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P-51D-20 Mustang
Weekend Edition

Eduard, 1/48 scale

S u m m a r y

Description and Catalogue Number: Eduard Kit No. 84176 - P-51D-20 Mustang Weekend Edition
Scale: 1/48
Contents and Media:

233 parts in pale grey plastic (64 not used); one small brass photo-etched fret; 17 parts in clear plastic (four not used); markings for four aircraft.

Price:

USD$29.95 plus shipping available online from Eduard's website

GBP£15.60 EU Price (GBP£13.00 Export Price) plus shipping available online from Hannants

and online outlets and hobby shops worldwide.

Review Type: FirstLook
Advantages: High level of detail; state-of-the-art surface textures; many useful options including three styles of propeller, three styles of canopy, three different carburettor air filter panels, two styles of fin fillet, choice of metal and fabric elevators, two seat options, good selection of ordnance, aerials, avionics and more; fixed short shot exhausts; high level of attention to detail.
Disadvantages:

 

Conclusion:

Eduard's Weekend Edition 1:48 scale P-51D-20 Mustang is every bit as nice as its predecessors in this thoroughbred family.

Even without the colour photo-etched parts and masks, this is still a well detailed and deeply impressive kit. Surface textures are class-leading while cockpit and wheel well detail are quite clearly the best of any 1/48 scale Mustang kit currently available. The large number of optional parts opens all sorts of possibilities too.

You're not limited to a P-51D-20 either. If you BYO decals, the plastic parts are in the box to finish the model as a wide range of P-51D production blocks from the D-10 up to the D-30 in the European or Pacific theatres.

Furthermore, I have built three of Eduard's 1/48 scale Mustang family since their release in 2019, and I can report that the kit is a pleasure to build.

This really is a Gold Standard Mustang and a very versatile kit.

Reviewed by Brett Green

FirstLook

 

Eduard debuted their 1/48 scale P-51 Mustang family in 2019 with the Chatanooga Choo-Choo Limited Edition.

The parts in that kit allowed it to be finished as a wide range of production blocks from the D-5 up to the D-30 in the European or Pacific theatres. There are two styles of fin fillet supplied - one field installed and a second style that was fitted at the factory.

And now, Eduard has released the P-51D-20 in their lower-priced, plastic-only Weekend Edition.

The kit shares the same versatile combination of plastic parts as the original Chatanooga Choo-Choo and Mustang Mk.IV releases, with plastic sprues labelled A, B, D, F, G and H.

A new addition is a small brass photo-etched fret with two scribing templates and four small aerials.

 

 

The new boxing comprises 233 parts in grey plastic, one small brass photo-etched fret; 17 parts in clear plasticand colourful new markings for four P-51D-20s.

This parts count is not really anywhere near as high as might sound. Owing to the large number of options and parts for other versions, 64 of the grey plastic parts are marked "not for use", and four clear parts are also destined to stay on the sprues. You can subtract another dozen or two for alternate parts.

 

  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Eduard 1/48 Mustang Review by Brett Green: Image
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Unlike the ProfiPACK and Limited Edition releases, this Weekend Edition Mustang does not include photo-etched parts or masks.

The counterpart plastic parts on the sprues are very well detailed however, and Eduard also supplies a decal overlay for the plastic instrument panel and decal harness straps.

The parts breakdown is quite conventional although there are a few fuselage and wing inserts to provide for various options.

Surface textures on the plastic parts is beautifully done with crisply recessed panel lines and selected rows of rivets. There are also a small number of subtly raised rivets where appropriate.

 

 

Recessed panel lines are present on the wings but rivets are not. I think this combination should satisfy the majority of modellers.

 

 

The fabric control surfaces feature restrained and convincing raised tape texture.

 

 

Two different fin fillets are included. Part D5 (on the left in the photo below) is the early field installed version appropriate to the P-51D-5. The fillet on the right is the factory fitted version that applies to later production blocks.

 

 

Construction gets underway in the fabulously detailed cockpit. First up is a seven-part plastic pilot’s seat, enhanced with photo-etched harness straps. Photo-etched parts are also used for the instrument panel with raised bezels, quadrants and various handles and switch panels.

Alternative plasic instrument panels, lower switch panels, gun sights, coaming and sidewall switch panel parts are offered for the D-5 and later production blocks up to the D-20.

The sidewall frame structures are separate parts.

 

 

To the rear of the pilot, parts are suppied for three styles of radio, battery and IFF installation

Three styles of propeller blades are included - Hamilton Standard with cuff, Hamilton Standard without cuff and Aeroproducts . These are moulded in pairs with a separate hub. Two subtly different propeller spinner assemblies are also included.

 

 

The kit also offers the choice of shrouded or exposed exhausts. These are moulded as one piece per side.

The original Eduard P-51D release had a problem with short shot exhaust stacks on some of the kits. Eduard has now re-designed the exhausts to fix the short shot issue by making the ends of the stubs solid, not hollowed.

A few twirls with the pointy end off a hobby knife will restore the hollowed ends if you want them..

 

 

The main landing gear bay is beautifully detailed and the shape is correct.

 

 

The diamond tread tyres and wheel hubs are separate parts.

Ailerons and landing flaps are separate parts held in place with tabs. Two sets of separate elevators are included representing the early fabric covered and the later metal skinned. The flaps feature a mix of raised and recessed rivets - just lovely.

 

 

The rudder is also a separate part.

The machine gun panels on the wing leading edge are separate inserts. This avoids the tricky seam/join that would otherwise run through the centre of the gun muzzles.

The radiator flap may be posed open.

Three different carburettor air filter breather pansls for the lower sides of the engine cowling are also included.

 

Other options include two 108 gallon paper drop tanks, two 75 gallon metal drop tanks, two 100lb bombs, two 250lb bombs, two triple rocket tubes, ten 5" HVAR rockets and a DF loop.

 

 

Three styles of sliding canopy are included - Dallas early, Inglewood early and Inglewood intermediate. These cover variants from the D-5 to D-25.

 

 

The clear bubble section is moulded with the frame, so you won’t have any trouble getting a nice clean painting line. The windscreen is moulded with a small section of the upper fuselage, once again ensuring a clean join and painting demarcation.

 

 

All transparencies are clear, thin and free from distortion.

Two canopy mounted rear view mirrors and a number of lights and lenses are also moulded as clear parts.


 

Markings

 

 

Markings are supplied for four aircraft.

 

 

A second sheet with stencil data is also included.

 

 

Decals are printed by Eduard

 

 

Conclusion

 

Eduard's Weekend Edition 1:48 scale P-51D-20 Mustang is every bit as nice as its predecessors in this thoroughbred family.

Even without the colour photo-etched parts and masks, this is still a well detailed and deeply impressive kit.

Surface textures are class-leading while cockpit and wheel well detail are quite clearly the best of any 1/48 scale Mustang kit currently available.

The large number of optional parts opens all sorts of possibilities too. You're not limited to a P-51D-20 either. If you BYO decals, the plastic parts are in the box to finish the model as a wide range of P-51D production blocks from the D-10 up to the D-30 in the European or Pacific theatres.

Furthermore, I have built three of Eduard's 1/48 scale Mustang family since their release in 2019, and I can report that the kit is a pleasure to build.

This really is a Gold Standard Mustang and a very versatile kit.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample.


Text and Images Copyright © 2022 by Brett Green
Page Created 4 February, 2022
Last updated 7 February, 2022

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