Mighty Eighth
66th Fighter Wing

P-51D Mustang

Eduard LIMITED, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

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.

When combined with other optional parts on the sprues, the modeller can build a later block Mustang too, including P-51Ks.

Eduard also released an RAF and Commonwealth version, the Mustang Mk.IV / IVa followed by a dedicated P-51K Mustang boxing.

The new kit, with the theme of the Mighty Eighth - 66th Fighter Wing, shares the same versatile combination of plastic parts as the original Chatanooga Choo-Choo and Mustang Mk.IV releases.

The new boxing comprises 233 parts in grey plastic, 17 parts in clear plastic, nine resin parts, one colour photo-etched fret, self-adhesive masks for wheels and canopy and colourful new markings for six P-51Ks.

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.

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Thumbnail panels:

This boxing offers a bonus of nine resin parts.

These cover the wheels, separate hubs for the main wheels and exhausts in both common types - shrouded and unshrouded.

The photo-etched fret is revised for this model and offers two styles of instrument panel, half-tone harness straps and lots of lovely cockpit detail. A few exterior details are incuded too.

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 schemes on the decal sheet. 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 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 intakes 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.

Many of these options are not required for the P-51D-5 markings supplied in this kit, but if you are impatient to build a later version, you'll find almost anything you could hope for right here on the sprues.

Three styles of sliding canopy are included - Dallas early, Inglewood early and Inglewood intermediate. These will 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 ten striking schemes.

A nice selection of different colours and patterns over bare metal and lacquer are offered. Details are:

• P-51D-10, 44-14896, Maj. Leonard K. Carson, 362nd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, Leiston, United Kingdom, September 1944

• P-51D-15, 44-14888, Cpt. Charles E. Yeager, 363rd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, Leiston, United Kingdom, October 1944 - January 1945

• P-51D-15, 44-14888, Cpt. C.E. Yeager, 363rd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, Leiston, United Kingdom, October 1944 - January 1945

• P-51D-15, 44-15492, Lt. Billy Clemmons, 38th FS, 55th FG, 8th AF, Wormingford, United Kingdom, April 1945 

• P-51D-15, 44-14985, Maj. Edward B. Giller, 343rd FS, 55th FG, 8th AF, Wormingford, United Kingdom, September 1944 

• P-51D-20, 44-64147, Capt. Richard A. Hewitt, 82nd FS, 78th FG, 8th AF, Duxford, United Kingdom, April 1945 

• P-51D-10, 44-14372, Capt. Kirk B. Everson, 504th FS, 339th FG, 8th AF, Fowlmere, United Kingdom, April 1945 

• P-51D-10, 44-14419, Capt. William B. Price, 350th FS, 353rd FG, 8th AF, Raydon, United Kingdom, December 1944 

• P-51D-20, 44-63684, Lt. William B. Bailey, 352nd FS, 353rd FG, 8th AF, Raydon, United Kingdom, May 1945

A second sheet with additional markings and stencil data is also included.

Decals are printed by Eduard

Eduard's latest 1:48 scale Mighty Eighth 66th Fighter Wing is every bit as nice as its Mustangpredecessors in this thoroughbred family.

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.

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

Thanks to Eduard for the sample.

Text and Images Copyright © 2021 by Brett Green
Page Created 29 November, 2023
Last updated 29 November, 2023

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