane in the 361st FG or 78th FG markings would look insanely beautiful. Killer's markings are pretty bland.

This plane makes me scared of what is to come. As the bar gets higher, the planes are looking ominously real.....

Don't forget to take a look at the photos, hehehehe...........

-Ski

Post by **aferguson** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 6:29 pm

Great shots, Ski....that was a lot of work!

You know, it made me realize that the 21c Mustang isn't as bad as i thought! Certainly nowhere near as nice as 'Killer' but still a nice bird. I'm keeping Lou.

What are you to do with Lou?

Bruzzer · Post by **Bruzzer** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:41 pm

I'm jealous, I'm still waiting for my local shop to get them in. Thanks for the pics

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 8:04 pm

I dunno what I'm gonna do with Lou. I have 2 of them so I may sell one. I love the paint scheme and I am rather partial to it since I used to drive over the 361st FG's airfield at Bottisham all of the time on my way to shopping in Cambridge when I was stationed in the UK.

The lack of dihedral on Lou really makes a difference in appearance. If 21st releases their new P-51 as LOU IV, that will be a must-get.......

-Ski

mburduck · Post by **mburduck** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 4:08 pm

I think I'll sell some of my 21st Century P-51s. I could use the room.

Mike

MightyMustang · Post by **MightyMustang** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 6:18 pm

Well my BBI Mustang arrived today and all I can say is WOW! This is everything I ever wanted in a Mustang model and more. The detail is absolutely amazing from the cockpit all the way down to the markings. BBI has set the standard I believe for how a 1/18th scale WW 2 fighter should look like. I cant say enough about it. I ran into a website that makes decals in 1/18th scale for "Big Beautiful Doll". These decals were made to replace the ones that were painted on the 21st Century release of the "Doll". Can you imagin what BBI's Mustang would look like wearing these markings? They go for 24 or 25 bucks I believe when I find the website I'll post it on here. I called my new Mustang a model because it comes damn close to one if you ask me. 21st Century's re-tool of their Mustang I dont think will come close to matching what BBI has created but we will have to wait and see. The only thing I will change besides maybe the markings is I will have to fix the landing gear because I dont like the extended look, it sits to high which every Mustang fan knows is not how the Mustang looked when she was parked after a long days mission. This is what every Mustang fan has waited for and for those who dont have one your missing out because BBI finally did the mighty Mustang justice. Now only if we could get a accurate bubble top P-47 AND AN F6F Hellcat! Oh how I pray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jhogan · Post by **jhogan** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 6:46 pm

What can I add about the P-51. Posts in this site have said it all. I'm going to replace my 21C "Blue Nose" with BBi's "Killer" to save air space in my hobby room. I think I'll pack up the 21C P-51 and give it to the Marines in their "TOYS FOR TOTS" collection box for Christmas.

MightyMustang · Post by **MightyMustang** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 6:54 pm

Hey J I dont think you should do that even though giving to Toys For Tots is a good thing. I think you should hang onto your Blue Nosed Mustang because even though it dont compare to the BBI release its still a collectors item. Just my thought mind you.

jhogan · Post by **jhogan** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 7:11 pm

Thanks MM. I want to keep my collection as nice as I can. The 21C P-51 was not up to the standards of the other 21C airplanes becuase it was first. But now the BBi P-51 takes the "State of the Art" to the next step. Just a matter of time before we see the Zero, Hellcat, Me 262 from 21C or BBi. I can't wait. Glad I found this hobby and members of this board.

vmf214 · Post by **vmf214** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 11:09 pm

21st should express concern about BBi's Mustang but doubtful it'll even phase them considering how many planes they've already released. They are quicker on the draw than BBi (for the most part) plus BBi doesn't seem to flood the market with multiple repaints (although I wish they would!) I still say BBi will likely release the Zero before 21st, just my opinion mind you and man will it be AWESOME when and if they do!!!!

MightyMustang · Post by **MightyMustang** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 5:28 pm

I would not only to love seeing the Zero but how about an F6F Hellcat from BBI? They have already set the standard with their Mustang, what else is next?

nooker21 · Post by **nooker21** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:35 am

teamski, on your comparison photos, is that an original issue 21C midget pilot? do you happen to have a newer bigger pilot to make a comparison to the BBI one?

USCGSARdog · Post by **USCGSARdog** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 7:14 am

Has anyone noticed that the nav lights on the wing tips are backwards? (At least they are on mine.) Also, isn't there supposed to be a clear light at the bottom of the rudder? Mine has a hole were the light is supposed to be, but no light. Just wondering. Otherwise this is one awesome piece!!!!

-Rob

vulgarvulture · Post by **vulgarvulture** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:06 am

As I was taking down BBD to make room for Killer!, the fishing line got caught on BBD's pitot tube. A quick check on Killer!, and no pitot tube.

Not a big deal. BBI's Mustang is fantastic. But I thought it was kinda funny that for all it's 'toyishnish' 21st's Mustang at least had one.

The quest for perfection continues!

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:26 am

Hehehehe.... SAR called it. You are right. My nav lights are reversed and the tail light is missing. Give bbi credit, they were close!

-Ski

JOC · Post by **JOC** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:08 pm

Couldn't a little surgical skill be used to take the pitot tube off BBD and add it to Killers wing? If BBD is sitting in the box, it could easily donate the part to help with the realism issue. Gotta love these toys!!!

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:04 pm

I thought about doing that to my BBI P-51 as well - taking the pitot tube from my 21st Lou IV. But then, given that the Lou IV is the origional XD vehicle and the one thats worth the most, I decided against it. I guess with BBI P-51 we get no pitot tube, but get the radio mast and antenna; whereas with the 21st P-51 its the other way around! Still just absolutely love this plane and can't wait to see what the future BBI releases will be!

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:03 pm

nooker21 wrote:teamski, on your comparison photos, is that an original issue 21C midget pilot? do you happen to have a newer bigger pilot to make a comparison to the BBI one?

I gotta drag out BBD to get the pilot. I'll see if I can do that tomorrow....

-Ski

MightyMustang · Post by **MightyMustang** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:39 am

Hey guys I got a solution for the pitot tube thats missing from BBI's Mustang. One is you can either take it off your 21st Mustang OR you can get one out of a 1/24th P-51 model kit. I just emailed a model company asking for a replacement pitot tube and they are sending me one. I also have heard that some are saying that the wing lights are backwards on their Mustang. I checked mine and they are right, I even compared them to some Mustang photos I have and again no problems. Then only thing I have to do is fix the landing gear and I'm trying to find out ways to do this. As for a repaint I think I'll keep my Mustang the way it is because the thing looks so damn cool the way it is and it would be a crime to mess up the beautiful work that BBI did on it.

mburduck · Post by **mburduck** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 7:32 pm

The landing lights on mine are correct, too.

Perhaps I'll rig up a pilot's tube....

Indeed, one of these days we might actually get a "perfect" model. Isn't it fun waiting for that day to come?

Mike

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 7:50 pm

Ok, so you guys are saying that your red nav light is on the left side?? Mine is incorrectly on the right............

-Ski

MightyMustang · Post by **MightyMustang** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 7:44 am

First this answer is for you teamski. What I'm saying is that my nav lights are where they should be on the wings. If yours is wrong on your Mustang then I dont have an answer for you except maybe BBI made a mistake.

And Mike this is for you. I think the BBI Mustang is as perfect as we are going to get in 1/18th scale.

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 7:53 am

MightyMustang wrote:First this answer is for you teamski. What I'm saying is that my nav lights are where they should be on the wings. If yours is wrong on your Mustang then I dont have an answer for you except maybe BBI made a mistake.

Thanks for the rather direct answer. I'm not asking why they are wrong, just if only some planes are incorrect. It's been usual practice that an entire run of planes to be done a certain way. Like the run of Checkerboard Corsairs with having the insignia on both upper wings. The bbi Mustang is somewhat of an anomoly.........

-Ski

Post by **aferguson** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 8:21 am

my hunch is that when they are assembled whoever puts them together doesn't have any clear instructions as to which coloured light goes in which wing; so there's about a 50-50 chance it will be done properly...

Is there no way to pop them out and switch them around?

MightyMustang · Post by **MightyMustang** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 10:31 am

Hey teamski I hope you didnt take my comment the wrong way buddy because thats not what it was mean to be. All I'm saying is that sometimes you get a plane that does have somethings that are wrong. People on the production line maybe screwed up on yours in the nav light areas I dont know. The faults as I've pointed out with the BBI Mustang for me is the landing gear which should not be in the extended position unless you plan on having the P-51 in flight, the pilots name, the code letter O should be Q and the it should have the pitot tube. All these are correctable and with me being a modeller it wont be a problem. You are going to have a few mistakes being that this is the first stab at a WW 2 fighter from BBI so I can can forgive them. And I'm not very forgiving when it comes to my beloved Mustang. I'm just glad that finally someone came out with a Mustang in 1/18th scale that does this awsome fighter the justice it deserves, unlike 21st Century Toys.

Small Scale Military Headquarters

New BBI Mustang!

BBi p-51 "Killer"

Thanks MM

scale question

Re: scale question