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This is not
the first Mustang I have built in 1/48 but the first of Hasegawa. In the
beginning of December I decided to do another Mustang joining the ARC Group
Build. On several web-pages I saw that lovely „American Beauty“-design of
Hasegawa´s special edition but to get this kit immediately seemed impossible to
me. Fortunately I discovered these „February“-decalset of Hungarian Decals
at my dealer. It has the similar design of the 15th Air Force with
the red nose and the red and yellow stripes.
As
I wanted to add some detail to the plane, I ordered Eduards etched parts sheet
48339. Of course the Eduard zoom-set would have given enough detail to the bird,
but it was not available. I would have spend the saved money one some resin
flaps. Half of the Eduard etched parts are not used if tanks or weapons are not
added and I prefer to build warbirds without those hang-ons to not disturb the
line of the plane.
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| This
Mustang is painted with Tamiya AS bare metal spray and Gunze Clear sprays before
and after applying the decals. You remember: I do not own an airbrush. Not yet
;-) The yellow and red stripes were maid of decal sheets. The model represents
Lt. James Brooks´ Mustang „February“ of 307th Fighter Squadron,
31st Fighter Group, 15th Air Force. He aimed 14 air
victories in the mediterrian skies of 1944 to 1945 (on http://www.web-birds.com/15th/31/31st.htm
are only mentioned 13 victories, but who cares, there are 14 „Eisernes Kreuz“-markings
on my model)
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| To talk about
quality I´m now able to compare the Tamiya and the Hasegawa P-51D kit: Next
time I will choose the Tamiya again. It is better, except for the canopy.
Fortunately the Hasegawa kit contains two of them (P-51D/K – minor
differences), so every second built Mustang can be a Tamiya! Fit accuracy and
detail is slightly better and the one piece engine bonnet and the lowered flaps
clinch for it. But forget the Tamiya decals!
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Anybody
noticed, that Lt. Brooks´Mustang was a P-51D-5NA but my Hasegawa model is the
P-51D-15NA (it´s the tail!). You did not notice? Well, I noticed ... when it
was too late!
Dirk
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