P-51D Over the Pacific
Part Two

Hussar, 1/32 scale

S u m m a r y :
Catalogue Number:	Hussar Productions Item No. D32007 - P-51D Over the Pacific Pt.2
Description:	Decals for three aircraft
Price:	Available online from AirConnection for Can$12.99.
Scale:	1/32 (also available in 1/48 and 1/72 scales)
Contents & Media	Waterslide decals, colour instructions
Review Type:	First Look.
Advantages:	Interesting schemes; flawless printing; high quality instructions.
Disadvantages:	Incorrect proportions of national markings (the bars in particular).
Conclusions:	Recommended.

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com

32007 is the second sheet in Hussar Productions coverage of the P-51D Mustang in the Pacific Theatre. It too is available in 1/72 and 1/48 scale as D72007 and D48007 respectively.

This sheet provides markings for a further three North American P-51D Mustangs flown by squadrons of the 506th Fighter Group from the island of Iwo Jima in 1945.

The details of the individual options are as follows:

• “FIGHTING LADY”, P-51D-20-NA serial number 44-72570, plane in squadron number 542 flown by Lieutenant. Ralph S. Gardner and Lieutenant Chester Jatczak - (note that given the long range missions that the Group flew most aircraft had two pilots assigned to it) of the 457th Fighter Squadron, circa June 1945. It is described as being in “standard natural metal finish” with an “FS-612 Medium Green” empennage and is fitted with the twin wooden “Uncle Dog” antennas on the rear fuselage and the AN/APS-13 antenna array on its fin. The odd looking red and white disc marking for this option is correct as it represents the unfinished squadron insignia that the aircraft wore.
  

• “Tallahassee Lassie”, P-51D-20-NA serial number 44-72547, plane in squadron number 600 flown by Lieutenant Colonel Harley Brown – the Squadron’s Commanding Officer, - and Major Thomas D. DeJarnette of the 462nd Fighter Squadron in the summer of 1945. Second Lieutenant William Saks of the 457th Fighter Squadron, from the North Field, Airfield Number 3 in the June of 1945 It too is described as being in “standard natural metal finish” with an “FS-614 Yellow” empennage and is fitted with the twin wooden “Uncle Dog” antennas on the rear fuselage and the AN/APS-13 antenna array on its fin.
  

• "HON MISTAKE" P-51D-20-NA serial number 44-72587, plane-in-squadron-number 619 flown by Second Lieutenant William G. Ebersole and, Second Lieutenant James R. Bercaw Iwo Jima, late July of 1945. It appears to be in the “standard natural metal finish” with an olive drab anti-glare panel on it nose and the note on the placement guide has its empennage painted in “FS-614 Yellow”. A note on the placement guide advises that the rudder was from another aircraft. It too wears the twin wooden “Uncle Dog” antennas on the rear fuselage as well as the AN/APS-13 antenna array on its fin.
  

The decals for each option are restricted to the “data block”, plane-in-squadron-number, serial number, squadron insignia as well as the individual nose art it wore. A single set of national insignia and a single set of “dive sight” markings for the wings are also supplied. No stencil data is supplied. With regard to the national insignia be aware that they are a little “funky” in that they have not been drawn to the correct proportions. Given this, you will need to find a replacement set from elsewhere to correctly depict the aircraft.

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Thumbnail panels:

The decals have been printed by Cartograf. They are glossy, thin and have a minimum of film surrounding each subject. Everything on my two samples is in perfect register and the printing is nice and sharp.

The placement guide is in the form of an A-4 size page with colour illustrations on both sides. Each option is treated to its own page with excellent quality illustrations of both sides of the fuselage as well as a full upper surface plan view and a scrap view of the undersides of the empennage to show the extent of the squadron colour markings. You are also treated to a larger image of each option’s distinctive markings.

Packaging is via the industry standard clear plastic zip-loc bag.

Markings for Pacific based P-51s seem to be the flavour of the month of late which is a good thing as far as I am concerned. Thankfully only one of the three options on the sheet has been produced in decal form before. Whilst the incorrectly proportioned national insignia is a disappointment in this day and age don’t let this dissuade you from buying the sheet as it carries some excellent options that have not been produced in the decal world before.

The 506th Fighter Group was but one Group flying long range missions over Japan at the war’s end. Hopefully Hussar Productions realises this and follows up with further sheets in this series for the squadrons of the 15th and 21st Fighter Groups as well!

Footnote

If you are looking for some further reference on Pacific Theatre Mustangs a great place to start is 506th Fighter Group Iwo Jima 1945 at http://506thfightergroup.org/index.asp . It will provide you with a very comprehensive history of the Group as well as of the very long range escort mission that its squadrons flew.

Thanks to Air Connection for the sample

Hussar Products are available online from Air Connection

Text and Images Copyright © 2012 by Rodger Kelly
Page Created 27 August, 2012
Last updated 30 August, 2012

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