A couple months back at a garage sale I picked up for $4.00 a 1/32 Revell mustang called the shangra la I believe. All the peices are there but there are no instructions and the decals are dust in the wind. Anybody have any back story behind this kit, is it a decent build, is it worth anything, where would I go about finding new decals for it. I dont have any particular urge to build it but im sure if it sits there long enough it will get built.
Chris, how is the little Bambino doing?
That Revell kit looks a little goofy when it is built, the shape of the nose is off, slopes down too much. At this point it is the only 1/32 B Mustang made, and the truth is IMHO and as I’ve heard, there really isn’t a “no problem” P-51 kit in 1/32 of any kind. If I were to build a P-51B, I’d kitbash a Hasegawa D kit on to the front of the Revell B kit, and use the Hasegawa wings. But the thought of all that work makes my head hurt.
The Mustang kit in 1/32 that I like the best for shape is the ancient Monogram kit that is usually issued in clear plastic. I built a couple of them when they were first issued in 1966 or so.
Before the Mustang experts come along, I’ll just say that any Revell 1:32 airplane is a very worthy exercise in it’s own right, for better or for worse, except maybe and even the -262.
Shangri-La is a classic, the decals should be no problem to replace and she was O/D over Neutral Gray, which is always a nice scheme for Mustangs. Go for the Gold, young man.
I don’t believe it would be worth much without the original decals. That box art though. I loved that boxart! Revell Germany is or has just re-released this kit in different markings. So really it is the box that would be of any “worth”
BTW, I love the Revell 1/32 scale kits even with their flaws. I grew up when they were first released. I cannot tell you the exitement that getting one of these during my parents shopping trips to GC Murphy’s would generate.
Max Bryant
Max Bryant
Ah Max, when our young friend mentions worth, I believe his frame of reference is the time spent building the a/c. Esp. now that he is waking up at 11, 12 1,2 and 3.
TLP- DO NOT let him into the marital bed to stop the screaming, it’ll become the screaming bed (while he sleeps). Don’t ask.
But it’s true- the Revell 1:32 a/c were so much fun to buy and build. $ 2.99 at Maxi Mart in 1973 if memory serves. The total package: big instructions, easy to do, well made and good decals. And I brush painted most of them. The rest by rattlers. One thing in particular was that they had engines, which was a big deal.
Jeez- I’d better stop. I did not build the -51 or the Tony, which was worth trading a Schwinn 10 speed for, but there was the Wildcat, Corsair w/ folding wings, P-38 (jeez- the stick goes over the pilots knee), the Typhoon, and the -109, the -190, the Hurricane and the best of all, the Spitfire. I’d save up, buy one and build one whenever depression overcame me. The Sea Fire w/ “tropical” air filter. The acme to me was the 1:32 Mosquito; find that one.
Back in the day, and TLP we’re talking iron-on patches on the cords, desert boots, polyester short sleeve shirts from monkeywards, we all wanted the “Visible Mustang”. Of course what we really wanted was the “Visible Woman” because the parts were all there. But thats another story…
The P-51B in large scale will be a classic:
Old Crow (the first) and my favorite in a minute; Boise Bee, Salem Representative, The Deacon, Ill Wind, The West by Gawd Virginian, Princess Elizabeth, Live Bait, Shellelagh, Ding Hao, Short Fuse Salle, Chicago Gun Moll, Rubber Check, Scrappy, Typhoon McGoon, Glamourous Glen (the first),
Almost all of the markings are either in your kit or can be scuffed up cheap. The cowling checks and nose art are for Google to find, but I’ll say this which is at large scale take a shot at masking and painting and going freehanding, and you will not be disappointed, I promise you.
I remember that kit well. Lots of history behind the plane. Flown by Don Gentile, 336th fighter squadron, 4th Fighter Group. He is best remembered with his wingman John Godfrey, together they were a fierce team. Gentile racked up a total of 21+ kills. On April 13, in front of local and US reporters gathered at Debden Airbase, he buzzed the airfield too close to the ground, his prop caught a dirt mound and his P-51B came down to grief totaling the Shangri-La. His commander Col. “Iron” Don Blakeslee witnessed the whole affair while circling up from above in his Mustang. Blakeslee was livid, and upon landing sent Gentile packing for home.
Lots of flaws with the kit, the wings not right, balloon tires, wrong nose. To get the kit right, major surgery is required. I would just build it for the fun of it and probably just use different tires.
I have the instructions to the kit, if you want it, let me know.
That was one of the first kits I built after I got back into the hobby. I remember doing a not very good job puttying some of the joints. I still have the kit, but it is in many pieces. The cowl comes off to show the engine, but it is a one piece affair. I can’t say how accurate it is, because I didn’t worry about that at the time. I do believe I got an extra set of kit decals. I will have to check.
My buddy is building one right now. It goes together easy enough. It is definetly not for the purest with all of the flaws but it does look respectable sitting on a shelf. Especially in Don Gentiles markings. He was luckey enough to find the old boxing with good decals for his plane.
Soulcrusher
Revell re-released this kit a few weeks ago. Decals two options Musxtang Mk III FB160 PK.G of S/Ldr Horbaczewski 315 Squadron - not accurate and the camouflage pattern on the box lid illustration is completely wrong, and US P-51B 2106924 coded QP-L. Cannot read the name as the picture in the magazine is too small. There will be a brand new kit for 1/32 scale P51-B soon.
I’ve got the raf version that was givin to me at a show as a prize I think its great and will build it soon. not everything is perfect so dont sweat the small stuff just have fun.
I agree with MDLLVR. I picked up the Revell 1:32 Mustang almost a year ago for $9.00. I was amazed at how great this kit was. I’m just now about to apply the decals. Next to an Abrams I did 7 some-odd years ago, it’s one of the best kits I’ve built.
“And Gymbo-59 comes waaayyyyyyy out of left field!!!”
All seriousness though, I really do need to get that kit together, welcome to the boards Gymbo. You have just discovered the best place on the internet for plastiholics to unite. And I see from the age of the thread that you started by doing research, my kind of guy.
[#ditto] Yep, I chuckled when I saw the dates on this myself.
Bye the way LP did you ever get the Instructions or decals for this kit ?
Nope, in fact until this thread surfaced I forgot I had the kit. Just came out of hiatus with a need to build Jets. She will be built at somepoint, especially with my slipping finances the stash may stop growing and in fact all those kits might get built rather than new ones.