P-51B Mustang
Deluxe Set with TWO separate kits

Arma Hobby, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

This kit was originally released and reviewed about two years ago as a single aircraft and I will repeat some of the original material as follows.

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 you will see why. The TWO KITS come in a stronger end-opening box with a great illustration of two decal choices on the top and eight of the nine decal choices in colour on the rear. These are P-51B-7-NA “Shangri-La” and P-51B-15-NA “ The Iowa Beaut” in formation, although they would never have been seen together like this in reality. I previously complained about the frailty of the end-opening box and ARMA has responded with an excellent up-grade with a stronger outer  box but, more importantly, a thick inner sleeve that slides out with the contents firmly protected - modellers everywhere will thank you ARMA!

To the kits, then. Inside is a pair of clear resealable bags 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 25 steps with excellent sketches and clear painting instructions along the way.

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Thumbnail panels:

Critical points are highlighted in red. A paint table at the start covers all thirteen colours used 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 representing almost the whole interior of each half, including the tail-wheel aperture.

I could spot no flash although there are a couple of places where fine seams will need a clean-up. 

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 un-shrouded exhausts, flat and bulged canopy with open and closed versions, a choice of weapon fits and a dorsal-filleted tail plane that is only used for three of the decal choices, so take note!

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 okay to have them down. 

An addition for this Deluxe kit are two sets of 3D printed exhausts and a seat with integral belts - lovely!!  Such is the finesse that no PE is required.

Marking Options

The decal sheet covers the eight illustrated on the box plus a ‘bonus’ one. They are glossy printed and colour depth and register are great, and the mid-blue backing sheet allows easy identification of the white items. 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 two sets of stars and bars.

The five Malcolm hood choices are for:

• P-51B-15-NA , 42-106950/WR-P,  “The Iowa Beaut” 354th FS, 355th FG, July 1944, in Olive Drab over NMF with B&W ID stripes below wings and fuselage and wings, and a white nose,

• P-51B-15-NA , 42-106924 /QP-L, “Salem Representative”  of 334th FS, 363th FG, 8th AF at Debden UK , May 1944, in NMF with a fine Olive Drab along upper fuselage with red nose and tail stripes.

• P-51B-1-NA, 43-12375/FT-E “Bonnie B” of 352rd FS, 354th FG, June1944, in Olive Drab over Natural metal with full B&W ID stripes,

• Mustang MkIII  FX876/WC-D RAF May 1945, in overall natural metal with B&W ID stripes and a mid blue nose, and

• Mustang MkIII FZ152 , ’SS’ RAF in Spring 1944 in Dark Green/Ocean Grey over Medium Sea Grey and white nose.

While the four flat-top, side-folding canopied examples are:

• P-51B-7-NA , 43-6913 “Shangri-La” of 336th FS, 4th FG March 1944 in Olive Drab over Neutral Grey with red nose and Polish chequered nose panels and a fine nose decoration on the port side,

• P-51B-15-NA , 42-106839 /“Bald Eagle III” 374th FS, 361st FG  July 1944 in NMF with a fine Olive Drab along upper fuselage with yellow nose,

• P-51B-7-NA, 43-6638 355th FS, 374th FG in June 1944, in Olive Drab over Natural metal with full B&W ID stripes, and a shark nose and eyes on the front ( provided as decals) and the bonus

• The same aircraft later in autumn 1944 with the upper stripes washed off and a blue and white chequered nose stripe, and codes GO-TThe Black and White ID stripes will have to be painted on each example.

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

A pair of sheets of yellow masks provides tyre and cockpit transparency coverage although, once again, nowhere in the booklet does it show you where they go!

This is a great little offering that will satisfy every modeller with an interest in this earlier iconic aircraft. It is nice to see RAF versions as well..

Thanks to Arma Hobby for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2024 by Graham Carter
Images Copyright © 2024 by Brett Green
Page Created 1 August, 2024
Last updated 26 August, 2024

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