The Modern Lad: P-51D Mustang, Eduard in 1/72 Scale
Text: Vladimír Šulc
Why does Eduard make kits the way they do?
The world is changing, and so are we. It might sound like a cliché, but it's true in every aspect of society's evolution. The world and society are evolving at an unprecedented pace, and our industry is no exception. Over the past thirty years, we've seen tremendous technological as attitudinal shifts, which have significantly impacted both the production and the use of model kits. These developments influence and shape each other, resulting in new requirements for modern plastic kits. What are these requirements, and how have we addressed them in the new 1/72 scale P-51D Mustang kit?
Conformity to the Subject
The digitization and accessibility of archives have opened up almost unlimited possibilities for historical research. Researchers, along with publishers of professional and popular literature, have translated these possibilities into an immense number of specialized publications and websites covering aircraft, tanks, combat and civilian equipment, military units, and other historical topics relevant to the creation of kits and models. This abundance of information has led to increasing customer demands for accurate subject-to-kit conformity. Ignoring these requirements can be detrimental, as every real or perceived mistake is discussed on modelling forums and influences customer acceptance of the kit.
On the other hand, meeting all these stringent requirements is extremely challenging. This is especially true for aircraft like the Mustang, Spitfire, or Bf 109, which had numerous production variants with differences ranging from significant to minuscule, often previously considered irrelevant. If we were to address every one of these minute differences, such as varying covers, cranks, or holes, we would end up creating an incredibly complex puzzle for users. However, since our goal is to produce kits that are easy and quick to assemble rather than complex puzzles or IQ tests, we decided to overlook some of these differences and leave it to modelers to address them or ignore them. The old adage, "the skilled modeler will finish it himself," still holds true.
We recognize that we are caught between Scylla and Charybdis, facing two conflicting demands from two different groups of modelers. On one side, there are the die-hard perfectionists, whom I would venture to call "hardcore modelers," who demand absolute accuracy and conformity to the original design. On the other side are those commonly known in Czech environment as "gluers," who desire the simplest possible kit and find the complexity that comes with striving for perfect conformity irritating. It is impossible to fully satisfy both groups. Therefore, we have no choice but to find a reasonable compromise, which, as we know, often doesn't fully satisfy anyone.
Then there's a third, relatively rare but very vocal group: the “hardcore gluers.” They demand absolute perfection, but when they receive it, they complain that the kit is too complicated. I know a few of these, and I’ll admit that I tend to avoid them. If I do get caught, I often respond to their demands with irony and humour. From my perspective, these individuals have one notable trait, which can be seen as either a strength or a weakness: they have rarely, if ever, actually built a model, and when they have, they've often made a mess of it. However, they are never short on confidence!
We once took advice from one such expert on a kit. When we implemented his suggestions, he later criticized the result, saying we had overcomplicated it and made it unclear what version was being represented. He was right, it was confusing, and that experience taught us not to follow such advice again.
How About the Mustang
Airframe - Fuselage
For this kit, we have two major versions: the P-51D-5, without the dorsal fin in front of the vertical tailplane, and a version covering all other production blocks from the P-51D-10 onward, equipped with the dorsal fin and later modifications. This version presents the challenge of dealing with minor differences between production blocks (and sometimes even within them). Additionally, we will offer a third version of the kit for the photo reconnaissance F-6D.
The differences among these kits are primarily in the fuselages. The fuselage and wing sprue have interchangeable inserts that change depending on the variant being molded. The frame labeled "C" contains the P-51D-5 fuselage without dorsal fin, sprue "B" contains the fuselage for all production blocks with the fin, and sprue "D" includes the F-6D fuselage, featuring the cameras and their lens covers located on the sides of the fuselage behind the cockpit.
You might wonder why we don't have a single fuselage with interchangeable tail surfaces for all P-51D production blocks, especially since we've already separated the entire rudder. The reason is that the D-5 had a different horizontal tailplane angle of attack compared to the other production blocks. Additionally, we used a separate fuselage for the D-5 to address a few minor differences in the cowling and other details on the fuselage. For the other production blocks, these differences are not consistently addressed, as they share a single fuselage in the kit, necessitating the compromise described in the previous paragraph. If you want these differences to be accurately represented on your model, you will need to research them and make the necessary adjustments yourself, if you believe it's worth the effort.
Tail Assembly
The kit includes three versions of the vertical tail surfaces: one for the P-51D-5 without the dorsal fin and two for versions with dorsal fins. One dorsal fin version features a curved leading edge, while the other, used in later and more common production models, has a straight leading edge. Although the earlier version came in several developmental forms with minor differences, the kit includes only one version. If you wish to accurately replicate the specific version used on the aircraft you're building, you will need to research the details and make the necessary modifications yourself. The elevators of the horizontal tail surfaces are separate and come in two versions: the older one with canvas covering and the newer one with metal covering. Most Mustangs flying in 1944 had canvas-covered rudders.
Cockpit
The cockpit design has been simplified compared to the 1/48 scale kit, but it still maintains a high level of detail and offers variability for different versions of the aircraft. The kit includes two versions of the seat and two versions of the radio equipment behind the pilot's seat, which are integrated into two alternative blocks that attach to the fuselage fuel tank. Additionally, the kit offers two versions of the side panels, two versions of the dashboard, three versions of the under-deck weapons launch panel, two types of sighting devices, and two types of overlays above the dashboard. There are also three versions of the canopy sliding part
Airframe - Wing
The wing design remains consistent across all production blocks, requiring some compromises. One of the most noticeable is in the hatches on the front of the airframe, specifically the lower surface of the fuselage nose, which is part of the lower surface of the wing in the kit. These hatches varied from block to block and evolved throughout production. The kit includes almost all variations on the front of the wing's lower surface. Depending on the version you're building, some details may need to be filled in or engraved, using the template provided on the photo-etch sheet.
Another detail that may require modification is the hole for the gun camera lens at the root of the left wing. In the kit, this hole is circular by default, but in later production blocks, it was rectangular. The inner surfaces of the wing parts indicate the later rectangular shape, allowing for easy modification. We chose this approach because it's easier to transform a circular opening into a rectangle, if we had made it a standard rectangle, it wouldn't be as easy to revert it to a circle. Creating an alternate part for such a minor detail seemed unnecessary.
A similar compromise applies to the HVAR missile suspension points. These points are marked by small dots on the lower surface of the wing and are indicated on the inner surface of the lower half of the wing. They need to be drilled out when installing the rockets. The reinforcements present on the bottom surface of the wing at the hinge points for the missile hangers in the last production blocks are included and are moulded together with the rockets as a single piece. Additional holes are indicated on the inside of the wing's bottom surface for drilling if bomb racks or additional tanks are being installed.
The machine gun muzzles are separate pieces that are glued into the assembled wing. Two of the three machine guns protrude slightly from the leading edge of the wing and are not drilled out due to their small diameter, which makes drilling technologically unfeasible. However, the third one, located in the innermost position closest to the fuselage, shows instead a hole. This is not the exposed barrel, which was recessed inside this hole.
Flaps
The landing flaps are designed to be installed only in the lowered position, which reflects the typical configuration of most Mustangs on the ground with the engine off. If you wish to model the flaps in the flight position, you'll need to modify them yourself. For technological reasons, we can't provide alternative flap positions in the kit. Since the correct position for a landed aircraft's flaps is lowered, we have chosen to represent them this way.
Wheel Well
The wheel wells are simplified compared to the 1/48 scale kit but maintain a high level of detail for the 1/72 scale. We have modified, strengthened, and tightened the undercarriage leg attachments within the wheel well. The cover plates are precisely fixed to the landing gear leg, just ensure the parts are correctly positioned relative to each other during assembly. The same careful positioning is required for the anti-shear scissors on the undercarriage leg dampers.
Rivets
The fuselage features full riveting, while the wing has no riveting in areas covered with putty in production line. However, where putty was not applied on real plane, such as on the fuel tanks, the riveting is present. Panel lines have been retained, despite strong lobbying from some modelers who believe they were fully sealed. In reality, the panel lines on all the P-51Ds I have seen were as distinct on the wings as they were on the fuselage or other aircraft. In fact, rivets are visible on the wings of most Mustangs, just as they are on other aircraft. However, since some modelers believe these details were not visible, we chose not to include them. Perhaps it's a bit cautious, but we prefer to avoid lengthy debates about historical accuracy with those who have their own views. I am considering writing an article about wing sealing and its effects, both aerodynamic and visual.
Position Lights and Transparent Parts
The position lights are moulded from clear plastic and are designed to be glued into relatively deep recesses in the wing. Also made from transparent plastic are the semaphore on the lower surface of the right wing, the landing light, the two alternate gun sights, and the windshield and canopy, which includes three different sliding rear parts. While these parts are generally accurate, they may not be entirely precise for all production blocks. For some variants, minor modifications may be required, however, if these adjustments are not made, they are unlikely to be noticeable.
Armament and Equipment
The kit includes five types of auxiliary tanks, two types of bombs, bazookas, and HVAR rockets.
Other Alternative Parts
The kit includes four types of propellers, two types of propeller cones, two types of exhausts, three types of bow vent hatches, and several types of antennas.
A small but valuable bonus is the inclusion of duplicate small parts. While not all parts are duplicated, there are enough to satisfy your needs and handle the well known "carpet monsters." These duplicates include antennas, pitot tubes, position lights, and other miscellaneous items.
This variety and the abundance of small parts sometimes lead reviewers to label our kits as complex, often contrasting them with competing kits praised for their apparent simplicity. It’s up to you to determine whether this perceived "simplicity" truly benefits the modeler.
Decal Versions
The variation in plastic parts and kit details allows for a wide range of interesting and colourful wartime and post-war Mustang paint schemes. Eduard stands out in this regard, offering a unique array of paint schemes not available from other manufacturers. We understand that choosing among them can be challenging, but we have solutions to help with that as well. Enjoy, dear modelers! With a well-equipped kit and your dedication, effort, and experience, you can bring your models to absolute perfection!
Happy Mustang Modelling!