Fujimi 1/48 P-51D Mustang

FUJIMI 1:48 P-51D MUSTANG

Reviewer: Michael Johnson (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 21 September 2003

The Aircraft:

The P-51 was designed as the NA-73 in 1940 at Britain's request. The design showed promise and AAF purchases of Allison-powered Mustangs began in 1941 primarily for photo recon and ground support use due to its limited high-altitude performance. But in 1942, tests of P-51s using the British Rolls-Royce "Merlin" engine revealed much improved speed and service ceiling, and in Dec. 1943, Merlin-powered P-51Bs first entered combat over Europe. Providing high-altitude escort to B-17s and B-24s, they scored heavily over German interceptors and by war's end, P-51’s had destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft in the air, more than any other fighter in Europe.

Mustangs served in nearly every combat zone, including the Pacific where they escorted B-29s to Japan from Iwo Jima. Between 1941-5, the USAAF ordered 14,855 Mustangs (including A-36A dive bomber and F-6 photo recon versions), of which 7,956 were P-51Ds. During the Korean War, P-51Ds were used primarily for close support of ground forces until withdrawn from combat in 1953.

Preamble:

Now, I will be honest and probably offend certain modellers out there, but I am not a great lover of Mustangs! Mind you, that has not stopped me from having several 1:72, 1:48 plus a Hasagawa 1:32 and the geriatric Airfix 1:24 kits in my stash.

The Kit:

This kit is the is the old Fujimi release of the ubiquitous ‘Stang and even comes complete with an engine and removable engine cowling covers so as to allow the builder the option of displaying the completed kit with the power plant exposed. Fine engraved details are present on all major components, all with minor flash and some ejector pin marks. Clear parts are rather thick but are clear and scratch free.

Even older boxart of a 48th P-51D Fujimi release

The instruction sheet is basic but useable.

The kit offers the modeller one scheme, however in my opinion this is the scheme to do for a P-51D. “Big Beautiful doll” (the Airfix 1:24 kit has this marking option as well), unfortunately the markings are next to useless and were consigned to the round filing cabinet under my modelling bench!

I sourced new markings from Aeromaster’s excellent sheet “Aces of the Eighth – part 2”

Construction:

Construction (as always) started in the cockpit, which although a bit basic certainly has enough detail to satisfy most modellers. The instrument panels were painted Aeromaster flat black with dials picked out with subsequent dry brushing with white which really lifted the details. Base colour for the rest of the cockpit and ejector seat was also Humbrol interior green. I added a set of Eduard etched brass harnesses, which really improved the Spartan look of the cockpit.

A quick dry fit ensured the completed cockpit tub fitted well so it was then cemented into place on one fuselage half and the fuselage sides were taped together to ensure a positive fit. As mentioned earlier the fuselage also includes moulded an engine so this was duly painted and detailed, then dry fitted into the forward fuselage, where all the fun of making the engine fit began. In the end I abandoned any hope of including the Rolls Royce Merlin V-1650 and attached the two fuselage halves permanently without it!

The pre-assembled wings were added to the fuselage along with the tailplanes. The wings and tailplanes attached to the fuselage extremely well, with only small amounts of PVA glue required, smoothed over with a mk1 finger tip. Construction was a snap, with no filler needed anywhere. Now for me that is certainly a pleasant change!

The canopy was polished with Tamiya plastic polish and brush painted with Johnson’s Super Stride inside and out to improve clarity. Once the Super Stride had cured, Tamiya masking tape was used to mask the canopy and it was then tacked in place to both mask the cockpit and paint the frames at the same time.

Painting and Decalling:

Fujimi provides one scheme within the kit. However as mentioned earlier I binned the decals and used the Aeromaster “Aces of the Eighth – part 2”, choosing “Petie 2^nd” as my choice. This particular bird has a blue nose and spinner cover and looks very fine indeed! I chose to use Tamiya spray cans for this project. AS-12 Natural Metal went on first; once this was dry I masked the nose in preparation for the blue and sprayed TS-44 Brilliant Blue. This blue was the best match and dries gloss obviating the need to apply a gloss coat for decaling.

While the airframe was drying I painted the undercarriage legs and propeller in appropriate colours.

Applying the decals was straightforward and they settled wonderfully onto the model with no silvering at all. I used Aeromaster Sol II decal solvent to help bed them all down with no adverse reactions. Once the decals had dried, the fuselage was washed very carefully with a damp cloth to remove any glue and solvent residue and the decals where then sealed in with a thin coat of Super Stride. Super Stride, like its cousin Future has no discernable effects on a natural metal finish, so it is an ideal method of sealing in decals in this situation.

A matt coat was applied carefully to the Blue areas with a wide flat brush using well thinned Aeromaster flat.

Finishing Touches:

The undercarriage, propellers and tail wheel were then added. I had read somewhere that the kit was a tail dragger unless the tail wheel as adjusted slightly to enable some clearance between the tail and the ground, this proved to be an easy task and improved the Mustang’s sit considerably. I then removed the masked canopy that had been tacked into place earlier and re-positioned it open.

I did not even weather it!

Overall:

For an old ‘70’s kit the Fujimi P-51D Mustang builds very well indeed. The only competitor at the time of its release was the Monogram/Revell P-51D complete with raised panel lines and fit issues. I cannot comment on accuracies or shape issues as I am not a Mustang expert, but it certainly looks like a Mustang to me!

However the newer but expensive Tamiya or Hasegawa versions are the only game in town now and deservedly so. All that said, get hold of this kit and build one, satisfaction guaranteed.

I have the Hasegawa kit in my stash and it looks superb in the box.

References:

The internet and my local library.
Squadron Signal – Mustang in Action

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