1:48 P-51B

The real subject

The North American P-51B is the early version of the American single-seat Mustang fighter. It is told apart from the later D version at first glance: the rear fuselage carries on at the height of the cockpit all the way to the tail and the canopy is framed, so the view to the rear is limited. It was machines of this version that escorted the daylight raids over Europe, once it turned out that the Mustang could stay with the bombers the whole way.

What the photo-etched set offers

Photo-etched metal parts for the P-51B model in 1:48 scale. They replace features that in plastic are necessarily thicker than the scale calls for and add fine structure that an injection mold cannot hold. The extent of the set and the placement of the parts are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building tips

Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface; scissors bend the metal. Sand the remains of the tab down with a fine file. Bend them in a bending tool or between two blades in one movement. They are bonded with super glue applied drop by drop on the tip of a pin; plastic cement has no effect on metal. Degrease the parts before painting and spray a primer, otherwise the finish will not hold on smooth metal and will rub off during handling.

Who it is for

For modelers who build the P-51B in 1:48 scale and want to take the model beyond the level of the kit parts. Working with photo-etched parts calls for tweezers, a sharp blade and a calm hand, but the result shows on the finished model. Whether the parts fit your particular kit should be checked in the instructions of the set. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.