Accurate Miniatures

1/48th P-51B/C Mustang 'Tuskegee Airmen'

Kit Number: 0012

Reviewed by  Perry Downen, IPMS# 44000

MSRP: $39.99 Website: www.accurate-miniatures.com I'd like to express my sincere thanks to Accurate Miniatures for providing this kit to IPMS/USA and to them for allowing me to review it. The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of black pilots who flew with distinction during WWII as the 332nd Fighter Gp. In June 1941, the Tuskegee program officially began with the formation of the 99th Fighter Squadron at the Tuskegee Institute. The unit consisted of an entire service arm, including ground crew. The Airmen were placed under the command of Captain Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., then one of the few black West Point graduates and son of Brigadier General Benjamin Oliver Davis, Sr, the first African-American general in the United States Army. The 99th and three additional Tuskegee squadrons were first deployed to North Africa in 1943. The four squadrons were combined to form the all-black 332nd Fighter Group and eventually were deployed to Italy. Initially they flew P-40s followed by P-39s, P-47s, and in July 1944 transitioned to the aircraft they are identified with, the Red Tail P-51 Mustang. BEGINNING The first look at AM's P-51B/C reveals a very nice kit. It comes in a cellophane wrapped box, 12"X7"X3". Inside the box is one cellophane bag containing two gray sprues (different shades of gray) and one clear sprue. There are approximately 75 parts in all, but not all are used. The moldings have finely recessed panel lines. The propeller blades have some small sink marks near the hub. The decals are from Cartograph. The large sheet contains decals for four different aircraft and the small sheet contains an instrument panel decal. Finally, there are the building instructions and a set of painting instructions for the four planes. The instructions are in a 6-page pamphlet and are written in the narrative style with exploded view drawings accompanying the text. Painting instructions for the interior small parts and assemblies are included at each step. The exterior painting and decaling instructions are found on a separate 4-page document. The instructions are clearly written (with one exception that will be explained later), well illustrated and follow a logical assembly sequence. THE BUILD The instructions begin with a short dialogue about the different empennage configurations North American used for the different versions of the P-51. The text and accompanying drawings are confusing. However, a quick trip to AM's web site eliminated my confusion. Posted there is a note, "Part number 33 should be labeled 49 and part number 34 should be labeled 48 to match with the appropriate parts in the tree numbered 48 and 49." Basically all they are saying is that the left and right vertical stabilizer parts without the fillet (the only ones in the kit) should be added to the corresponding fuselage parts. In addition, the little bit of the fillet on the fuselage parts should be sanded off. The best way for me to ensure a trouble free alignment and minimum gap filling was to glue the left and right vertical stabilizer parts to the left and right fuselage parts and tape them to a flat surface to dry. This approach differs somewhat from the instructions as explained later. With the fuselage and tail parts pieced together for each side, the cockpit is now constructed. The side consoles are added to the fuselage sides. These parts contain some nice details. Various cockpit parts and the instrument panel are added to the cockpit floor. Let me offer a word of caution concerning the instrument panel decals. There are 4 instrument panel decals on the large decal sheet and one on the small decal sheet. A small note on the back of the painting and decaling instructions tells the modeler not to use the decals from the large sheet, but to use the decal from the small sheet. Carefully applied the instrument panel decal results in a very nice look.

The instructions now call for the right vertical stabilizer part (54) to be joined to the right fuselage part (2). Don't be confused here. Step 2a.2 text refers to the left side, but the drawing shows the work done on the right side. Once the right side of the fuselage is done, the completed cockpit floor is glued in place. Now the left fuselage part (1) is glued to the completed right side. With the fuselage halves joined, the left vertical stabilizer part (53) in placed. This sequence seems a little awkward and could result in some misalignment and unwanted gaps. I believe by building the complete right and left fuselage halves as described earlier, I achieved a much better overall fit. Very little filler was needed along the fuselage join line. I was also able to add the tail wheel and radiator door between the fuselage halves with no problem. The seat is added after the fuselage is joined. Speaking of the seat, there are no seatbelts in the kit. I added some from my spares box. The wings and horizontal stabilizers are now added to the fuselage. The fit was so good that I did not have to use any filler. Maybe it was because I added the bottom half of the wing to the fuselage and then fit the upper wing halves to the fuselage/bottom wing. Once the wings are complete the landing gear and wheels are added. There are two sets of tires, weighted and unweighted. The main LG joint appears to be a weak point due to the strut-wing interface design and small strut diameter. The strut fits into a socket in the wing, but does not fit very deeply. Regardless, the wheel and strut detail is very nice. The wheel door actuators (42) and cables (35) are very delicate, so handle them with care. The final construction step adds the exhausts, guns, propeller and cockpit canopy. The kit comes with two style canopies - the framed design and the Malclom hood. Again, I was pleased that these parts fit so well. FINISHING The painting and decaling instructions are good as far as they go. A top, bottom, and left side views are provided. However, to assist the modeler in decaling the entire aircraft, a narrative is provided on the last page of instructions as to what decals are to be placed on the right side of the aircraft. Even so, some of the decal locations are a little ambiguous. The Cartograph decals are excellent and laid down with no problem. They settled down nicely with a little Solvaset. The painting instructions are not as complete as I'd hoped. The box top shows a yellow stripe or band on each wing, but the instructions do not mention them. Only the left side of the aircraft is provided as a guide for painting and the stripes cannot be seen there. Aside from the missing yellow stripe information, the paint scheme was easily followed. ASSESSMENT This is an easy kit to build. The parts had very little or no flash and the fit is excellent. Other than the propeller sink marks the surfaces of the parts are blemish free. The decals are top notch. I would like to see a stronger landing gear attachment point and more complete painting and decaling instructions. The Red Tail Mustangs have a place in history and this kit would have a place in any collection. I can easily recommend this kit to modelers of any skill level. Thanks again to Accurate Miniatures for making this kit available for review.