Mustang P-51D-20 Mustang Weekend Edition (84176) 1:48 Eduard

[Julien]

P-51D-20 Mustang Weekend Edition (84176)

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 performance of the original Allinson engine it wasn’t all that good, especially at high altitude.  Luckily they decided to try strapping a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine to 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.  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.

 

The Kit

We were treated to the ProfiPACK, & Royal Class 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 un-filleted tails differentiating them.  We’re now able to get our hands on a Weekend Edition with 4 markings options.  Inside the box are five sprues in blue/grey styrene, a clear sprue, a small fret of Photo-Etch (PE), two decal sheets and a thick instruction booklet with the markings options printed in the rear in colour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction begins with the seat, which is built up first, then the cockpit floor, tanks and radio gear are added in along with sidewall framework, the seat belts are provided as decals.  It shapes up to be a well-detailed cockpit. The tail-wheel bay is made up, the radiator pathway and a spinner backing-plate are all slipped into the fuselage 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.  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.  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 the elevator fins with their metal flying surfaces are inserted into slots horizontally, while the rudder can be fitted at any sensible angle. The small PE fret provided with this kit is used as a template for panel lines for one of the decal options. 

 

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 fitted with the panel, instruments are provided as decals.  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, 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 parts, and a decal on the curved leading edge after painting.   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 appropriate exhaust stacks.

 

The prop is made from two paired blades that fit perpendicular to each other in a choice of two types of blades and spinner, canopy with interior structure, a backup ring and bead sight.  There’s also an aerial on the spine behind the canopy.

 

 

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

 

Markings

Eduard provide 4 options, which is pretty good for a weekend boxing.  The two sheets are separated between the individual markings and standard stencils.  From the box you can build one of the following:

 

• 44-72505, Maj. William A. Shomo, 82nd TRS, 71st TRG, 5th AF, Lingayen, Luzon, The Philippines, May-June 1945
• 44-72199, Capt. Charles E. Weaver, 362nd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, RAF Leiston, Great Britain, April 1945
• 44-72099, Lt. Warren S. Blodgett, 84th FS, 78th FG, 8th AF, RAF Duxford, Cambridgeshire, Great Britain, April 1945
• 44-72558, 2nd Lt. Bennett C. Commer/2nd Lt. Henry C. Seegers jr., 458th FS, 506th FG, 20th AF, Iwojima, 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 the various metallic and fabric covered sections for the "unpainted" decal options are marked on another page.

 

Conclusion

We already know the quality of the basic kit, and this box thats what you get, it is still a great kit without all the Eduard bells and whistles and that suits some modellers (like the reviewer).  Very highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[stevej60]

Great review Julien,just picked this kit up from my LMS on a whim and mighty impressed with what's in the box I had the old 

mpnogram/Revell kit in my hand as its the chequered nosed finish I wanted to build but having had the kit before and failed to complete it thought twice and put

it back picked this up and couldn't believe the price at £17.99 only a quid more than the Revell kit and a vast vast improvement,well done Eduard!