1:144 P-51D Mustang

One pilot, two forms of the same machine

Captain Charles Weaver served with the 357th Fighter Group, the unit that escorted bomber formations deep over German territory from Leiston in England. His aircraft carried the name Passion Wagon and is one of those Mustangs whose appearance changed markedly during service.

That very change is the point of the whole set. The sheet covers two stages of one and the same aircraft:

• the early form - a machine of the P-51D-5 production series still in camouflage finish
• the late form - a P-51D-20 variant of the end of the war in polished metal
• personal marking - the name and the nose art in both forms
• accompanying markings - the identification letters and national insignia of the group

A modeler can thus choose which phase of the career to build his aircraft in, or make a pair out of one subject in a single display case. The difference between the green camouflaged upper surface and bare duralumin is surprisingly marked on the same silhouette.

The films are printed richly enough for the marking to cover even a light metal surface. Before applying them, polish the area and go over it with gloss varnish, otherwise a silvery haze will appear under the decal, and on bare duralumin that is especially hard to hide.

Once they are in place, let the model dry thoroughly and only then even the surface out with a final varnish, depending on whether you are building the camouflaged or the polished machine. For camouflage reach for a satin coat, while for the metal form a light gloss is enough, so that the impression of sheet metal is not lost. Apply the accompanying letters and national insignia at the very end, when it is already clear how much room is left for them.