P-51D & F-51D Mustang Detail Sets for Italeri (Eduard 1:72)

[woody37]

P-51D & F-51D Mustang Detail Sets (Italeri)

Eduard 1:72

With all the media and discussion about the recent launch of the Airfix P-51D, it's easy to forget about the other kits that are out there. Italeri have had their rendition of this fine aircraft for some time in both P-51D & the F-51D guises, however having never built one, I struggled to find much information about it's quality OOB. Eduard obviously believe the kit has life in it as they've released these detail sets to enhance it. Taking the now familiar format, they've released the larger 2 fret pack and a Zoom set that just includes the Self Adehesive fret.

P-51D

Full detail set (73435)

The self adhesive fret contained in the pack focuses on the cockpit interior. The instructions are clear and illustrated using exploded diagrams of where to fit the parts and using shaded areas to represent where the original parts need to be cut. The seat belts are a complex affair with lots of small parts that need to be glued together, so a good set of tweesers will really help to get this right. I've counted no less than 12 parts to the seatbelt assembly ! The moulded seatbelts on the kit seat will need to be removed. This looks quite challenging due to the seat having a lip around the edge making it difficult to get a knife in to trim the plastic. The instrument panel will need the detail filing off before fitting the two main parts. A further panel sits over the blind panel instruments giving a good 3D depth. The rudder pedals fit to the rear of the kit panel part and are pre-painted. The seat rear armour is detailed plentyful with 5 parts and as this is clearly on show, it's one of the most important parts of the cockpit upgrade. The cockpit walls are beautifully represented in pre-painted parts with several details such as throttle quadrant, levers and trim wheels needing to be glued to them further building up the 3D representation. The avionic pack behind the seat armour is made from folding the large etch cross shaped part into a box. This requires removal of the original part, however it's worth it !

The second fret focuses primarily on external enhancements. The radiator is given etch grills both front and rear and the rear variable gill is brought to scale with an etch replacement. The kit main wheel well detail needs to be removed and replacement hydraulic lines are included to drop straight in. These look very delicate, so go easy with the sausage fingers ! Oleo links, wheel hubs and wheel well side panels are provided to give an impressive look to the undercarriage with all this detail fitted. A ball point pen is recommended in the instructions to achieve the three grooves in the Main wheel door interiors. These parts then fit to the kit supplied doors. Further enhancements are supplied for the drop tanks and bombs including fuse timers, which ever you choose to have fitted. The aileron, elevator and rudder trim linkages are also included, but again due to their small size, take care handling them. The etch tail wheel doors are well designed and the scale thickness will give a much more accurate look to the rear of the aircraft.

Zoom Detail Set (SS435)

This set provides an alternative option by including just the Self Adhesive fret reviewed above to bring much of the cockpit alive. If you're not wanting to splash out on the full set, this is a welcome alternative

F-51D

Full detail set (73433) & Zoom detail set (SS433)

The F-51D set is largely the same as the P-51D set. The coloured fret is identical and the external fret has all the parts included in the P-51D set. What you also get on this fret though is fine etch details for the rocket armament carried on this later version. Each rocket can be enhanced by the addition of 4 individual fins and a triggering cable.

Zoom Detail Set (SS433)

This set is identical to the P-51D set SS435. It seems a little strange that there are seperate sets available with identical components so I suspect the F-51D was a later addition to the Eduard range due to timings of the Italeri F-51D release.

Conclusion

Having reviewed pictures of the Italeri P-51D & F-51D kits, the finer detail isn't catered for due to the limitations of injection moulding in 1/72 scale. These sets are well designed to pick out that finer detail and all credit has to go to Eduard for breathing some life into the Italeri kit. With the large bubble canopy, the cockpit is on show open or closed, so the detail won't be hidden like on some aircraft. The exterior improvements will greatly improve the look and scale accuracy of the kit and many parts could be used with minimal fuss on alternative P51 kits if you choose. As the F-51D set contains some additional parts for the rockets, this offers slightly better value for money. Even if you don't fit the rockets, you will have some spare fins that I'm sure will be put to good use else where.

Review sample courtesy of

[Giorgio N]

The Italeri kit is seriously lacking details in the cockpit, these sheets will no doubt help in addressing this.

[FalkeEins]

..also lacks the dropped flaps and separate rudder option of more recent kits and the windshield doesn't fit very well. Not a bad kit but a little superfluous now the new Airfix kit is here. I've built a few (two examples here..) probably won't do any more....would I use this etch sheet on the new Airfix model? - to be frank, very unlikely..spot the 'deliberate' mistake on 'Miss Helen'..

Edited August 27, 2012 by FalkeEins

[Giorgio N]

..also lacks the dropped flaps and separate rudder option of more recent kits and the windshield doesn't fit very well. Not a bad kit but a little superfluous now the new Airfix kit is here. I've built a few (two examples here..) probably won't do any more....would I use this etch sheet on the new Airfix model? - to be frank, very unlikely..spot the 'deliberate' mistake on 'Miss Helen'..

Don't know if it's a matter of moulds wearing out, but when I built my Italeri Mustang I found a lot of parts that did not fit very well. The ventral cooling vents were not simmetrical but the worst offender was the wing-fuselage join with the trailing edge on the fuselage not matching with the wing... awful stuff !

[woody37]

F-51D set added to the review