Arma Hobby 70038 - 1:72 Mustang P-51 B/C - Expert set

Plastic model kit of the American North American P-51B/C Mustang fighter in 1:72 scale — Expert Set

The P-51B/C is the Mustang at the moment it became a fighter able to escort bombers deep into Germany: with the licence-built Packard V-1650 engine, four heavy machine guns in the wings and a framed canopy, replaced on many aircraft by the bulged Malcolm hood. Arma Hobby 70038 reproduces this version from new 2021 tooling, awarded the Model of the Year 2022 title. The kit is officially licensed by Boeing.

This Expert Set boxing combines 87 plastic parts and 12 clear parts with a photo-etched fret covering the seat belts and the radiator intake and rear wall. They are supplemented by self-adhesive kabuki paper masks for the canopy and wheels and a Techmod decal sheet for six marking options plus a bonus scheme.

The choice of assembly options is particularly generous. The kit offers two versions of the fin — with and without the fillet — and two sets of tailplanes, three styles of carburettor intake on the engine cowling, two types of antenna mast, two types of exhaust stacks, separate flaps and two styles of seat. The canopy can be built as the standard framed type or as a Malcolm hood, with two centre sections — open and closed. Under the wings you can fit two 108-gallon tanks, two 90-gallon tanks or two 250 lb bombs.

The decals cover: P-51B-5-NA "Ding Hao!" of the 356th FS / 354th FG (Great Britain, April 1944), P-51C-11-NT "Evalina" of the 26th FS / 51st FG (China, January 1945) together with a bonus scheme of the same captured aircraft in Japanese markings, Mustang III KH516/WC-F of No. 309 Polish Squadron (April 1945), F-6C-1-NT of the 162nd TRS (Great Britain, spring 1944), Mustang III FB244/CV-V of No. 3 Sqn RAAF (Italy, April 1944) and P-51C-10-NT "Snookie" of the 382nd FS / 363rd FG (France, July 1944).

What's in the box:

• Two plastic sprues — 87 parts in total
• Clear parts — 12 items
• Photo-etched fret: seat belts, radiator intake and radiator rear wall
• Self-adhesive kabuki paper masks: canopy and wheels
• Techmod decals for 6 marking options plus a bonus scheme
• Assembly options: two versions of the fin (with and without fillet), two sets of tailplanes, three styles of cowling intake, two types of antenna mast, two types of exhaust stacks, separate flaps, two styles of seat
• Standard canopy and Malcolm hood with two centre sections — open and closed
• Two 108-gallon and two 90-gallon underwing drop tanks plus two 250 lb bombs
• Assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 70038
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Model length when built: approx. 137 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 157 mm
• Skill level: intermediate (photo-etched parts, many assembly options)

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. The model requires assembly.

Building the model:

The greatest value of this boxing lies in the number of decisions the modeller takes before any glue is applied. The choice of fin, cowling intake, antenna mast, exhaust stacks and canopy type depends on the option selected, so we suggest settling on the marking scheme first and only then reaching for the nippers. The photo-etched parts — seat belts and the radiator intake and rear wall — are best attached with cyanoacrylate glue; the belts benefit from being gently bent so they drape naturally over the seat. We suggest painting and finishing the cockpit before closing the fuselage halves, since a good deal remains visible through the large glazing, and the masks make painting the canopy and wheels much easier later on.

Most of the options are natural metal aircraft with green or coloured recognition markings, which calls for careful surface preparation: smooth seams, an even primer coat and only then metallic paints, which allow individual panels to be shaded differently. The British and Polish machines, such as the Mustang III of No. 309 Polish Squadron, wear Dark Green / Ocean Grey camouflage over light grey undersides. We suggest applying the decals over gloss varnish to limit decal silvering and finishing the model with satin varnish. To raise the level of detail you may consider accessories available separately in our shop, such as turned metal gun barrels.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched parts
• Precision modelling tweezers for the smallest parts
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash for emphasising details and panel lines
• Gloss varnish for decal application and satin varnish for the final finish

About the aircraft – North American P-51B/C Mustang:

The Mustang was designed to a British order as a long-range fighter, but the real breakthrough came only when the American Allison engine was replaced by the British Merlin. The P-51B/C version, powered by the licence-built Packard V-1650, gained outstanding high-altitude performance and the range to escort bombers deep into Germany. It was these aircraft that changed the course of the daylight air offensive over Europe in 1944.

Armament consisted of four Browning M2 12.7 mm machine guns in the wings, and bombs or drop tanks — which determined the combat radius — could be carried underwing. A characteristic feature of the variant was the framed canopy, which restricted the view to the rear; on many aircraft, especially British and Polish ones, it was replaced by the bulged Malcolm hood that gave a far better view over the rear hemisphere. P-51Bs were built at Inglewood and the structurally identical P-51Cs at Dallas.

In British service the type was designated Mustang Mk III. It was flown by squadrons of the RAF, the Polish Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force on escort, fighter and ground-attack missions, and over Britain also against V-1 flying bombs. P-51B/C Mustangs also served in China and the Mediterranean, and the F-6C photo-reconnaissance version was derived from them.

Original aircraft specifications (North American P-51B/C Mustang):

• Crew: 1
• Length: 9.83 m
• Wingspan: 11.28 m
• Height: approx. 4.17 m
• Take-off weight: approx. 4,300 kg (max. approx. 5,250 kg)
• Powerplant: Packard V-1650, a licence-built Rolls-Royce Merlin, approx. 1,450 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 700 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 12,700 m
• Range: approx. 1,300 km, or approx. 2,600 km with drop tanks
• Armament: 4 x Browning M2 12.7 mm machine guns in the wings
• External load: two 250 or 500 lb bombs or underwing drop tanks
• Production: 1,988 P-51Bs (Inglewood) and 1,750 P-51Cs (Dallas)

About the manufacturer – Arma Hobby:

Arma Hobby is a Polish manufacturer of plastic model kits based in Warsaw, present on the market since 2016. The brand was built on the experience of Attack Squadron, which earlier specialised in resin accessories for aircraft models. Moulds are designed on computers and produced in Poland, and work on new kits is supported by scanning surviving airframes. Kits from this brand are recognisable by very fine rivets and panel lines, thin trailing edges, refined transparencies and high-quality decals. The catalogue covers 1:72 and 1:48 scales, including an extensive range of Polish aircraft — the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra — as well as Allied Second World War types. Arma Hobby kits have won recognition in industry awards, among them the Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg toy fair. The manufacturer also develops the practice of supplementing its models with 3D-printed parts and downloadable print files.