Duncan Doenitz Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 I see that amongst the kits for 2024, the venerable P51D is getting another airing. I lusted after this as a kid, but now I have got back into the hobby and have rather more pocket money, it is a contender. I have however read that the kit was a bit of a dog. Did anyone build it and can they comment ? R Palimaka, BiggTim and Martinnfb 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoggz Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 I have built it and have two more in the stash! I didn't think it was that bad. It's like all the early Airfix 1:24 scale kits.. a product of its time, so a bit short on details and finesse. But I think (like all the Airfix big kits) they got the basic shape correct, so it gives you a great canvas to go to town. The major issue is that you definitely need to address the wheel wells, as they are sadly lacking. There's been some lovely builds of it on here. Richard Palimaka's being the one that springs to mind: Learstang, R Palimaka, Christa and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoggz Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Oh, and there's been some great after market done for it too. Model Monkey and Airscale have both produced upgrades! LSP_K2, Christa, Pete Roberts and 5 others 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christa Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 I built the Airfix 1/24 P 51 D about forty years ago. Brush painted, no AM, I enjoyed that build. The only modification I recall was shortening by sectioning and pinning the main oleos to represent the squat of a fully armed and fuelled Mustang ready for a long range escort job, but I don't remember my references for that mod. It was the last Airfix 1/24 kit I built in the eighties and I was pleased with it. Archimedes and Learstang 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafju Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 (edited) Hello In addition to what has been said, I would like to add to be careful with the dihedral by building a correct spar like it is described in the old Airfix book "Classic aircraft" https://www.largescaleplanes.com/reference/details.php?title=674 Edited January 12 by rafju Pete Roberts, CRAZY IVAN5, cmayer and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Roberts Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 On 1/11/2024 at 4:54 AM, Shoggz said: Oh, and there's been some great after market done for it too. Model Monkey and Airscale have both produced upgrades! There are some beautiful additions to be had there - check out both sites, but only if you are willing to spend, because resistance will be useless. Now I’m going away ‘cause if I think about this for too much longer I’ll have spent a bucket load and have to explain that to SWMBO…. Shoggz, Archimedes and CRAZY IVAN5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 The best thing of their "vintage kits" are the new decals. The molds are still the old ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geedubelyer Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 I saw this on their 2024 releases show. It brings back happy memories as I my Dad "helped" me build it as a kid. Not knowing the first thing about Mustangs he interpretted the colour of the airframe from the instructions as white It certainly set the blue of the nose and yellow of the rudder off nicely though. Christa and Shoggz 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbk57 Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 The Mustang does not tempt me as the.Tamiya kit is such a nice build, however, the 109 does especially with Airscale dropping such nice parts for it. If some more cockpit parts show up from Airscale I might do a 109E. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Palimaka Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 (edited) On 1/10/2024 at 12:52 PM, Shoggz said: I have built it and have two more in the stash! I didn't think it was that bad. It's like all the early Airfix 1:24 scale kits.. a product of its time, so a bit short on details and finesse. But I think (like all the Airfix big kits) they got the basic shape correct, so it gives you a great canvas to go to town. The major issue is that you definitely need to address the wheel wells, as they are sadly lacking. There's been some lovely builds of it on here. Richard Palimaka's being the one that springs to mind: Thanks for the kind words Richard! I agree that it's a product of it's time and a bit soft on details. Also surprising is the amount of accurate detail they included, but disappointing in the amount they omitted. It is a far better base for a 1/24 Mustang than Trumpeter's 1/24 "egg-plane" version. Others may be happy with Trumpeter but it does not look right to me. The Airfix kit requires work (and possibly money) to bring it up to modern standards but as Richard said above, it has the correct shapes for the most part and is the best place to start. The most glaring issues to correct are: - the wheel wells are completely empty. Fortunately Model Monkey has produced a superb and accurate wheel well that also corrects the dihedral. - the wing dihedral is almost flat as built from the box. Again, see above for the Model Monkey correction - the landing gear needs to be shortened. It is molded in the extended position to fit in the wheel wells. The kit was designed to have retracting landing gear, a toy-like feature popular back in the day. A simple fix, otherwise the model looks like it's standing on its tip-toes. - the nose contours are too narrow and round. The top of the Mustang cowling should have a broad and subtly flattened top to accommodate the Merlin cylinder heads, the Airfix kit is a little undernourished in the nose. Again, Model Monkey to the rescue. - the openings for the exhausts are a little deep, and look much better with some shims to narrow the opening, and the exhausts and shrouds will need some refining...did I say Model Monkey again? - the panel lines and rivets need to be toned down. I won't go into the debate about the puttied wings, but that's something else to consider. - finally the cockpit needs some help, and here AirScale produces a spectacular instrument panel, and Model Monkey has a seat, radio sets and rudder pedals. Now that may sound like a lot of work, and although it took me four years to do it, I enjoyed every minute of the build...almost. Model Monkey's parts weren't available until after I finished scratch-building all the corrections/refinements. I've started another one with Airscale and all the Model Monkey aftermarket and that should make things so much faster, easier and accurate. All the after-market added to the cost of the kit brings it to just over $200 Canadian. With the Airfix Typhoon running around that price here in Canada, if you can find one, I think that's reasonable. Only you can decide whether it's worth it or not. I love the Mustang and until Airfix retools this kit, this is the only way to a 1/24 Mustang that looks like one. Sorry for the long rant. This kit gets a lot of criticism but I love it. Happy to see it out again, although I already have four... Richard This is my effort, still haven't taken proper "Ready for Inspection" photos, these are kind of interim ones. Edited January 14 by R Palimaka geedubelyer, Phantom2, Johnny Cloud and 13 others 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geedubelyer Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 (edited) still haven't taken proper "Ready for Inspection" photos. Surely that needs to be your next job? Thanks for the list of mods and corrections. That's a pretty looking Mustang. Good job. Edited January 13 by geedubelyer Lee White, R Palimaka and Martinnfb 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 I wish that Airfix would get off their lazy chair and release a brand new molding of the big P-51. You can put lipstick on a pig only so many times. CRAZY IVAN5, Johnny Cloud, Gary Needham and 3 others 3 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Roberts Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 1 hour ago, Martinnfb said: I wish that Airfix would get off their lazy chair and release a brand new molding of the big P-51. You can put lipstick on a pig only so many times. I’d love to see that with their Spitfire Mk I. Even if it was just to add an extra sprue with more detail. Wheel wells would be a nice start, and some extra cockpit detail. I suppose they’re just cash cows to them now, so why bother. Gary Needham, Christa, Martinnfb and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super B Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 Please don't expect me to plunk out $100+ for a kit that was molded in the 1970s.................. Gary Needham, Johnny Cloud and CRAZY IVAN5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 3 hours ago, Super B said: Please don't expect me to plunk out $100+ for a kit that was molded in the 1970s.................. Indeed ! I got one for 20 Euro's at a convention last month. The older releases can still be found for far less money ! R Palimaka, Archimedes, Johnny Cloud and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now