1:32 P51D Mustang

Captain Weaver's Passion Wagon in 1:32

Charles E. Weaver flew with the 362nd Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group, and his P-51D-20-NA became one of the most frequently depicted Mustangs of all. The machine carried code letters on the fuselage, a striped propeller spinner and a checkerboard on the engine cowling, by which the group was recognized from a distance. On the left side under the cockpit it had a large painting of a reclining girl and, beside it, a row of victory marks that gradually grew through the autumn of 1944 and the spring of 1945. Among other things, Weaver claimed a jet-powered Me 262 over the skies of central Europe.

The second set of markings on the sheet belongs to the same pilot but to his older camouflaged aircraft from a later part of the war. You can therefore build two differently finished models of the same man's machines, or simply choose which form appeals to you more.

Application step by step

The base must be smooth and varnished with gloss clear varnish, otherwise a milky edge will appear under the image. Hold the decal in lukewarm water only until the backing releases, and move it with a brush. A softener helps to settle the large areas of the nose art into the riveting. Finally seal everything with matte or semi-gloss varnish.

• Decals in 1:32 scale for two forms of one aircraft
• The early bare metal finish and the later camouflaged machine
• Meant to be bought to go with a Mustang kit
• The kit, paints and varnish are not enclosed

In a large scale the artwork of the nose painting stands out, so it is a shame to rush the final stage. It pays to let the model rest for at least a day after varnishing before you start on the panel lines, otherwise the solvent may reach the edges of the images and lift them.