1/144 P-51D

[Tim Reynaga]

I’ve always loved the P-51D Mustang!

This one is the diminutive 1/144 scale bird from Minicraft. This 2018 release is actually a reissue of the 1974 Crown kit, which has been sold variously over the years by Revell, Academy, Trumpeter, Mini Hobby Models, and now Minicraft Models. This little beauty has certainly been around! Minicraft has added some value, though, with a new clear display stand, a pre-painted canopy, and some excellent Cartograf decals.

The small size, low parts count, and pre-painted canopy will make this a fast build.

[Tim Reynaga]

The little Mustang’s outline is accurate and the model goes together with a minimum of fuss, but small size means a number of simplifications. One of these is the cockpit, which is just a flat recessed area completely devoid of detail. To address this, Minicraft took the unusual approach of including a decal to represent the interior.

 

 

Placed over a green & black painted cockpit tub, the decal is surprisingly effective – especially under the thick canopy.

 

 

[Murdo]

Lovely!!!

[Tim Reynaga]

She is lovely, isn't she? The old girl's panel lines are surprisingly sharp for a kit of the 1970s. She's not perfect, though.

 

 

The intercooler and rectangular coolant matrix were just square depressions in the lower fuselage halves; I made simple sheet plastic improvements.

 

 

The kit comes with alternate parts for either wheels-down or flying configuration; the wheels-up option leaves some nice extra parts...

 

Edited August 14, 2019 by Tim Reynaga

[Tim Reynaga]

The assembled Mustang now has its coat of Tamiya rattle-can AS-12 Bare Metal Silver.

 

 

A really cool feature of this 2018 Minicraft release is an optional pre-painted canopy. Unfortunately, I rubbed off some of the paint while blending the windscreen with the fuselage, so I still ended up masking and painting it along with the rest of the aircraft.

[Murdo]

A very smooth and neat paint job on that mate.

 

I really like 1:144 fighters.

[Tim Reynaga]

The kit came with decals for two different USAAF Mustangs, but I opted instead to use aftermarket markings from Draw Decal.

 

 

 The model will depict “Twilight Tear,” an aircraft of the 8th Air Force’s 78th Fighter Group, 83rd Fighter Squadron flown by 1st Lieutenant Hubert Davis out of Duxford, England, in 1945.

 

  

The Draw Decal markings look great!

Edited August 16, 2019 by Tim Reynaga

[Tim Reynaga]

After the initial silver, I applied Tamiya rattle-can AS-6 Olive Drab USAAF for the anti-glare panel followed by red wingtips and a white spinner.

    

 

With the application of the decals, a radio mast, and the finished spinner, P-51D Mustang “Twilight Tear” (named after the 1944 Racehorse of the Year) is complete!

    

 

Edited August 18, 2019 by Tim Reynaga

[Courageous]

I wish that this scale was more popular than it is, could solve a lot of storage problems.

Back to the 'Pony', looks fantastic.

 

Stuart