North American Mustang
Part 3

Lifelike Decals, 1/48 scale

S u m m a r y :
Catalogue Number:	LifeLike Decals Item No. 48047 - North American Mustang Pt. 3
Scale:	1/48
Contents & Media:	One full size and one smaller sheet of waterslide decals; colour instructions.
Price:	Available on-line from these stockists:
	Stockist	Price
	Hannants	£11.99
Review Type:	First Look.
Advantages:	Clearly printed and in register; Detailed stencil data supplied; Excellent colour reference; Very high quality presentation.
Disadvantages:
Conclusions:	Highly Recommended.

Reviewed by Floyd S. Werner Jr.

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com

Lifelike Decals are arguably the most thoroughly researched decals available to modelers.  They are not afraid to take on subjects that others have done and do it much better.  Their instructions are a marvelous collection of references.  When there is an unknown aspect they are not afraid to let the modeler know that they don’t know.  Many times they will provide multiple options and let the modeler decide.  Also if new information is obtained after the decals are released, Lifelike will release a correction decal.  Do you know any other decal company that does that?  Well besides Werner’s Wings. 

One of their recent releases is designed for the Tamiya P-51s.  Decals are provided for four aircraft with stencils for one aircraft.  This release has instructions on two single sided 8.5”x11” and one half sheet.  The instructions are printed in full color. 

The decals are printed by Microscale and Cartograf.  There are three separate sheets of decals.  The first and largest sheet contains the primary individual aircraft decals and are printed by Cartograf.  Even in 1/48th scale you can read all of the stencils.  The second sheet has some photo realistic printing of the nose art and propeller stencils.  Microscale provides the Star and Bars, one set has a silver sheen which is very nicely done.  The decals regardless of manufacturer are thin, in register and opaque.  They are printed by the two best decal manufacturers in the world and respond perfectly with setting solutions.

The first aircraft is a well known P-51B flown by Cpt. Duane Beeson, the ‘Boise Bee’, of the 4th Fighter Group.  Lifelike provides a perfect rendition of the Bee and explains how they arrived at it.  I definitely need to do this aircraft.  The Bee is a picture perfect. 

The second Mustang is a P-51K flown by George Bickell of the 354FG in May 1945.  The aircraft is a lesser known aircraft that Bickell flew until VE day.  This aircraft was recently found in several photos and color 8mm film.  This beautiful aircraft has neat nose art “Flagship Nancy Ann” and a shield on the tail.  The spinner and nose have four bands. 

Aircraft 3 is another P-51K, this one is flown by Cpt. Barney Fudge of the 74FS/23FG in China during July/Aug 1945.  This aircraft is quite unique looking with an all black nose and a black 25 on the tail.  The nose sports the Oklahoma Kid markings in white which is highlighted on the black nose. 

The final aircraft looks like a conglomeration of unit markings.  This P-51D of the 3rd Scout Force was seen in England 1945.  The aircraft has green and yellow nose stripes and checkers.  The tail has red and white checkers on the rudder with a red leading edge stripe on the tail.  This aircraft has two sets of markings one with kill flags on the canopy sill and the other with ‘Louise’ and the pilots name on the sill. 

If you are looking for some unique markings this sheet certainly provides that.  The markings for Boise Bee are the most accurate markings available for this historically significant aircraft.  World class research, world class decals and colorful subjects, this is what a decal sheet should be.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Lifelike Decals for these samples.

Text and Images Copyright © 2016 by Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Page Created 18 October, 2016
Last updated 18 October, 2016

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