ICM 1/48th P-51D w/USAAF Pilots and Ground Personnel
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The Kit
 This
kit is a reissue by ICM of their previous P-51D but includes a bonus of
five extra figures consisting of a standing pilot in full flight gear
including parachute, a seated pilot (the base kit includes one as well),
a staff officer in leather jacket with optional heads and two ground personnel
in overalls. All of the figures are well molded and very detailed. This
added feature should be a real treat for those wishing to make a simple
diorama or ground scene.
The box is of the open at the end type in ICM's new design which is
white with dark blue, black and red print. The artwork is very well done
and depicts a scene with the aircraft and the extra figures posed around
it. Upon opening the box the builder is presented with 106 parts on 5
white and one clear sprues. There is also an additional sprue of parts
for the four additional figures included with this kit.
 The
panel lines and rivet detail are outstanding and if not for the occasional
sink mark and fair amount of flash the kit is on par with offerings from
the big two Japanese companies. Most of the molding defects seem to be
concentrated on the fuselage which has a significant sink mark on the
left wing root and one on each side in the area above the tail wheel well.
None of these issues are major but as kits continue to get better, repair
skills may have to be dusted off!
The instructions seem fairly straightforward with a nicely drawn exploded
diagram for each of the eleven steps. The last page has a paint key which
only matches with Humbrol paints but since this is a Mustang there are
plenty of references for one to use his favorite paints.
 Like
most aircraft kits construction begins with the cockpit. There are four
steps with the first two being the seat and instrument panel subassemblies.
After that the instructions call for the well molded one-piece pilot to
be painted. Next all three are married up with the cockpit floor, control
stick, firewalls and radiator section.
Once the "office" is complete it and the radiator are enclosed
by the two finely engraved fuselage halves. Next the top of the cowling,
exhausts and chin scoop fairing are attached. These parts are then quickly
joined by the stabs and wing. The center section of the wheel well is
a separately molded piece which provides a decent amount of detail. It
is important to open the four holes for the bomb racks before gluing the
wing halves together.
 Now
that this is starting to look like a Mustang this is probably the stage
where most of us will do the majority of filing, sanding, priming and
painting. Next I'll paint and assemble the main landing gear for attachment
later. The final three steps call for attachment of the flaps, belly scoop
fairing, gear doors, choice of bombs or drop tanks, canopy and prop.
Decals
The kit provides markings and painting instruction for only one aircraft,
that of Maj Pierce W. McKennon's "Ridge Runner III." It is a
NMF scheme with a partial red nose, red canopy framework and white rudder
all-in-all a rather attractive combination. The decals themselves are
matte finish on an almost imperceptible carrier film. This combination
makes them appear very delicate. We will report on how they perform later
in the full-build review.
 Conclusion
This kit is an outstanding bargain at half the price of its contemporaries.
Highly recommended for those not afraid of a little putty who want an
accurate quarter scale "Pony" in their stable but don't want
to break their budget.
Thanks to ICM Holding for the review
sample.
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