1/48 Hasegawa P-51K “Sunshine”

Gallery Article by Graham Tarran

 

Lt. Col W T Banks 348th FG Le Shima July 1945

This is the Hasegawa P51 Pacific Mustang boxing, built straight from the box using the kit decals.  The only addition is one of the excellent Ultracast resin seats.  As I believe all other Hasegawa P51 boxings, it offers both “D” & “K” versions through the provision of cuffed & uncuffed prop blades & the slightly different profile canopies. 

The colourful scheme with the black recognition stripes makes for an extremely striking & attractive aircraft.

 

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It was also my first bash at a natural metal finish using Alclad II & I was very pleased with the results!  Undercoat for the Alclad was gloss black enamel (which made if very simple to mask of the stripes & anti-glare panel which are of course black).  I used the white aluminium for the most part with a few engine & gun panels in the dark aluminium.

 

I’ve not tried the Tamiya P-51 but have a couple more of the Hasegawa offerings to go before I do!   

Graham Tarran

      

Photos and text © by Graham Tarran