Tamiya's 1/32 scale
P-51D Mustang

by Ra'anan Weiss

Tamiya's 1/32 scale P-51D Mustang is available online from Squadron.com

This is my P-51D Mustang built from the Tamiya 1/32 kit. The model was built almost straight from the box.

The armament attached to the aircraft are from the new Isracast armament set for Israeli Mustangs which includes two Israeli Napalm bombs, two 500 lb. iron bombs and six T-10 rockets with their wings adapters. I used the Napalm bombs and the rockets on my model. The set includes resin and photo etch parts as well as decals for the markings.

The decals used are from the new Isradecal decal set for IAF P-51D Mustangs (IAF-92).

I choose aircraft number 73 from 116 squadron as seen at the beginning of the 'Sinai campaign' (October 29th - November 5th, 1956). On November 2nd, it was flown by Jonathan Etkes, and was shot down by Anti Aircraft fire while attacking an Egyptian forces closing on an Israeli pilot, Benni Peled (later, in 1973, he became the Air Force commander) which ejected his Mystere over the Sinai peninsula.

Etkes, which was hit in his leg from the fire, was forced to crash land his Mustang on the shore by the Red sea. He managed to get out of his plane but couldn't go far due to his leg condition and the lack of water. He was captured by Egyptian forces and transferred to Cairo. Over there he was tortured while not giving and info to the Egyptians.

40 days later the Egyptians reported that they hold Etkes. He was returned to Israel on January 27, 1957. His Mustang left in Sinai for many years and was spotted even by me on the early 1980's before the Sinai peninsula was returned to the Egypt as part of the peace treatment with Israel.

Like other aircraft the Mustangs were painted in a camouflage of light grey - RAL 7044 on the lower part and Brown - RAL 8025 and Blue - RAL 5008 on upper surface.

The plane looks as it was looking at the beginning of the operation. The Yellow/ Black stripes were painted as the operation started.

Each strip on the model is 3.00 mm wide and total 15.00 mm. I masked and painted it on the camouflage before applying the decals.

Enjoy the model!

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

Images and Text Copyright © 2012 by Ra'anan Weiss
Page Created 16 April, 2012
Last Updated 16 April, 2012

Back to HyperScale Main Page