Poland’s Arma Hobby has re-released its stunning 1/72 P-51B with new decals for five airframes.
Four Eighth Air Force liveries and another from the Ninth AF are supplied with Arma Hobby’s re-released P-51B Mustang (item 70041). This is the fourth time the kit has appeared since its initial launch last year, having been presented in standard and Expert Set boxings (the latter having aftermarket-style additions).
See a full build article on Arma's original P-51 tooling
USAAF treats
The same styrene parts are offered in this standard boxing, these featuring superb moulding and detail levels, but the new decals are for a mix of Olive Drab/Neutral Gray/bare-metal machines (four with 'Malcolm' hoods) operated by the United States Army Air Forces, including an example flown by ‘Chuck’ Yeager’s wingman 'Bud' Anderson. The schemes, including a bonus option - and an aircraft flown by the so-called 'Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney' - are:
• P-51B-15-NA, 43-248423/B6-S Old Crow, Capt Clarence ‘Bud’ Anderson, 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, Leiston, Suffolk, June-July 1944
• P-51B-7-NA, 43-6964/C3-G The Mighty Midget, 1st Lt James H Clark, 382nd Fighter Squadron, 363rd Fighter Group, Maupertus, France, July 1944
• P-51B-10-NA, 42-106473/G4-N Geronimo, Capt John Pugh, 362nd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, June 1944
• P-51B-15-NA, 42-106872/PE-T Patty Ann II, John F Thornell Jr, 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, Bodney, Norfolk, 1944
• P-51B-10-NA, 42-106473/G4-N (standard framed canopy), Capt John Pugh, 362nd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, spring 1944
As mentioned, the detail in this kit is exquisite… equalling (and in some cases bettering) the moulding seen on kits of 1/48 and larger. The cockpit is especially pleasing and busy, but also provided are a wing spar and mainwheel door actuators, separate flaps, alternative exhausts and the choice of open or closed canopies. Self-adhesive tape paint masks are supplied too. It costs €26.50 direct from Arma Hobby, or at £26.60 via UK-based retailer Hannants.
