P-51D Mustang by Luis Antonio Reyes Lavin (Hasegwa 1/48)

Hasegawa's 1/48 scale
P-51D Mustang

by Luis Antonio Reyes Lavin

P-51D Mustang

Hasegawa's 1/48 scale P-51D Mustang is available online from Squadron

Introduction

Here is Hasegawa's 1/48 scale P-51D Mustang kit, hailing from 1996. This is kit number JT30.

The model comprises 118 pieces in light grey plastic.

This is generally a very good model, with the main problem being shallow wheel wells.

Construction

Construction does not present any problems. The biggest challenge was repositioning the landing flaps, as I prefer to see them dropped. The fixed flaps were cut from the wings and rebuilt from scratch.

The wheels were replaced by resin items from True Details.

Eduard's photo-etched parts were used in the kit's cockpit.

These were the only deviations from the kit contents.

Painting and Markings

The cockpit was painted sing Tamiya acrylics. Smaller details were picked out using a small brush and Vallejo paints.

I wanted to depict "OLD CROW", piloted by the Mayor Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson. This P-51D-10NA s/n 44-14450 carried two paint schemes. The first was Olive Drab and Neutral Grey, while the second was a bare metal finish.

I chose the first option.

The entire aircraft was painted with Tamiya acrylics.

The base colours were mixed with black and browns, then heavily diluted to offer some variety to the otherwise bland scheme.

The painted model was coated with Titan Mate Opal varnish, then panel lines were highlighted with Vallejo Black and Brown carefully applied with a 00 brush.

The B6*S code, national insgnia and invasion stripes were all masked and sprayed. The checkerboard on the nose was masked too. In fact, the only decals used on this models are the victory marks and the serial number, which came from Tamiya's 1/48 scale P-51D.

Stencils were dry transfers sourced from HobbyDecal. These are very realistic - great!