I am confused about just what is supposed to be inaccurate about the old 1/32 Revell P-51 B.
My internet research has generally turned up mostly non-specific comments saying the Revell kit is inaccurate but nothing further.
The only substantial documentation I found is this Aeroscale post:
I realize this is an old subject for many of you, but it is new to me and would appreciate it if forum members would enlighten me about what inaccuracies the Revell kit is supposed to have.
Thanks.
It depends on what you want. If you want something that kinda looks like a P-51B then build away. If youwant an accurate shaped P-51B then just about no parts of it are accurate. I’ll try to summarize from the front to the rear -
The prop blades are too narrow in chord and the tips are wrongly shaped
The entire nose forward of the wing has too much taper on the top edge, is too narrow and the “chin” opening is wrongly shaped.
The underside of the fuselage / radiator area is incorrectly shaped and has the wrong contours.
The interior details are terrible.
The windscreen is the wrong shape, and the canopy panels are the wrong sizes.
The wings aren’t too badly shaped, but lack any details for the guns, gear bays, and control surfaces. What panel lines are provided are incorrectly shaped and in the wrong place.
The landing gear and wheels are the incorrect size and lack details.
That is just the main points. I hope I didn’t offend anyone as seems usual when I post about the inaccuracies of a kit.
I think it comes from when you say it “kinda looks like a P-51”. Statements like that more apply to the balsa wood gliders in the shape of a P-51 I used to get as a kid. It does look like a P-51. Is it a hyper accurate miniature scale model, as the latest Tamiya 1/32 release is? No. The molds date back to 1969, so some perspective is needed. But I will take your word for the contour and shape issues. I certainly agree about the interior details, guns, etc. The surface detail needs to be replaced as well. I picked up a Eduard set and some True Details wheels for mine. But the review linked above sure seems to give kudos to the old kit, especially when compared to the newer and far more expensive Trumpeter kit.
Bronto:
Thanks for giving me a starting point regarding Revell kit details modelers had complained about.
Unfortunately, I only have scale drawings for the “D” model so comparing the old Revell kit to a drawing is not yet feasible.
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I certainly don’t expect a vintage 1969 kit to be able to compete against a modern tooled kit.
However, after examining the photos of the Trumpeter kit on the Aeroscale website and seeing a recommendation elsewhere for buying a resin wing replacement to correct the Trumpeter kit, I was having my doubts about the cost effectiveness of buying Trumpeter vs. Revell.
Ergo, my internet search for accuracy information.
Stickpusher:
I may pick up some after market for the Revell kit or just scratch build some details and call it good enough.
In any case, I’m not yet convinced that the Trumpeter is worth the nearly $100 retail cost.[^o)]
Thanks for your input, guys. [:D]
The Revell kit is better shaped than the Trumpeter one. Another option that I have used is to take the Hasegawa D fuselage nose and lower rear fuselage and graft it onto the revell center / upper fuselage. The Hasegawa D Kits can be found pretty cheaply now that there are newer options.
Thanks for that suggestion about the Hasegawa kit graft.
A local swap meet is due in a couple of months and I’ll be checking for deals on kits.
I will be sure to add the Hasegawa kit as a possible purchase if the price is right.[:D][Y]
Oh a Frankenkit!!! The Hasegawa kits are found online often enough for a very affordable price. Especialy since it does not sound like you will be needing the decals, that makes one of the older beat up non collectable boxings more viable.
I wonder how one of the newer 1/32 Hobbycraft Allison engined kits could be used for the same sort of project…
It won’t easily work. The Merlin P-51’s had a deeper / differently shaped fuselage from the Allison ones.
Dude, the best article I’ve found describing that kit is in one of the two WW2 specials FineScale did several years ago, has the P-51 on the cover. The builder wanted to make a very accurate P-51B. He told fellow modelers not to even use that kit; you’d be better off modifying the P-51D from Hasegawa(or Tamiya,been years since I read it).
You really can’t start with a P-51D kit. You need the wings off of a B, they are different from the D wings.
Thats what I thought. Looking at my 1/48 Accurate Miniature Mustang Mk.IA, the belly radiator intake and exhaust lookd more shallow.
Well yeah,he was modifying a D to a B.Of course he had to change the wing.
So is there a good “off ther shelf” kit that models a realistic B ?
That is, a good realistic P-51B in 1/32 scale?
A buddy of mine grafted the 1/32 Monogram P-51 D nose section to the Revell B kit. He passed on before finishing it, but I have the model and will finish it for him one day!
So far per my on-line research, I’m beginning to think the answer is no.[:'(]
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Out of curiosity, did anyone look at the now defunct 21st Century models pre-built P-51 to check if they at least got the outline correct?
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I bought their kit versions of the Bf-109, Ju-87B and Macchi 202 and was pleasantly surprised that the outlines compared favorably to more expensive model kits.
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Interiors were basic, but the kits were only $10 at Wally Mart…and the decals were beautiful.
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I was hoping the company would issue a kit of the P-51B so i could eventually compare to drawings,
Unfortunately, the company went belly up.before I could examine their version.
Here are a pic of the Monogram nose transplant to the Revell B. My computer and Photo Bucket are not cooperating tonight! Will try later with side and 3/4 front shots.
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Not without doing a lot of work.