1:32 P-51B/C Mustang

One airframe, two systems of markings

The Mustang with the original spine and the side-opening canopy served the US Army Air Forces and the Royal Air Force at the same time, where it carried a name of its own and above all markings of its own. While the Americans painted a star in a circle with bars at the sides, the British used a roundel with concentric rings and with it a vertical stripe on the fin, which the Americans did not have at all. The same type therefore looks different in a photograph depending on who it was delivered to, and a modeler has to choose before reaching for a brush. The difference is not cosmetic: the number of surfaces the marking sits on differs, and so does its diameter.

What the set is good for

The box covers the glazing of the canopy from the outer and the inner side and carries two masks for the national insignia. Spraying gives a freedom that a decal does not have: with the same stencil you can spray a marking in full or in subdued coloring and tune the shade according to which system of markings you are building. The shape of the glazing was the same on both versions, so the film for the glazing fits whichever air arm you choose.

Procedure and warnings

• Before painting, check whether the shape of the glazing of your kit matches the framing the film is cut for.
• Mask the inner side of the glazing before you glue the part into the fuselage.
• Lay the paint on in thin coats, so that the edge under the film does not form a step.
• Apply the clear coat only once all adhesive residue has been removed.

This is a painting accessory in 1:32 scale without a model and paints.