Search the Community

"What a boring title! Can't he write something engaging for once?" Can I? Certainly, but these titles, despite their potential to "lower engagement", help you as a reader to know what you're getting into and me to track what I am taking about. Descriptive and understandable: real machine, manufacturer kit ID, scale, WIP status. Lets see how this one goes. but so far seems to be a straightforward build that's fitting in the provided time limit. Preemptive parts checking shows promising results with them fitting fine, crisp lines, a bit of flash here and there, some slight shape corrections needed but overall... pretty satisfied I would say. Box contents are a courtesy of whoever uploaded photo on Scalemates: Of course as per usual, providing Scalemates link and instructions (likely for earlier boxing as mine has them printed literally on the box itself, same thing anyway). They however do not explain a thing about different canopy or extra fuel tank (one definitely is) options.

Mustang Mk.III ProfiPACK (82109) 1:48 Eduard The P-51 was developed by the North American Aviation company as a potential fighter for Great Britain, but due to the poor performance of the original Allison engine at altitude it wasn’t suitable, especially for a specification that included combat at high altitude over Britain. Happily, in an attempt to correct this deficiency, they decided to install a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine to the airframe that brought out the best of its aerodynamic design, which included the energy efficient laminar flow wing that gave it the potential to escort Allied bombers all the way to Berlin with the addition of drop-tanks and a lean fuel mixture when not in combat. It was flown in this guise as the Mustang III in British service, and as the P-51B/C in US service with a “razor-back” spine and scalloped rear-view windows behind the cockpit, until some bright spark took a blown hood that had been used successfully on the Spitfire and fitted it to British Mustang Mk.IIIs, garnering the nickname Malcolm Hood after the company that created them. The P-51D was altered to have a bubble canopy and cut-down aft fuselage that improved the pilot’s situational awareness, with an additional fin-fillet added later to regain some of the stability that had been lost by the new shape and fuel tank location. In British service it was known as the Mustang Mk.IV, and the same variant made at the Dallas factory with hollow AeroProducts props that was designated P-51K in US service was known as the Mk.IVa in RAF service to differentiate. Sadly, the hollow prop was prone to vibration thanks to some inferior quality control at the factory, so was often swapped out in the field. The P-51D is the Mustang that most people think of when they hear the name, unless they’re more of a petrol head or a bit horsey, although us modellers are more likely to ask “which variant?”. The Kit Eduard entered the Mustang market with a brand-new P-51D in 2019, bringing exquisite detail and fit that became the new standard for many in 1:48 scale, and now we have the earlier B series, starting with the Overlord dual-combo boxing that was released as a Limited Edition. This new single boxing provides ProfiPACK levels of detail with a new sprue containing parts to make the Malcolm hood option, and entirely British markings for the decal options, with six sprues in grey styrene, two clear sprues, a new fret of pre-painted nickel-plated Photo-Etch (PE), and a sheet of kabuki-style masking material that is pre-cut for the canopy glazing and wheels. Construction begins with the pilot’s seat, which is built up with a choice of traditional seat with PE belts for two options or the tubular-framed seat that is used for the remainder, then the cockpit floor and fuel tanks are added in, with framework on top, and a divide between it and the cockpit that has the seatbelt tensioner removed and replaced by a new part. A couple of hoses in a V-shape are sited behind the seat, adding a control column with gaiter in front, and a fuel gauge on the floor either side of the pilot’s feet. Behind the pilot is a series of boxes that includes the radio equipment that are shown with connecting wires in blue, firming up locations with a pair of scrap diagrams and notes where decals are applied. Another PE dial is applied to the front of a small PE housing that is raised from the floor, and it is already shaping up to be an exceptionally well-detailed cockpit. The starboard side wall frame has many details added, removing the front of one box to replace it with a more detailed PE face, with more PE along the sill, or decals if you prefer, choosing the layout appropriate to your decal choice. It is installed in the fuselage side after painting the interior sections noted in the instructions, adding an oxygen hose, a section of wing fillet and the backing for the exhaust stubs at the front, then the tail-wheel bay is made up from two parts, plus separate wheel and strut, fitting the radiator pathway and a spinner backing-plate into the port fuselage along with a grille and another exhaust backing panel, plus another highly detailed side wall frame with another choice of layout, and a wide oval PE grille to the belly intake before the fuselage is closed up. A hole is opened in the spine, filling holes in the port nose for some decal options, closing the fuselage around the cockpit, then fitting the scalloped rear-view windows typical of the early Mustang after painting the panels behind them. The wheel bays are built up next, splitting the bay down the middle and bracketing it front and back with bay walls that have partial ribs added once in place, and here the fit is exceptional, as is the detail. This assembly is fitted to the full-width lower wing and joined by a leading-edge landing light and a single clear part for the three identification lights, drilling out holes in the lower wing for fuel tanks if you intend to use them. The wing uppers go on and the aileron tabs fit into slots in their recesses, with some room for deflecting them if you wish. On the leading edge is an insert for the guns with separate barrel inserts, adding a choice of two styles of tiny tip light over and under the wingtips as they are mated with the fuselage. The empennage is assembled, sliding the elevator fins with separate flying surfaces into slots horizontally, while the rudder can be fitted at any sensible angle, as all flying surfaces are single thickness parts with a sharp trailing edge and taped ribs moulded-in. The instrument panel gives you a choice of styrene or PE options, depending on which you prefer, the more detailed option layering two pre-painted PE parts for the main panel and the smaller central section, adding PE levers to complete it. The styrene option is made from two parts, and has two decals to represent the dials, with two configurations for both methods. A choice of two coaming styles is detailed with de-fogging nozzles, gluing the panel beneath it, and mounting a choice of gunsight on top, then hanging the rudder pedals from pegs behind the instrument panel. The completed assembly is dropped into the front of the cockpit, and a scrap diagram shows it from the side, ensuring it is suspended vertically, perpendicular to the sill. A small PE panel is glued to the cowling behind the exhaust exit on the port side for some decal options, flipping the model over to install the outlets for the radiator, the larger aft exit held at the correct angle by a vertical PE rod. A V-shaped PE actuator holds the tail bay doors in position, and the intake lip is fitted along with a PE splitter under the belly, removing a raised area behind it, to be replaced by a new PE part. Under the nose are a pair of inserts that are perforated, and a curved chin-intake lip is fitted under the prop back-plate, then it’s time to build the landing gear. The tyres are moulded in halves, and have diamond tread with hub caps added from either side before they’re fitted to the struts, which have separate styrene scissor-links and door actuators slotted into place. The flaps are each made up from two styrene parts with a tiny piece of PE added to the inner end of each one and a decal applied to the curved leading edge after painting, which you’ll have to remember to add later. Main gear and flaps are all slotted into place on the underside along with the captive outer gear bay doors, inner doors with actuators and a pitot probe under the starboard wing, and at that point you can rest the model on its wheels for the first time. There is a choice of exhaust styles, making up two sets and installing them in the slots on either side of the nose, then the prop is made from two paired blades that fit perpendicular to each other between the two spinner halves and separate back-plate, fitting it to the front of the fuselage in case there was any doubt. A choice of two windscreens is glued into the front of the cockpit, adding sill and a rear hoop if leaving the canopy open, using different parts for open and closed options, the closed option having long rails behind it that must be handled carefully as they are necessarily delicate. The closed Malcolm canopy is a different part, and there are three decal options that have the original framed canopy, with separate steps included. The open option is depicted by one part that has the upper section moulded in the open position, while the lower section hangs down against the side of the fuselage, while the closed option consist of just one part. A backup ring-and-bead gunsight is fitted to both options, the ring inside the canopy, the bead on a short post on the top cowling, drilling a 0.2mm hole in the deck first. There are three types of aerial mast for different markings, one must be made from wire from your own stocks, installing the exhausts that are made from two parts each, fitting them into the slots in the cowling after painting them a suitable burned-metal colour. The two-part drop tanks are last to be made, with a choice of two tank types that share the same style of pylon, or you could mount two four-part bombs with square fins, leaving more spare weapons on the sprue, including a set of five rockets under the wings, which have separate tails and moulded-in launch-rails, plus linked three tube-carried rockets in a triangular cluster and small bombs. Markings There are seven decal options on one sheet, with a variety of markings over the same basic British scheme. The stencils are found on a second sheet, with the back page of the instructions covering their application, away from the other profiles to avoid replication and over-complication. From the box you can build one of the following: FZ152, W/Cdr Stanisław Skalski, CO of No. 133 (Polish) Wing, Holmsley South, United Kingdom, June 1944 FZ152, W/Cdr Stanisław Skalski, CO of No. 133 (Polish) Wing, Coolham, United Kingdom, April-May 1944 FB387, PK-G, S/Ldr Eugeniusz Horbaczewski, CO of No. 315 Squadron, Brenzett, Kent, August 1944 FZ181, F/Sgt A. J. Fellows, No. 19 Squadron, Funtington, United Kingdom, April-May 1944 FB260, G/Cpt Brian A. Eaton, CO of No. 329 Wing, Italy, Autumn 1944 HB900, F/Lt Reginald A. Wild DFC, No. 112 Squadron, Creti LG, Italy, July 1944 FB254, W/O J. S. Duncan, No. 260 Squadron, Cutella LG, Italy, April-May 1944 The decals are printed using a digital process and have good registration, sharpness, and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut loosely around the printed areas. This means that the carrier film on their decals can be coaxed away from the printed part of the decal after they have been applied, effectively rendering them carrier film free, making the completed decals much thinner and more realistic, and obviating the need to apply successive coats of clear varnish to hide the edges of the carrier film. It’s a great step further in realism from my point of view, and saves a good quantity of precious modelling time into the bargain. The kabuki masking sheet contains pre-cut masks that are perfectly sized to keep the canopy crystal clear during the building and painting of your model, plus a set of hub/tyre masks to make cutting the demarcation a simple task. There’s even a mask for the landing light in the wing leading edge. Conclusion The Malcolm hood is my own personal favourite of the early Mustangs, so I’m very happy to see it, especially with D-Day special markings. The detail is stunning, and you also have the choice of three airframes with un-adapted canopies, in case you’re not a fan of the blown hoods. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Due to the timing of the release and the fact that all the decal options are geared towards D-Day, I'm sure Eduard's new pony will be a popular subject for this GB, but I'll still jump on the train anyways. But instead of doing one of the kit markings, I will be using an Aeromaster sheet to do the Mustang flown by Maj Ray "X-Ray Eyes" Wetmore who finished the war as the 359th FG's top gun with 21.25 aerial kills. Wetmore flew this aircraft from May 7th until he completed his first tour of duty on July 2nd and was rotated home. During this time he scored 4 kills; 2 Bf-109s on May 19th and 2 Fw-190s on May 29th. The first 109 on May 19th was his 5th kill, making him the group's second ace. More importantly for this group build, it was the plane he would've flown on D-Day. The second photo shows the Mustang shortly after invasion stripes were applied and features a red scoreboard with 13 crosses that indicate the 4 grounds kills and 8.25 air kills Wetmore had amassed by this time. As for the 359th FG as a whole, June 6th was just the beginning of a busy and costly month. On that "Day of Days", the briefing for the first mission took place at 0200 and the last plane landed at 2315. In all, 6 sorties were flown: 1 air patrol, 1 escort and 4 dive bombing/strafing/ground attack. When pilots returned from one mission they would try to catch a nap wherever they could, still in full flight gear, so they were ready at a moment's notice to get back in the air. June 7th saw the group fly 3 more missions, followed by 3 on the 8th and 4 on the 10th. In that first week following the invasion, the Unicorns (yes, the official group emblem featured a unicorn) flew 21 missions in 7 days but it came at the cost of 11 pilots killed or captured, including John "Posty" Booth, one of the top aces in the group with 8 kills. During the month of June 17 pilots were lost including a squadron commander, operations officer and 4 flight leaders. But the sacrifice was not in vein. Flying mostly air patrol and ground attack missions during the month in support of the advancing ground forces, rough estimates for damage inflicted on the enemy included 16 locomotives destroyed and 31 damaged, 18 armored vehicles destroyed and 48 damaged and 2 ammunition trains blown to smithereens. This was done by way of expending some 128,000 rounds of incendiary armor piercing ammunition and the dropping of roughly 97 tons of bombs.

Hello everybody, I haven't been very productive this year, this one is only my second build to date; This is a North American P-51B Mustang "Bald Eagle”, S/N 42-106839, 374th FS, 361st FG, pilot, Lt. Robert Eckfeldt and it’s the Tamiya, 1:48 kit. Based in Essex, the 374th FS participated to invasion of Normandy, mainly doing strike and bombing missions, before reverting to bomber escort after the Normandy campaign. Early in the following days of the landing, upper surfaces ID stripes were over-painted, to avoid detection by german fighters, still very active. The kit was built straight from the box, exception made for some Ultracast resin exhausts and the decals, coming from Aeromaster sheet 48214, Fighting Mustangs, Part IV. The build was, as usual with Tamiya quite straightforward, but for the under fuselage seams, which need a bit of care and putty. I screwed the pouch with clear parts maskings and do recommend the purchase of dedicated masks, thus saving both time and mental sanity …. Paints are Tamiya AS12 and TS30 from the spray can, while the green overpaint is from Gunze H330 and OD anti-glare panel is from the AK real color range. Yellow is a custom mix of Tamiya flat yellow and red, to match the decal hue. Hope you’ll like her …. As usual, comments and critics most welcome.

I will soon start the painting of an Arma Hobby P-51B, but I'm not sure how I will paint the section in front of the windscreen. In most profile pictures and paintings of this aircraft, the cowling itself is ow course blue, part the part next to the windscreen is depicted as being olive drab. Foxbot tells you to paint in olive drab as well. The only period photo I can find is this: https://www.starduststudios.com/don-mckibben.html There is maybe a slight different between the sections, but I am a bit sceptical why would it be in olive drab, if all other fighters in 352nd fighter group seem to have totally blue cowlings. What do you think? Are there any blue nosed mustangs that you know with olive drab sections? I would also appreciate if someone who has built many Arma Hobby 1/72 Mustangs could help me with some advice how to improve the fit of the tail section. I'm now doing a double build, and have previously built one, and in all of the three builds the fit of tail parts is not that good, there are steps and gaps. I know that there is some imperfections in the moulds that cause some of the issues. But if someone has managed to get the parts to fit as well as the rest of the kit, please could you share what you have done. I hope their P-51D is better in this area, and also has finer sprue gates like the new 1/48 P-39. And less of them.

Hi all. Yesterday I applied to join this GB and this morning I received acceptance, so here I am with this little gem of a kit from Arma Hobby that I think is well known by most modellers, at least those of us who work at 1/72 scale. My intention is to start by riveting the surface and using an aftermarket part such as wheels, pilot harnesses or reflector sight. What I haven't decided is what paint I will have, one of the ones offered by Arma Hobby or another one from the aftermarket. I hope to start soon. Cheers. Andrés.

Hi everyone, This is a kit I was not supposed to enter. In fact I was not even supposed to join this GB... And then I realized that it may be a very long time before I can build a good-fitting kit with panel lines already scribed. So here I am, hoping to find this kit ridiculously easy and rewarding. First, a few photos: This is the box art: And now the plastic: And last, the decal sheet: I will not be using this sheet, but a Xtradecal decal sheet. More later on that one. Have fun, all of you. JR

Hi everyone, just finished this Academy P-51B, modeled in the guise of a Mustang III of 450 Sqdn, RAAF, in Italy, 1945. It was a fun and easy build, just what the doctor ordered to get my mojo back. Here is the WIP, for those interested: Here are a few photos. I am actually quite happy with the outcome. I really love the paint scheme, and of course the Southern Cross which I see above my head every night. Thanks for watching. JR.

I have a nice sheet from Foxbot, with a good looking scheme "Dorothy II", but to my disappointment I just now noticed that Foxbot has not made any checkerboard decals for the horizontal stabilizers, a very stupid mistake. "Dorothy II" will be one of the schemes in Eduard's 1/48 P-51B Profipack - I saw a photo from a Sulc presentation on Facebook. This made me think, why hasn't Arma Hobby in their P-51 and P-39 not one single scheme with nose art featuring a female face or a pin-up? There are plenty of shark mouths, which are always popular, and I approve, but USAAF fighters with pin-ups are probably even more popular. What could be the reason for this? Is it a technical limitation, designing good quality nose art is difficult and demanding. Or something else. Whatever the reason, it is really unfortunate and a missed opportunity for Arma Hobby. When buying aftermarket decals, there's always the risk that they have left something out, or it's not guaranteed that they will fit the kit. I was hoping for a P-39 boxing with "Air A Cutie", but I'm not so sure they will release such. DK Decals has a sheet with it, but in my opinion it does look a bit crude.

Hey all, I assume we've all heard of the former RAF Duxford, now the IWM and its history with the 78th Fighter Group of the USAAF's 8th Air Force. However, what may be less well known is that just ten minutes up the road is another airfield, RAF Fowlmere, a satellite airfield of Duxford. Originally, it was the other way around, during WWI Fowlmere had permenant hangars like those at Duxford and in fact Duxford was the neglected, dusty satellite field. However, after the armistice Fowlmere closed and all operations went to Duxford. It wasn't until the build up to the Second World War that the RAF returned to Fowlmere, albeit all the buildings, hangars etc. had already been demolished. In use throughout the war, possibly most famously during the Battle of Britain, the airfield transferred over to the USAAF and with it the 339th FG, flying the P-51. The airfield went out of use again after the Second World War, but today within a quanset hut resides the RAF Fowlmere museum, chronicling the history of the airfield, which is open to all one Sunday a month and holds some fascinating history within. Naturally, being a fan of the 8th, what with it being on my doorstep, I visited the museum and was totally amazed. My main take away was that I must get round to building an aircraft based there, cue Tamiya's 1/48 P-51B. The kit, coincidentally comes with an aircraft of the 339th based there OOB. However the markings and finish are for the aircraft earlier on in its career, whereas I was able to find images of it post D-Day, with the newer malcolm hood and cut back invasion stripes. With this info in mind I set out to build mine still out of the box, but with the idea to use the malcolm hood included in the kit, and with a set of invasion stripes to be painted on. The kit was painted using Tamiya Lacquer metal paints, which I find are smooth, of good pigment density, and give a finish akin to alclad or similar, but without the fuss and with the paint being a lot harder wearing as well. The decals were all the kits ones. Capt. Lee D Eisenhart didn't manage to advance his number of victories past three so even the kill score down the side would be accurate. The model was weathered with oils. Thanks for looking, Sam

Joining you with this kit, costing £3 at Lyneham last year. Which carried stripes after D-Day. Which is how I intend to complete the build.

This is ICM's 1/48 P-51b (Tamiya knockoff) kit with bazooka's and bombs robbed from an Airfix P-51d kit, a home vacuformed canopy, detailed cockpit, brass belts, and a partially scratchbuilt wheel wells. Painted with Tamiya acrylics, weathered with oils and pastels, and Superscale decals. (The shark mouth decals were wrinkled so badly even after multiple applications of Microsol and then Solvaset that they had to be sanded off, masked and sprayed! - such fun!) Thanks for looking, Colin

Just for fun, I thought I'd do something really beat-up, so, I'm taking a stab at 'Tex" Hills P-51b in China, 1945. It's ICM's P-51b, with some scratch building in the cockpit, a homemade vac canopy, and some parts from the spares box. I might tone down the chipping on the nose, I just haven't decided yet, On the real aircraft, the paint appears to have been coming off in sheets! Thanks for looking, Colin

Latest one off the bench, Tamiya's classic P-51B Mustang with a good bit of work thrown at it. 1/48 Tamiya P-51B Mustang Capt William J Shackleford 375 FS / 361 FG Bottisham, England August 1944 - Aires cockpit - BarracudaCals cockpit placards - Ultracast spinner, prop, exhaust, flaps, and wheels - Squadron vac canopy - Gun barrels replaced with Albion Alloys tubing - Fuselage riveted - Wing panel lines filled - Custom paint masks for all major markings - AMDG decals for "Queen Jean" script and playing cards Anyways, on to the pics!

The final example of this year-long modelling journey is again a recent refurbishment of an old Monogram model which I built in 1984. It's the most radical upgrade that I have undertaken on any of my P-51 classics so far. U'VE HAD IT! P-51B-10-NA G4-H 42-106462 Capt John B. England 357th FG 362nd FS F-373 Leiston June 1944 "Hey dude, can't we move the cart any closer?" - A close-up of the fuel trailer here This was Johnny England's second P-51B in which he scored at least three of his impressive 17.5 confirmed victories making him the second-ranking ace in the 357th FG. He served two tours with the group, became 362nd Squadron CO and survived the war. When England received a P-51D in July 1944, G4-H was re-assigned as G4-Y and participated in the shuttle mission to Russia flown by Flt Lt Eric Wooley, an RAF exchange pilot. On 4th October the fighter's life ended when its tail broke off during a training flight with Lt Richard I. Potter. The tale of his hair-raising escape from the plunging wreck is told in Merle Olmsted's excellent history of the 357th FG. This source, however, offers a different cause for the demise of 42-106462 according to which it was salvaged from battle damage (and thus not involved in the accident?). Whatever the fate, one more distinguished Mustang disappeared from the roster. In order to restore and upgrade my original model I replaced many parts with aftermarket items, such as exhausts (Ultracast), windshield (Squadron), tailwheel (Tamiya) and housing (Quickboost), landing gear (SAC), wheels (Brassin), bomb racks (Tamiya) and 108 gal tanks (Monogram P-51D). In addition several PE parts were used for internal and external improvement. The biggest modification was to disembowel the fuselage, cut off the molded section behind the headrest and open the radiator exit in order to insert a revised cockpit left over from my group build Tamiya P-51C (see here). To my relief it slid in perfectly. Comparing the fuselage shapes of Monogram and Tamiya (in this case the Loon Models replica) underlines the remarkable workmanship of the Monogram kit released in 1967! U'VE HAD IT! during restoration compared with the finished fuselage of LUCKY LEAKY II (Tamiya / Loon Models) The half-painted Mustangs of the 357th FG sported one of the most attractive finishes in the Eighth Air Force, more so in combination with full invasion stripes*. As principal colours I took Tamiya TS-17 Gloss Aluminium and Tamiya XF-81 RAF Green with some pre-shading and lightly oversprayed with TS-2 Dark Green under a clear coat. The decals are A48-003 from AMDG which needed only very small corrections but due to the extremely thin carrier film demanded full concentration to avoid crumpling. A 'zebra-stripe' perspective... I hope you enjoyed this topic which now concludes my venture into P-51 modelling for a while. I have added this latest creation to my Eighth Air Force collection here. Thanks for visiting, Michael * A couple of considerations for the 357th FG aficionado: There are different opinions about the origin of the half-paint scheme and the type of green used. Reference (2) claims that those Mustangs had been OD/NG before the colour was removed from the lower half. I don't think this is true. Serial numbers 42-106... were allocated to P-51B-10-NA's delivered in bare metal. The upper surfaces would have been painted upon arrival at the 357th FG (probably with RAF Dark Green). The picture w/o invasion stripes (as displayed above) supports my assumption: The demarcations running along the fuselage and wing roots are too sharp to be the result of stripping; the green colour is wrapped around the leading edge of the wing; and the tip of the code 'G4' that reaches into the camouflage has a silver background from masking, i.e. the black letters had been there before. It wouldn't make sense to first strip the B-models and then give D-models a full camouflage two months later. The half-paint job apparently was an interim solution for silver birds. The nose chequers, besides being a challenge to apply, present the bean (-er- square) counter with a puzzle that I haven't found discussed before. All my decal sheets for the 357th provided 20 squares all-around. A close look at photos however reveals that there were only 18 squares (16 in a few cases), in symmetrical or asymmetrical order. The latter separated the rows along the centreline of the nose resulting in a reversed sequence of colours on the opposite side. After some research I concluded that G4-H was chequered asymmetrically. Firstly, this is what ensued when I applied the squares according to the picture using a 6x6" standard and secondly, it is reflected by photos of G4-P JOAN, a contemporary P-51B, for which pictures of both sides exist. REFERENCES (1) TO WAR WITH THE YOXFORD BOYS, MERLE C. OLMSTED, HAMILTON, 2004 (2) MUSTANG ACES OF THE 357th FIGHTER GROUP, AIRCRAFT OF THE ACES 96, CHRIS BUCHOLTZ, OXFORD, 2010 (3) WWW.CEBUDANDERSON.COM/357FG.HTM (4) WWW.LITTLEFRIENDS.CO.UK

Eagerly awaiting the start of the GB. Here is the beginnings of my build. - 1/48 Tamiya P-51B Mustang - Eagle Strike IP4810 Blue Nose Birds of Bodney Part 4 - Ultracast 48026 Detailed Exhausts - Ultracast 48139 Corrected Flaps - Ultracast 48133 Block Tread Wheel - Ultracast 48014 Seats (may or may not use these, depending on Aires set) - Aires #4223 Cockpit Set (not yet arrived...thought I had a set) - Resin propeller blades as well (no sure brand, they are in the bag with the exhausts. More yellow resin so guessing not ultracast) Gonna depict PZ*D from the 486th Fighter Group as seen in the photo below with plane not fully striped.

While working on LUCKY LEAKY II for the P-51 group build here I used the opportunity to renovate some of the Mustang models that I built in the 1980s and 1990s. Now I'm delighted to present Capt Duane W. Beeson's 'BEE' in her new dress - P-51B-5-NA 4th FG 334th FS F-356 Debden April 1944 The Monogram kit was first released in 1967 I built BEE in 1988 and had been satisfied with my work for 15 years when, during a major P-51D restoration project, I decided to do something about her too. After a little while I realised that there was not much synergy between versions so I put her to rest, stripped of all accessories and markings. Now, a further 16 years later, the improvement act was completed. Retrieving the blank airframe I upgraded the cockpit and installed a canopy, wheels, exhausts and wing pylons from my aftermarket spares box. The propeller, landing gear and 75 gal drop tanks are enhanced original parts. The gun ports and radiator ramp have also been modified. Finally, markings from the AMD 48-213 decal sheet were applied on an entirely new camouflage. Duane Beeson achieved all of his Mustang victories in this aircraft and was eventually shot down in it by flak on April 5th, 1944 to become a POW. The shiny red nose had replaced the former white one just about a week earlier. I hope you enjoy this bit of nostalgia. Cheers, Michael REFERENCES (1) MUSTANG AT WAR, ROGER A. FREEMAN, LONDON, 1974 (2) NORTH AMERICAN P-51 & F-6 MUSTANG, CAMOUFLAGE & MARKINGS NO.16, ROGER A. FREEMAN, LONDON, 1974 (3) ACES OF THE EIGHTH, GENE B. STAFFORD / WILLIAM N. HESS, WARREN, 1977 (4) MUSTANG ACES OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE, AIRCRAFT OF THE ACES 1, JERRY SCUTTS, LONDON, 1994 (5) VIII FIGHTER COMMAND AT WAR, AIRCRAFT OF THE ACES 31, MICHAEL O'LEARY, BOTLEY, 2000 (6) P-51 MUSTANG UNITS OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE, USAAF COLOURS 4, ROGER FREEMAN, HERSHAM, 2003 (7) P-51 MUSTANG – DEVELOPMENT OF THE LONG-RANGE ESCORT FIGHTER, PAUL A. LUDWIG, HERSHAM, 2003 (8) 4TH FIGHTER GROUP IN WORLD WAR II, LARRY DAVIS, CARROLLTON, 20 (9) THE NORTH AMERICAN P-51 EARLY MUSTANG, AIRFRAMES & MINIATURE NO.6, RICHARD A. FRANKS, BEDFORD, 2013 (10) WWW.AMERICANAIRMUSEUM.COM/AIRCRAFT/13716

The old 1/72 Academy P-51B has decals for Fred Glover's Rebel Queen. The girl on the fuselage has a red swimsuit, The name 'Rebel Queen' is in Olive Drab (which seems unlikely). This is how she is portrayed on my 1972 Scale Models plans, possibly where Academy got their info. But the much more recent Kits World decals give her a blue swimsuit. with 'Rebel Queen' in Red. Can anyone help with which one is right? I'm very tempted to buy the decals which look very nice, but they cost more than I paid for the kit, so it would be nice to know if they're correct! Many thanks,

Hey Guys, Here's my Tamiya P-51B, finished in the markings of Lt. Col. Everett W. Stewart during's time as part of the 355th Fighter Group when it was based at RAF Steeple Morden in Cambridgeshire. The kit went together beautifully as per all Tamiya kits, and it was painted using a mix of Mr. Colour and Tamiya Acrylic. The decals are from AMDG Decal's 'Yankee Merlin Roars!!! Part III' set and were of good quality, they went on well and were incredibly thin, requring only a slight helping hand with decal softner around some more complex shapes. Weathering was along the lines of 'used but not so abused'. I wanted to show a machine that was well used and that had picked up a few dings and dents but not too excessive. I achieved this with a mix of pre and post-shading, thinned oil paints for the panel lines and a metallic watercolour pencil for any chipping. I finished the model with some airbrush weathering effects before sealing with Xtracolour's Enamel Matte Coat. Rounding off for me however was having the ability to take this out to the actual former RAF Steeple Morden. Luckily I live across the border in Bedfordshire, and the base is a quick 20 minute drive away. At Steeple Morden not much of the original base survives, only a few nissen huts and the occasional segment of perimeter track that the farmer's found useful, luckily however an impressive memorial has been erected nearby where some of the technical and administrative buildings originally were, so I was very privelaged to be able to take some pictures of my model on the base of which its real-life counterpart would've served. Many Thanks for looking guys! Sam

Another Mustang... This time "Hot Pants" an P-51B that emergency landed in Sweden during the war. Decals from Moose Republic Decals and painting done with Tamiya AS paint. Sad to say the bad Revell canopy spoiled this modell. It looked good untill I took the masking tape of the canopy. Cheers / André

Another model from the Pacific War. All known Revell's Mustang. I am very satisfied with the fitting, especially the decals. The model is Tex Hill's plane. Here's the picture :

Finished this off at the beginning of March and had been meaning to take some photo's with my proper camera... But I never seem to get round to it! So just got a few mobile pics Nothing needs saying about the Tamiya P-51 kits, good old shake-and-bakes. However. I really went out of my way to mess up various bits of the kit! For starters the cockpit was sprayed zinc yellow and not zinc green. I picked up the Mig Ammo set for USN WWII planes and stupidly just by looking at the bottle just presumed it was interior green. D'oh I managed to butcher the seem under the air intake and ended up a step where the halves met. And I also managed to use the wrong decal codes on the side! Used a Mig Ammo set for the two tone camo. Now that I have discovered Mr Hobby self leveling thinners I'm getting along with Mig paints a lot more now! Nose and strips are a mix of Tamiya flat white and clear yellow as per the kit instructions. Speaking of the strips, after completing the kit I had a look at some picture of the actual aircraft and noticed that the strips should carry on to the elevators too. Note to Self: Look at picture of the aircraft before not after the build! Used oils for the panel washes. Little bit of chipping. Tamiya smoke... for the smoke. And a little pastel chalk on the walkways to muddy it up. Overall, for my second plane build since getting back into modelling last year I'm pretty please. Was the first time I'd tried black basing and really enjoyed that technique too. Thanks for popping by. Aaron

A true classic, Tamiya's 1:48 Mustang B. I used the kit decals and sunk them into hot water, so they could soften up and sink into the panel lines. Painted with Revell acrylics, the olive drab is Revell 66 Olive Grey.

Concerning the IDF-lights on starbord wing I noticed that those lights often interfere with the stars and bars on the same place according to instructions. What would be correct? /André

I can't quite tell from the pictures that I have found, but does anyone know, of the captured Luftwaffe or Swiss P-51B Mustangs (or even other a/c types for that matter), when they were repainted, would the original english stenciling / data have been left on and in any places where they were painted over, would they have been replaced in either Country's own language?