Model Airplane International - June 2018

SKILL LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

KIT BUILD

There is no engine and no open cowlings

or gun bays, but this keeps the parts count

down to 158, which is relatively small for a

1:32 model.

The cockpit really is a highlight, only

lacking seat belts which is a shame as it a

visible omission in this scale. The instrument

panel has raised details which you can of

course opt to paint, but they also supply

a fantastic decal which I utilised over the

raised details and it settled down perfectly

with a couple of applications of decal

softener.

The data placards around the cockpit are

also decals and are clearly indicated in the

instructions, in fact the whole cockpit is very

well depicted throughout the instructions

as they are very clear as to what should go

where with plenty of colour call-outs to help

you paint everything correctly.

Getting Started

As mentioned, the cockpit needs a set of

seatbelts and as is so often the case, it was

Eduard to the rescue. They make several

sets of belts for the Mustang none of which

are designed for this actual kit(yet), so I

used a set designed for the Tamiya kit, but

they fi tted perfectly. The hardest part was

assembling them being that they had each

belt needing to be threaded through each

buckle and harness and clasp, not a job that

can be rushed but ultimately worth the effort.

The belts themselves are a self-adhesive

34 MODEL AIRPLANE INTERNATIONAL - June 2018

The main wheels are two parts each and the tailwheel

is one piece, each of which look amazing and exude

delicate details that cannot be really appreciated in

the bare plastic. The seam clean up inevitably lost a

little of the detail although this is along the tyre wear

line so it adds to the effect somewhat.

Mr. Hobby Aqueous Tire Black is the

ideal paint for use here, note the details

that appear under a coat of paint. Pure

Matt Black is a little too harsh when

painting wheels, this shade is actually a

very dark grey, though not apparent until

you compare it alongside matt black

painted items.

The wheel hubs can then be sprayed silver. I use an

artist’s circle template as a masking tool, it is far and

away the easiest and fastest way to spray wheel hubs

without the need to try and cut circular masks.

Both types of pilot seat are included, early (bucket

type) and late (braced sides) are included in the

Revell kit. I opted for the late seat as the earlier

bucket type seat was used in the B and C model

Mustang as far as I could work out.

The large internal fuel cell was painted in Tamiya

XF-85 Rubber black (it was actually made of rubber!)

before being masked off. All other main cockpit

components that would need to be painted interior

green were removed from their runners and cleaned

up. The only parts not shown here are the rudder

pedals and instrument panel.

As mentioned, the cockpit needs a set of

seatbelts and as is so often the case, it was

Eduard to the rescue. They make several

sets of belts for the Mustang none of which

are designed for this actual kit(yet), so I

used a set designed for the Tamiya kit, but

they fi tted perfectly. The hardest part was

assembling them being that they had each

belt needing to be threaded through each

buckle and harness and clasp, not a job that

can be rushed but ultimately worth the effort.

The belts themselves are a self-adhesive

P-51.indd 34 04/05/2018 16:00