P-51D Mustang Mk.IV in RAF, RCAF and RAAF service

Xtradecal
1/32 and 1/48 scales

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

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As seen in Brett’s recent build of the new 1/32 Tamiya P-51D, the Mustang looks great in Commonwealth colours. Brett finished his Mustang using decals from this well-timed new sheet from Hannants, which is also available in 1/72 and 1/48 scales.

All three scales include markings for the following six interesting P-51s in British, Canadian and Australian service:

• Mustang Mk.IV, KH655/QV-P of no.19 Squadron, RAF Peterhead, early 1945. This machine is camouflaged in the US DuPont colours of ANA 613 Olive Drab and ANA 603 Sea Grey on the upper surfaces and ANA 602 Light Grey on the undersurfaces, set off by Sky squadron codes and fuselage band and a striking yellow-and-black striped spinner and forward cowling. These stripes aren’t provided on the decal sheet, so a little tricky masking will be needed if you model this scheme. One of my reference photos of KH655 in flight shows Xtradecal’s interpretation of the aircraft’s markings and camouflage scheme to be spot-on; it also shows it carrying unpainted metal tanks under the wings, which aren’t mentioned in the decal instructions but which would add a nice additional touch to a model.

• Mustang Mk.IV, KM680/Y2-B, “Edmonton Special” of No.442 (RCAF) Squadron, RAF Hunsdon, May 1945. Also in DuPont camouflage colours, this machine is set off by its yellow spinner, anti-glare panel and canopy framing, as well as by its Sky squadron codes which are in a non-standard position, and partially outlined in yellow. Again, reference photos show that Xtradecal has nailed the camouflage and marking details of this aircraft, down to the fine cursive script of the “Edmonton Special” logo on forward port fuselage.

• Mustang Mk.IVA, KH755/CV-W, “Anita” of No.3 (RAAF) Squadron, Cervia, Italy, April-May 1945. This is the aircraft modeled by Brett. It was camouflaged in Du Pont colours in the so-called “firewall scheme”, with a neat split between the Olive Drab and the Sea Grey along the firewall, and a symmetrical demarcation between the upper wing/upper fuselage colours. With its white codes, red spinner and sky-blue rudder overpainted with a white Southern Cross, KH755 is a particularly attractive aircraft. Xtradecal’s markings appear very accurate, with only one minor omission – according to Dave Muir’s “Southern Cross Mustangs” (the definitive reference to Aussie and Kiwi P-51s), the individual aircraft letter “W” was also painted in a dark colour on at least one of the undercarriage doors.

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Thumbnail panels:

The remaining three aircraft were finished in a combination of bare metal and aluminium lacquer. The first of these is Mustang Mk.IV, KH765/HG-R of No.154 Squadron, RAF Hunsdon, March 1945, with an olive drab anti-glare panel and code letters in a combination of red and black.

• Mustang Mk.IVA, KM138/AK-Y of No.213 Squadron, Biferno, Italy, May 1945. This natural metal/aluminium lacquer Mustang carried black squadron codes outlined in red. A reference photo shows Xtradecal’s interpretation of the outline and placement of these codes to be very accurate, although the font on the serial appears to differ slightly from that provided on the decal sheet.

• Mustang Mk.IVA, KM232/JAS of Wing Commander J.A. Storrer, Wing Leader RAF Hunsdon, May 1945. This is another attractively marked natural metal/aluminium lacquer machine, which carried Storrer’s personalized markings in non-standard roundel blue letters, highlighted by a lighter blue drop shadow. As the instruction sheet notes, KM232 is a Mustang which has likely been incorrectly depicted in earlier profiles and decal sheets. The area of confusion has been the colours of the anti-glare panel and the canopy framing – while these have previously been interpreted as three shades of blue, Xtradecal believes they are a combination of two blues and olive drab. Whichever colour interpretation you choose to apply, you’ll end up with a very colourful model.

While I haven’t tried these decals on a model, their quality appears to be very high.

The main decal sheet presents a complex variety of markings and colours without a hint of misregistration or other printing defects, and all the writing on the smaller stencil sheet is also clearly legible.

The only problem I can see with this sheet (which is also available in 1/48 and 1/72) is that, according to Hannants, about half the first print run is already sold – so if you want some interesting and high-quality Commonwealth markings for your Tamiya Mustang, don’t delay!

Thanks to Hannants for this sample.

Text and Images Copyright © 2011 by Brad Fallen
This Page Created on 7 August, 2011
Last updated 7 August, 2011

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