Eduard P-51K Mustang ProfiPACK (82105) 1:48

[Mike]

P-51K Mustang ProfiPACK (82105)

1:48 Eduard

 

 

The P-51D was developed by the North American Aviation company as a possible fighter for Great Britain, but due to the poor high-altitude performance of the engine initially fitted it wasn’t all that good.  Luckily, it occurred to them to substitute a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine into the airframe and it brought out the best of its 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 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, then as the P-51D with the bubble canopy and cut-down aft fuselage, with an additional fin-fillet added later to improve stability that had been reduced by the new shape and fuel tank location.  D models that were made in Dallas were given the K designation.

 

This 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.

 

 

The Kit

We were initially treated to the ProfiPACK, Royal Class and Weekend forms of this new tooling and now it’s everyone’s favourite Mustang in 1:48 (with good reason), with an increasing number of variants with filleted and unfilleted tails being the most obvious differences, but it goes a lot deeper and more subtle than that.  We’re now in receipt of a handsome K specific variant, which includes a pair of nice decal sheets with 6 markings options, some from unusual locations.  Inside the box are five sprues in blue/grey styrene, a clear sprue, a fret of Photo-Etch (PE) brass with nickel-plating and much of it pre-printed both in colour and with domed clear instrument faces, kabuki tape masking sheet (not pictured), two decal sheets and a thick instruction booklet with the marking options printed in the rear in colour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction begins with the seat, which is built up first with PE belts, then the cockpit floor, tanks and radio gear are added in, with sidewall framework dotted with PE parts on both sides.  It shapes up to be a well-detailed cockpit, and the PE parts are numerous and impressive.  The tail-wheel bay is made up, the radiator pathway and a spinner backing-plate are all slipped into the fuselage along with a PE grille and exhaust backing panel before they are closed up.

 

The wheel bays are built up next with some advice regarding colour added along the way, 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 I can vouch for the fact that fit is exceptional, with the joints expertly hidden once complete, and incredible accuracy of tooling.  This assembly is fitted to the full-width lower wing and joined by backing panels to the spent brass chutes, a central insert that shows through the bay, and a clear part for the identification lights.  The wing uppers go on and the ailerons fit into tabs in their recesses, with some room for offsetting if you wish.  On the leading edge is an insert for the guns, and you’ll need to fill a few panel lines under the nose and scribe one using the template supplied on the PE sheet.  There are also a complement of holes that will need opening up if you’re fitting drop-tanks, so have a pin vice to hand.  The wings are mated to the fuselage, and tiny clear wingtip lights are slotted in on long stalks, then the tail fins are begun.  The filleted fin is a separate insert and elevator fins with two types of flying surfaces are inserted into slots horizontally, while the rudder can be fitted at any sensible angle.

 

You may have noticed the lack of comments about the instrument panel during building of the cockpit, but we’re getting to it now.  The finished coaming and rudder pedals drop into the fuselage, but are first decked out with a multi-layered instrument panel made from pre-painted PE, with those glossy instrument dials we've come to expect from Eduard, and a small deck behind the pilot.  The two radiator doors under the tail are fitted at the same time as the tail wheel, with bay doors and PE closure mechanism added along the way, with a scrap diagram showing the correct orientation.  Inside the main bay a pop-up landing light is slotted into its mounting point, a PE divider is added to the exhaust intake lip, and chin-scoop plus the correct panel under the nose (decal choices again), then it’s on to the main gear legs.  The tyres are diamond tread, with wheels and hub caps added before they’re fitted to the struts, which have separate styrene scissor-links and door supports slotted into place.  The flaps are each made up from two styrene layers with a tiny piece of PE added to the inner end of each one and a decal on the curved leading edge after painting.  You’ll have to remember to add these yourself, as I won’t be any help!  Those are all slotted in place on the underside along with the rest of the bay doors, and at that point you can sit her on her wheels and add the exhaust stacks.

 

The prop is made from two paired blades that fit perpendicular to each other in a choice of two types of blades (cuffed & uncuffed) and spinner, canopy with interior structure, and a backup ring and bead sight.  There’s also a choice of aerials and D/F loops on the spine behind the canopy, which of course depends on your decal choice.

 

The weapons and drop tanks are last to be made, with a choice of three tank types that all share the same type of pylon, while one has additional supports to the sides.  A few spares are left on the sprue, including a set of six rockets for under the wings, which have separate tails and moulded-in launch-rails that would be fitted three per side.  All useful grist for the spares mill.

 

 

 

Markings

By now you should have your decal choice dialled in.  You have a half dozen choices, and they’re quite colourful.  The two sheets are separated between the individual markings and standard stencils.  From the box you can build one of the following:

 

• P-51K-5, 44-11622, Maj. Leonard Carson, 362nd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, Leiston, UK, August 1944
• P-51K-5, 44-11661, Lt.Col. Jack J Oberhansly, 334trh FS, 4th FG, 8th AF, Debden, UK, February 1945
• P-51K-5, 44-11631, Lt. Huie Lamb, 82nd FS, 78th FG, 8th AF, Duxford, UK, March 1945
• P-51K-1, 44-11471, LKt. Carl H Colleps, 118th FRS, 23rd FG, 14th AF, Cheng Kung, China, 1945
• P-51K-10, 44-12539, Lt. Everett Kelly, 6th FS, 1st Air Commando Group, 10th AF, Asansol, India, Summer 1945
• P-51K-10, 44-12073, Lt.Col. William M Banks, Co of 348th FG, 5th AF, le Shima, July 1945

 

 

 

Decals are printed in-house with good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas.  The stencils are dealt with on the back page in the instructions to prevent clutter and replication of effort, and also shows the various metallic and fabric covered sections for the "unpainted" decal options on another page.

 

 

Conclusion

We already know the quality of the basic kit, and this box has some interesting markings that will please a lot of people.  You just have to narrow down the decal choices to one… or get some Overtrees again perhaps?

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[Graham Boak]

The Allison was an excellent engine, in some ways better than equivalent Merlins, but with a low full throttle height which didn't suit the RAF.  It was the substitution of the two-stage Merlin 60 that made the difference, as a high-altitude fighter.  As it did to the Spitfire...

 

See Matt Willis's recent book on these aircraft for a fuller account, dismantling some of the myths about these early Mustangs.  Though I suppose that they'll carry on being repeated for decades yet.

[Paramedic]

Yeah.. Those Mustang Is did some fast raids.. The Alison gave them plenty of speed at low alt..

 

Looks like a cracking kit! I think this will be my first Eduard P-51D!