VLR Mustang

Jonathan Kunac Tabinor builds Eduard’s latest P-51D

- Jonathan Kunac Tabinor

Background

With Iwo Jima captured for use as a base in March 1945, B-29s began to pound the Japanese home islands. To counter the fierce opposition of Japanese interceptors, P51D units were formed to escort the Superfortesses. These eight-hour, 1500mile round trip Very Long Range (VLR) missions ran from April to August 1945. Mustangs were equipped with 110, and later 165, gallon drop tanks permitting carriage of four or six HVAR rockets for attacks on targets of opportunity. The P-51s were modified with a navigation system called ‘Uncle Dog’ after the Morse phonetic letters used to aid long outward overwater flights, while a similar system on Iwo called ‘Brother Agate’ assisted returning aircraft. This necessitated twin dorsal aerials, moving the standard aerial under the nose, and changes to the cockpit radio bay.

The Kit

Eduard’s new release of its recent 1/48 P-51D allows the modeller to recreate one of twelve aircraft from the 15th, 506th, and 21st Fighter Groups. All necessary parts are included to represent the VLR modifications, creating an excellent, well-researched package. I have to say, this is a stunning kit. It has instant ‘build me’ appeal. Fine recessed surface detail with petite rivets everywhere, apart from the puttied areas of the wings, slide-moulded hollow exhausts, photoetch, resin wheels and rocket stubs, masks and a big decal sheet (of which more later) complete the kit, lifted by eye-catching box art. Reading the instructions is a must though, as there are numerous options throughout construction, depending on which version you desire.