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It's almost a year since I last finished a model, but I'm pleased that I've finally got this one over the line after a good couple of years in the making. It's my second go at a P-51H in 1/72, and follows my first attempt in 2016, which is still lurking somewhere here on BM. As before I used the RS Models kit, with quite a few modifications this time, having studied the excellent new Modelsvit 1/48 kit, the David McLaren book on the P-51H, and photos/videos of original and preserved airframes. I robbed the undercarriage legs and some photo-etch for the cockpit from the CMR kit - the only really useable parts I'm afraid - as well as the flaps from an Airfix D-model, slightly reshaped for H purposes. Drop tanks were nabbed from a Hasegawa B/C kit. I also spent a lot of time getting the fin/rudder shape right, as the RS kit is a bit awry in this area. I wanted to model an early USAAF/USAF aircraft rather than a later ANG airframe, and so opted for a recreation of 44-64195 "Louisiana Heatwave" which was flown in around 1947 by former 8th Air Force P-51D pilot Claude Crenshaw. The name came from an old Microscale/Superscale P-51D set, with the letters separated and repositioned in line with photo evidence of Crenshaw's H. Buzz numbers and stars & bars came from Techmod and were excellent. Swastikas were from Kits World. Other decals came from the kit. All in all the model was a lot of work, and for the most part enjoyable.... Still I think it's an improvement on my first effort, which was the main objective. Hope you like it. Although H-model clamshell doors didn't bleed down on shutdown as they did on B/C/D models, they could be lowered for maintenance purposes. So I decided to display them down, really to show off the detail on the inner faces of the doors. Some pics from the build: These show the fin/rudder correction under way: making the rudder post truly perpendicular with the direction of travel; making the fin leading edge more vertical with an insert of plastic card, and reducing the height of the fin a touch. Lots of filling, sanding, priming, repeat... The Modelsvit 1/48 kit was helpful in getting the cockpit into a better state. The RS instrument panel comes up nicely though with some judicious highlighting. Almost ready for final priming and then paint (Alclad shades for the NMF and wing sprayed lacquer). I also extended the tailplanes by about 2mm on each side and made them slightly squarer rather than too tapered. This is the airframe I was trying to replicate. On the basis of that photo I assumed that 44-64195 did not have the tailwheel locked down and doors removed which was a safety precaution of the time. But then just as I was finishing up, I found a better print which confirms that the tailwheel was indeed locked down in this period: Too bad - I'm leaving the doors on now! Thanks for looking. Justin

Stumbled over this footage earlier, and I thought it might be of interest to many of you. The end of the war saw some pretty hot prop fighters, but with the war winding down and the jets coming into their own, they weren't too little, but sadly they were too late. Interesting that three of the designs were based on the Thunderbolt: The XP-47H, the first hemi; the XP-47J, fastest U.S. prop fighter at 505mph; the XP-72, the P-51H and the lightweight XP-51F/J. Enjoy. Mike https://youtu.be/fgIz5N11TZ8 My personal wish would be for somebody to release an X-47J in either 1/72 or 1/48, although I am aware of vacform and resin conversion kits, as well as some very nice conversions and scratch builds on some of the modeling websites. In the case of the XP-47J, that's pushing an R-2800 and Kartveli's design about as fast as it could go!

P-51H Mustang (4817) 1:48 ModelSvit The P-51H was the final production version of North American's famous fighter, and probably the least well known. Designed with all the experience gained with the production and experimental aircraft,, and powered by the new V-1650-9 engine it was the pinnacle of the types development. Compared to the more famous P-51D as well as a more powerful engine the H had a longer fuselage with larger tail to reduce the tendency to yaw. A new radiator served to streamline the aircraft, which as well as being lighter enabled to aircraft to reach 472 mph. Access was also improved to the guns and ammunition storage from lessons learnt during war time operations. 2000 of the aircraft were ordered, however due to then ending of WWII the orders were cut back. While some were issued to operational units none saw combat in WWII. 555 Aircraft had been produced before production was stopped. The aircraft would eventually be used by many Air National Guard units and would not even see combat in Korea. Even though it was a better aircraft than the P-51D, the D was a combat proven aircraft and a know commodity for the USAF, this along with the fact that there was a large number of available aircraft, spares and combat trained pilots would ensure the P-51H would not see any combat action at all. 1 Aircraft was sent to the RAF for evaluation. Even though not a successful aircraft its legacy lived on in the fact that North American were able to use many of the aerodynamic advances made in its development in its development of its new jet aircraft. Certainly the FJ-1 and the initial non swept wing prototypes of the F-86 can trace its linage back to the P-51H. Kit This is the eagerly awaited new kit from Modelsvit. The kit resembles a high quality shorter run kit with fine surface details. While the parts resemble some more main stream manufactures in appearance they will no doubt need more care in the assembly. In the box we get 8 sprues of grey plastic, a clear sprue, a PE fret, masks, an instrument panel film; and two decal sheets. Construction starts in the conventional way with the cockpit. The seat is made up with PE belts supplied. The sidewalls get a variety of parts and the area behind the pilots seat gets armour and other parts. The instrument panel is a plastic/PE/Film sandwich. The complete cockpit can then be put together and the seat installed, Moving on to the main fuselage, the exhausts are added at the front, then the rear wheel well is built up as the rear exit for the radiator. Once these are done the cockpit can be installed and the main fuselage closed up. Once this is done a few parts are added to the front and the gun sight is added. Construction then moves to the wings. The flaps and ailerons are built up and put to one side. The main gear well is then built up into the lower one part wing. Once this is done the left/right uppers can be added along with the rear parts which cover the flap areas. The main and tail landing gear is built up at this time, with the rear being added into the fuselage along with the rear scoop for the intake. The ailerons are added to the main wing and then this is attached to the fuselage. Then the tailplanes and their control surfaces are added as well. Now we are on the finishing straight. The flaps are fitted, along with the main landing gear and the gear door. The propeller is assembled and added. Next up the canopy is fitted. Here Modelsvit proved a one part canopy if you want to model the aircraft with it closed, or a two part if you want it open. The prominent aerials are then fitted. Lastly drop tanks and rockets are supplied if the modeller wishes to use them. . Decals There are 4 schemes provided in the kit; the decals are well printed with no obvious flaws, there is one sheet with most of the colour on, and ten another with all the black codes. From the box you can build; 44-64561, 182nd FBS, Texas ANG (as per the box art) 44-64347, 101st FIS, Massachusetts ANG 44-64351, 132nd FIS, New Hampshire ANG KN987, Evaluation aircraft provided to the RAF Conclusion It is good to see a decent model of the P-51H available, this should build up to make an eye catching model if care is taken with the build. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

I'm looking for photos of the cockpit of the F-51H in ANG service. Were these repainted in black as the F-51D cockpits were? Secondly, are there any photos floating around on the internet that show the Texas ANG option of the Modelsvit 1/48 kit? Cheers, Erik.