North American P-51D Mustang

Meng, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Airfix's 1/48 scale Bedford MWD is available online from Squadron.com

The prototype NA-73X Mustang was designed and rolled out by North American Aviation a mere 102 days after the specification was issued by the British Purchasing Commission. The initial operational Mustang variants were powered by the Allison V-1710 engine, which was optimised for low-altitude performance. The P-51 Mustang flew its first operational missions with the Royal Air Force in the reconnaissance and fighter-bomber roles.

The combination of a Rolls Royce Merlin engine with the innovative airframe and laminar flow wing design of the A-35/P-51A resulted in one of the best fighter aircraft of World War Two. However, the P-51B/C series (Mustang III) was somewhat hampered by poor visibility through its heavily framed canopy. It was also difficult to bail out in an emergency due to the multi part canopy. The Malcolm Hood was a sliding, one-piece canopy designed by the British to be fitted to the Mustang III to address the bailout problem. However, this was a stopgap measure.

The airframe was therefore redesigned with a cut-down rear fuselage and a large, bubble-topped sliding canopy. This would become the P-51D - the definitive version of the Mustang, and perhaps the classic American fighter of the Second World War. A total of 7,956 P-51Ds were produced.

North American’s Inglewood factory could not keep up with the pressing demand for this high-performance fighter, so production was also undertaken at Dallas. There was also a shortage of Hamilton Standard propellers. The "P-51K" designation was applied to a further 1,500 machines built at this Dallas facility. The P-51K was almost identical to the P-51D except for the propeller.

The P-51K was equipped with a four-bladed Aeroproducts propeller assembly. This could be distinguished from the Hamilton Standard prop on the P-51D by the lack of the characteristic "cuffs" at the root of each propeller blade and a narrower chord.

The P-51D Mustang in 1/48 scale

Most major model companies have had a go at the P-51D Mustang in 1/48 scale at some time or other – Monogram, Revell, Fujimi, Arii/Otaki, ICM, Hasegawa, Tamiya and more.

The consensus is that Tamiya’s 1995 offering is the best 1/48 scale P-51D Mustang at this stage, although it is not without its minor issues. These include stepped landing flaps, separate clear bubble section and canopy frame (making it difficult to get a clean join) and incorrect configuration of the main undercarriage bay.

Let’s see what Meng has in store for us.

A cement-free Meng Mustang? Really?

Yes, really. And it’s very nice.

In fact, despite the connotations that “Cement Free Assembly” might conjure up, there are very few compromises to this model in terms of detail or parts breakdown as a result of its snap status.

It will make the model easier and faster to build though, which will appeal to new or less experienced modellers without detracting from the delight of the plastic veteran.

Meng’s all-new 1/48 scale P-51D Mustang comprises 102 parts in grey plastic, six parts in clear and decals for two marking options. With the inclusion of both Hamilton Standard and Aeroproducts propeller assemblies, you'll be able to build this as either a P-51D or a P-51K Mustang.

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Thumbnail panels:

The parts breakdown is quite conventional although there are a number of fuselage and wing inserts to provide for various options, some of which apply to this release and others that suggest future versions.

The main parts are secured by pressing small circular locating artefacts into larger circles on the opposite mating surfaces. Once the parts are pressed together there is nothing stopping you from running a line of liquid glue along the join seam.

Smaller parts are a press fit using locating tabs, slots, pins and holes.

Surface detail is very nicely done with crisply recessed panel lines and selected rows of rivets. Panel and rivet detail is present on the wings, so if you want to depict an aircraft with puttied wings, you might prefer to fill and sand these.

Construction gets underway in the cockpit with a six-part pilot’s seat, instrument panel with raised bezels, rudder pedals, batteries, fuel tank, clear gunsight, armoured glass and coaming. All you need to add is a set of harness straps. Sidewall structure is moulded to the inside of the fuselage halves, and there is an additional sidewall part for the port side with throttle quadrant and other details.

The tail undercarriage leg is fitted between a dedicated bay and a lower fuselage insert that features open doors moulded in place.

Both Hamilton Standard and Aeroproducts propeller blades are included. These are moulded in pairs, with the front pair including the hub. Two subtly different propeller spinner assemblies are also included.

The kit also offers the choice of shrouded or exposed exhausts. These are moulded as one piece per side and the ends of the stubs are hollowed out.

The main landing gear bay is well detailed and the shape is correct. I believe this is a first for any 1/48 scale P-51D Mustang. The instructions indicate that the main gear legs should be fitted before the undercarriage bay is glued to the inside of the lower wing, but I’ll be checking to see if this can be done later in the assembly sequence.

The diamond tread tyres and wheel hubs are separate parts.

Ailerons and landing flaps are separate parts held in place with tabs. The ailerons are in the neutral position while the flaps are dropped. A moderately experienced modeller should be able to easily adjust the pose to their own taste. By the way, the flaps do not suffer from the lengthwise step found on the Tamiya kit.

The rudder is also a separate part but the elevators are moulded flat with the horizontal stabilisers.

The machine gun panels on the wing leading edge are separate inserts. This avoids the tricky seam/join that would otherwise run through the centre of the gun muzzles.

The radiator flap may be posed open, and Meng offers the choice of perforated or plain lower side air intake panels.

Other options include two 108 gallon paper drop tanks, two 75 gallon metal drop tanks, two 100 lb bombs and DF loop.

Two styles of sliding canopy are included – Inglewood and Dallas.

The clear bubble section is moulded with the frame, so you won’t have any trouble getting a nice clean painting line. The windscreen is moulded with a small section of the upper fuselage, once again ensuring a clean join and painting demarcation.

All transparencies are clear, thin and free from distortion.

A canopy mounted rear view mirror is also moulded as a clear part. This is the only part the instructions direct you to glue in place!

Markings

Markings are supplied for two aircraft. Both are in overall natural metal:

• “American Beauty” P-51D Serial No. 44-15459. 308th FS 31st FG USAAF, Capt. John Voll.

• “Short Fuse Sallee” P-51D Serial No. 44-15622. 356th FS 354th FG 9th AF USAAF. Capt. Richard Turner.

Decals are in register and colours look good.

Meng has taken an interesting and innovative approach with their new 1/48 scale P-51D Mustang. Their philosophy reminds me of 21st Century Toys' later 1/32 scale releases, although this new Meng kit features a higher level of detail and much better surface finesse even in this smaller scale.

This is a great way to encourage new and younger modellers while still offering a well-detailed and attractive kit of a very popular subject to the experts.

Regardless of its glue-free status, in my opinion Meng’s P-51D has now snatched the title of best 1/48 scale bubbletop Mustang available today.

Of course, we’ll need to build the kit to confirm this, but I guarantee that you won’t have to wait for long!

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Meng Model for the sample.

Text and Images Copyright © 2016 by Brett Green
Page Created 28 October, 2016
Last updated 29 October, 2016

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