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Ready Room 1/48 Cavalier Mustang Conversion

By Al Superczynski

Introduction

In the early 1960s Trans Florida Aviation of Sarasota began acquiring large stocks of government surplus P-51D spare parts in an effort to garner a larger share of the business of rebuilding Mustang aircraft. Many Mustangs were returening to the US from foreign countries and some aircraft struck off charge by the US Army and Air Force were already in civilian hands.

The company, later renamed Cavalier Aircraft, was engaged in returning P-51Ds to flying condition, converting them to high speed executive aircraft, and modifying them for other civilian uses. Two seat and dual control retrofits were also performed.

Cavalier was also involved in rebuilding several Mustangs for the Army and Air Force for use as high speed chase aircraft in various helicopter development programs. The Cavalier Mustang II began life as a private venture to interest the US and friendly foreign governments in the potential of the Mustang as a COunter INsurgency, or COIN, aircraft. It was felt that the performance envelope of the P-51 offered some advantages over turbojet aircraft in terms of endurance and range. In 1966-67, with the Vietnam conflict at its height, successes achieved by the T-28D and A-1 no doubt influenced this thinking. In any event a number of already refurbished Mustangs were further modified to update their capabilities.

Available sources suggest that there were at least four aircraft modified with modern electronics, increased fuel capacity, internal and external stregthening, enhanced external stores capability, wingtip fuel tanks, and late model Mustang features such as the Dallas canopy and the tall vertical tail of the P-51H. Also installed were uprated Merlin engines which had been used in civil aircraft but were still compatible with the P-51D airframe.

The Conversion Kit

This reissued conversion set is intended for use with the Hawk/Testors/Italeri P-51D and consists of a single sheet of vac-formed parts on .030 plastic, a choice of either four resin prop blades or an injection-molded prop for use in kits using hollow spinners, a vac-formed Dallas canopy, six white metal stores pylons, two pre-sized plastic strips, and a small piece of sheet plastic along with full instructions. No decals are included.

An example of the earliest days of aftermarket sets, this conversion is somewhat crude by today's standards but still useful in the hands of a skilled modeler. All the external vac-formed parts are usable if a bit "soft" but most of the cockpit details are best used in conjunction with the detailed plans as a guide for scratchbuilt items or selecting parts box replacements. The canopy is molded in a good thick plastic that would benefit from a thorough polishing and a dip or two in Future floor polish or something similar to improve and restore its clarity but using a Dallas hood from another kit might be a better option still.

The resin prop blades are good, and are designed as a direct replacement for the kit parts. The white metal underwing pylons appear to be accurate but have the slightly rough surface common to the breed - they may, however, look fine after a coat of primer.

Although not included in my review sample the Ready Room advises that production conversion sets will include a 3 1/2" floppy of images to aid the builder, and a Word document of ideas and notes.

Recommended, but with the caveat that some scratchbuilding skills and advanced techniques are required. This is most certainly no "Shake-n-Bake" project but the price is definitely right - a mere $9.95 plus shipping direct from Jim Marrs who kindly provided the review kit.

Future reissued conversions from the Ready Room will include a Cavalier Turbo-Mustang III @ $ 12.95 and a Piper PA-48 Enforcer @ $ 11.95.

The Ready Room Model Kit Locator Service
75 7th Street
Colchester, VT 05446

(802) 872-3196