Smer (Hi-Tech+) 1/72 P-51/P-51A Mustang

SMER HI-TECH+ 1:72 P-51/P-51A MUSTANG

Reviewer: Paul Wherran (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 3 October 2002
Addendum supplied by Matt Melchert

Kit Details:

Smer Hi-Tech Plus 1/72 #0894 - North American P-51/P-51A Mustang - probably a reboxing of the Model News or Condor kit? (See Addendum below; reboxing of Condor Kit - Ed)

Aircraft History:

The P-51 Mustang needs no introduction as every aviation modeller would be aware of its type and what it is. However, using the quick spiel from another P-51A review on SMAKR, this should provide a quick intro. The P-51A Mustang was the first of many versions produced in this famous WW2 family of aircraft that served mainly with the British than it did Americans. It was powered by an early Allison engine and was also known in other circles as the A-36 Condor and Mustang IA. The aircraft was the forerunner to one of the most successful and outstanding aircraft of its time in history, although the P-51A was deemed unsuitable for long-range tasks because of less than adequate performance, such as bomber escort and long-range interception.

The Kit:

SMER are perennial reboxers/reissuers of other manufacturers kits and there is no exception with this one. However, I am not absolute positive the origins of the kit, but I believe it to be either the Model News P-51A or the Condor P-51A. Not owning either kit I cannot provide a definitive verification, but from the boxart and what I have heard it appears to be the Model News kit. Normally SMER reboxes Heller kits but judging by the parts in this kit, which are clearly limited run, there is certainly no danger of that being the case here. For one the panel lines are engraved and the sprues impart that limited run moulding feel to them. If anyone knows for certain, I am sure Mark will add it to the review.

Smer released this as one of their Hi-Tech kits which includes a metal fret for the cockpit and some resin wheels, adding further suspicion to its original maker noted above. Sprue lugs are a bit on the thick side, small bits of flash encumber some of the parts and as already mentioned panel lines are finely engraved. Surface detail is adequate with the right scribing done in the right places from what I can see, but nothing to write home about. There are optional parts to build either the P-51 Mustang Ia or P-51A Mustang versions.

Instructions & Versions:

Stock standard booklet type with blocky but straight forward assembly steps, a brief history and markings for the two versions the kit will reproduce. Both of these versions are in Olive Drab over Neutral Grey. The one I chose was a 111th TFS reconnaissance based in North Africa, 1943. Painting reference is quoted from the Humbrol range but there is a complete lack of coverage on painting during construction. The bottom of the box provides a colour option and paint chips. The other version is of course a Mustang Ia.

Construction:

The etched set adds both an extra level of detail and complexity to this kit so some experience is definitely required here - although seriously, it would probably still be an okay option to start your skills on too. Needless to say the cockpit is a combination of plastic and etched brass. The sprue provides a sufficient level of detail that non-detailing freaks would be quite happy with - seat, stick, main instrument panel, floor and radio box. The etched set enhances this with instrument panel detail, sidewall consoles, rudder pedals and seat belts. For both plastic and etched I used super glue to bond the parts together. One word of caution, the cockpit unit does not fit that well so a series of test fit and trim runs is a must to overcome the problems faced here.

Once you have conquered the cockpit assembly the fuselage halves fit quite well but some cleaning of the seam lines is needed. They are also butt joined so suitable clamps are needed - rubber bands were fine for me. The tailwheel and exhaust stacks also need to be added before affixing the halves together - the former is a little tricky so care is needed, and a steady hand to hold it in place as the halves are encased around it.

While the fuselage halves were drying I went to work on the main wings. Split into upper and lower halves attention is first turned to cleaning up the parts which suffer from a little bit of flash and mould imperfection marks. Cannons are moulded onto the wings and thus are easy to break off. They are also fairly crude offerings so if you have a saw, drill and scratchbuilding skills you may like to make your own. I don't, so I left them - I have seen much worse on Airfix kits!

The rear tailplanes have alignment tabs which don't fit so you can trim and file them down like I did or remove them all together and just butt join. The propeller assembly was straight forward and I only had some minor issues with the blades fitting flush inside the spinner, and the spinner flush with the fuselage nose. The good old 'test fit and trim' runs are the name of the game here!

The canopy is vacform revealing conclusively it is not a Heller kit and almost definitely either Model News or Condor. Once satisfied after a series of trimming to size and subsequent test fitting it was fitted over the cockpit cavity without any dramas.

All the external bits and pieces such as underwing pitot mast, aerial etc were left off til after painting, including the undercarriage which was sub assembled separately and added later. A grey primer was sprayed over the whole model first and small assembly imperfections were attended to. Obviously the canopy was masked first, a tedious and much hated part of any model project, especially in this scale. I applied neutral grey undersides first before the upper surface Olive Drab. I used very thinly rolled blu-tak "sausages" to assimilate the lower fuselage wave-patterned demarcation lines.

Finally, the undercarriage sub assembly was fitted into place and the model was complete in constructed form. The resin wheels provided are excellent, but not weighted, and should obviously be used in place of the kit supplied plastic ones. The gear doors are a bit overly thick so some might prefer to replace with plasti-card. They also need a fair amount of persuasion (or drugging?) to fit.

Filler & Putty:

It should be noted that throughout the construction process a fair bit of filling and sanding work was called upon. The main wing roots were the main area of concern and a bit of elbow grease was needed to blend in the wing to fuselage join. Likewise, the tailplanes where small gaps were evident. Filler was also used along fuselage join lines and underneath the canopy to blend into the fuselage.

Decals:

My aircraft featured kill markings, nose art and USA flag on the tail (see boxart). The USAF insignia was a light blue colour which I presumed replicated some degree of fading in the North African sun - so don't forget to weather your paintwork accordingly. If this is the case, then the decal suppliers should be congratulated on this minor point of accuracy, but it would also be nice if they say this somewhere because many a modeller may think they got the colour shade wrong and go out and replace them! The USAF insignia were too big with the wing ones encroaching over the yellow identification bands, which they shouldn't so spare light blue ones in any case are still needed to be sought.

I had no problems with the decals, they confirmed to the model surface well and were in good colour register. I used Humbrol Decalfix solution to bed them down. They are thin and matt-like in appearance with a fair bit of carrier film but not excessive. Before applying decals I sprayed the model with a gloss cote then added another to seal deals in before finishing with a matt varnish.

Accuracy:

This would not be the model's strongest point but it is overall quite acceptable nonetheless. I came from the school of theory that if it looks right/convincing then that's all that should really matter at the end of the day, it is a hobby after all! I don't have a set of scale plans so exact profile checks and minor shape errors could not be carried out.

On the basis of my own reference checks I judged three things with criticism. The model is underscale in both length and span by about 3mm. The wing profile is not absolutely right, looking more like it has been taken from a P-51D kit - a common fault in this particular subject. Finally, the canopy looks a bit flat which is probably more a limitation of vacform technology than a fault of the kit.

I'm still quite satisfied as it looks like a P-51A and seems to have the right curves and bumps in the right places.

Overall Recommendation:

It is an acceptably accurate early Mustang version and it is relatively cheap at around $8US which is what I picked it up for. Consider that it also contains resin and etched for that price too! It is, however, no rival for the comparably priced, more accurate and exquisitely moulded Revell kit so you need to weigh up those factors. The model is best attempted by modellers with at least intermediate skills, because it has the traits of limited run technology. If you cannot get hold of the Revell kit then this would be the only real basis that you would give this Smer kit it's deserved recommendation.

Addendum - supplied by Matt Melchert:
Just a couple of comments regarding this review; It is the Condor Kit reboxed and the wing root forward extensions are wrong for the P-51A, being more like the P-51D. It is a Bear to correct!

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