P-51B Mustang

Arma Hobby, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

The aeroplane itself needs no introduction and this kit is for the earlier variant with the high back and, in this case, the bulged pilot’s hood, sometimes referred to as the ‘Malcolm Hood’.

From the aerofiles.com website:

When the Mustang III was delivered to England, the RAF decided that the hinged cockpit canopy offered too poor a view for European operations. A fairly major modification was made in which the original framed hinged hood was replaced by a bulged Perspex frameless canopy that slid to the rear on rails. This canopy gave the pilot much more room and the huge goldfish bowl afforded a good view almost straight down or directly to the rear. It was manufactured and fitted by the British corporation R Malcolm & Co, and became familiar as the Malcolm Hood. The hood was fitted to most RAF Mustang IIIs, and many USAAF Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51B/C fighters received the modification as well.

This kit has been widely praised by the modelling fraternity and I can see why. It comes in the familiar flimsy end-opening box with a great illustration of “Old Crow” downing a bf109G while protecting  flight of B-17s on the top and the four of the five decal choices in colour on the rear. These boxes are a problem and the review sample arrived badly crushed at one end, with a couple of stress lines on parts inside where the sprue gates meet the wing edges. I know these boxes  are cheap to produce and post but they do put kits at risk unless they are very securely packed. Please ARMA, use thicker card or move on to top-opening boxes.

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Thumbnail panels:

To the kit, then. Inside is a clear resealable bag containing two mid-grey sprues and a separate bag for the clear parts. A stapled A5 16-page instruction booklet contains the decal sheet and a mask sheet.

Construction is covered in 24 steps with excellent sketches and clear painting instructions along the way. A paint table at the start covers all colours by name and FS number ( where necessary) for Hataka, AK, Lifecolor, AMMO, Humbrol, Vallejo and Tamiya. Humbrol are the only enamels listed.

The parts are exquisitely moulded in a slightly matte surface finish with panels, rivet lines and apertures beautifully represented. Interior detail is quite complete with structures and instruments replicated almost the whole interior of each half, including the tail-wheel aperture. A couple of tiny areas of flash can be seen on the finer parts but these are easy to eradicate. Sprue gates are generally fine but take care with those on the wing leading edges, propeller and fuselage as they do intrude onto the exterior surfaces. Alternative parts include shrouded and unshrouded exhausts, flat and bulged canopy with open and closed versions, a choice of weapon fits and a dorsal-filleted tail plane that is not used here.

The wheel wells are nicely detailed as are the undercarriage door interiors. Note that in most cases the main doors remain shut on the ground unless pressure has been released from the system. It would still be OK to have them down.

Marking Options

The decal sheet covers the four illustrated on the box plus a ‘bonus’ one that uses the earlier side opening canopy but will require some dextrous painting/masking of the red and yellow diamonds on the nose. They are glossy printed and colour depth and register are great. Included among the decals are some great little instrument panels to add detail to the interior.

A good selection of stencils are provided as well as seat belts, white-wall tyre rings and a single set of stars and bars.

The four Malcolm hood choices are all USAAF and are for:-

1. P-51-15-NA , 43-248423/BS-S “Old Crow” of 353rd FS, 357th FG, June-July 1944, in Olive Drab over Neutral Grey with B&W ID stripes and a red/yellow checked nose,

2. P-51-7NA , 43-6964/C3-G “The Mighty Midget” of 382rd FS, 363th FG, France July, in Olive Drab over Neutral Grey with B&W ID stripes, natural metal nose and wingtips,  and a mouth under the nose 1944,

3. P-51-10-NA , 43-105473/G4-N “Geronimo” of 362nd FS, 357th FG, July 1944, in Olive Drab over Natural metal with B&W ID stripes and a red/yellow checked nose, and 

4. P-51-15-NA , 43-106872/PE-T “Patty Ann II” of 428th FS, 352nd FG, 1944, in overall natural metal with B&W ID stripes and a mid blue nose, and the bonus one 

5. P-51-10-NA , 43-106473/G4-N, also “Geronimo” of 362nd FS, 357th FG, in Spring 1944, in Olive Drab over Natural Metal without B&W ID stripes, but with black bands under wings and tail-planes and red/yellow diamonds on nose. This one has the earlier flat topped canopy.

All schemes are shown in four views with colours and decals annotated in full. There is also a QR code which I presume gives more information.

A sheet of yellow masks provides tyre and cockpit transparency coverage although nowhere in the booklet does it show you where they go!

This is a great little kit that will satisfy every modeller with an interest in this earlier iconic aircraft. I am sure that an RAF version will follow.

Thanks to Arma Hobby for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2022 by Graham Carter
Images Copyright © 2022 by Brett Green
Page Created 21 November, 2022
Last updated 21 November, 2022

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