1:48 P-51D/K Mustang exhaust

P-51D and P-51K Mustang exhausts 1:48 — a Quickboost resin set

A resin replacement for the exhaust stubs of the Mustang fighter in the P-51D and P-51K versions in 1:48 scale from the Quickboost brand. It is not a model of an aircraft or a kit — it is a replacement part for a plastic kit you already own. Together with the propeller and the wheels, the exhausts belong among the most frequently replaced parts, because they are conspicuous on a model and the plastic treatment runs up against the possibilities of a mold on them.

What the set is for

On both sides of the engine cowling the Mustang has a row of separate exhaust stubs, which stand out from the model and are clearly visible in a view from the side. In injection-molded plastic they tend to be cast blanked off, with a thick wall and sometimes with a parting line running across the mouth. A resin casting can really open the mouth up and thin the wall down, so an exhaust looks like a pipe and not like a solid peg. The set is listed for the P-51D and P-51K versions, which differed mainly in the supplier and in the treatment of the propeller, but have the cowling and the exhausts in common.

Fitting and painting tips

Wash the parts in lukewarm water with dish soap, so that the mold release agent is removed. Cut the casting block off with a saw or a fine disc and polish the surface wet with respiratory protection. Cut the original plastic exhausts off and level the seat in the cowling, so that the new part sits over its whole area and flush with its surroundings. It is glued with superglue in a small quantity. Paint them separately from the cowling: a dark base, then the layering of rusty and burnt shades with thin sprays and finally a fine emphasis of the edges with a dry brush. Darken the mouths of the pipes and suggest soot in them. Fit the exhausts as late as possible, ideally only after clear coating and the fitting of the decals, so that they do not have to be masked.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who build the Mustang in 1:48 scale
• Builders of the P-51D and P-51K versions
• Anyone interested in open exhaust mouths instead of solid plastic pegs

This is an accessory to a model, not a kit in its own right. Glue, paints and the base model are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise. Before buying, please check that the set matches your kit and the required treatment of the exhausts.