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 15^th 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.    

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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