AeroMasters 1/48th Yellow Nose Mustangs of the 361st F.G. Part V

AeroMaster has continued it's releases of 361st P-51s with this release containing schemes for 2 D models and 1 B model.

First up is "TIKA IV" flown by Lt. Vernon Richards of the 374th squadron. Named after his girlfriend, Tika is in NMF with invasion stripes on the lower surfaces. The text mentions the upper stripes having been removed, but in conversation with Tika's former crew chief, it's possible they may not have been applied. Many D models arrived in the 361st after D-Day and received the stripes on lower surfaces only.

Next on the sheet is "SUZY_G" of the "Bottisham Four" picture fame. There are a couple of miscues by AeroMaster here. "Suzy-G" at the time this sheet portrays is in NMF & camo on the upper invasion stripe areas.
Number one is the pilot's name, AeroMaster gives the pilots name as 'Francis Glenker, the pilots correct name is 'Francis Glankler', who named his Mustang after his wife.

Second is the background color of the artwork. I studied several color pictures where the name was visible and the background is black, not red..
"Suzy-G" was the lone B model in the flight of four that summer day in 1944 and until now remained in the background. I would like to see AeroMaster correct this as this is an opportunity to add a previously undone and significant aircraft marking to the collection.

The third P-51 on the sheet was also one of the flight members of the "Bottisham Four" that day.
"Sky Bouncer", Capt. Bruce Rowletts P-51 also has camo paint over the upper stripe areas and extends up the vertical stabilizer & rudder.
The sheet gives two different decals for the name, one in blue lettering and one in red and suggests "your choice". Studying the same pictures, the lettering clearly is red & not blue. I also could not find any yellow on the wingtips or gun fairing covers as shown on the instruction sheet.

Overall a nice sheet with the exception of the incorrect background color of "Suzy-G"'s decal. Hopefully AeroMaster will consider correcting this on future production runs. Also the font size of the squadron codes is correct in size and style. On the previous 361st releases the size was inconsistent in size from scheme to scheme on the sheet.

I recommend this one highly to add three new 361st Mustangs to the shelf!

Review sample courtesy of my pocket.