LPS Hobby 1/72 North American P-51 Mustang Decals
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Overview
The P-51 Mustang has no shortage of interesting markings, and one could fill shelf after shelf and only scratch the surface. LPS Hobby has added to their earlier Mustang decal sheets with three more great Mustang sheets covering European P-51s.
1/72 8th Air Force Mustangs
This decal sheet provides markings for three P-51B Mustangs, two of which have the blown Malcolm hoods, and is designed for the Academy kit. The instructions note that there are complete markings and stencils for one of the options, but if you don't mind sourcing stencils and national markings, you could build all three and have a nice collection of P-51Bs. The first aircraft is "The Iowa Beaut," flown by Lt Robert E Hulderman of the 354th FS, 355th FG out of Steeple Morden, England in autumn 1944. This plane has a white nose and overall green upper surfaces over the natural metal.
The second option is "Bald Eagle," flown by Lt Robert T Eckfeldt of the 374th FS, 361st FG out of Bottisham, Engand in summer 1944. This plane has a green upper fuselage and inner upper wing, covering the invasion stripes. The individual markings include a yellow spinner and nose band and blue and yellow stripes along the upper cowl, wingtips, and rudder trim tab.
The final option is "Queen Jean," flown by Capt William J Shackleford of 375th FS, 361st FG out of Little Walden, England in autumn 1944. This plane had its upper wing invasion stripes stripped off, rather than covered up, but the upper fuselage is painted in green. The nose is yellow, and the markings include an interesting ace of spades motif on the vertical fin and rudder trim tab.
1/72 USAAF Camouflaged P-51Ds Part 1
The second two sheets are nice as they provide a break from the usual natural metal Mustangs. This sheet has three olive drab over neutral gray P-51D Mustangs, and is designed for the Tamiya kit. All three are from the 357th FG out of Leiston, England, and like the above sheet, includes stenciling and markings for one complete aircraft. The first option is "Mary Alice," flown by Capt Atlee G Manthos of the 363rd FS. This plane is coded B6 – F.
The second option is the well-known "Frenesi," flown by Lt Col Tommy Hayes of the 364th FS. This plane features an impressive scoreboard on the cowl, as well as under the canopy, and is coded C5 – N. The final option rounds out the squadrons of the 357th FG with "Missouri Armada," flown by Capt John B England of the 362nd FS. This plane also has a scoreboard under the canopy, and is coded G4 – E. All three options have the colorful yellow and red checkerboard nose band and red/yellow/red spinner.
1/72 USAAF Camouflaged P-51Ds Part 2
Also for the Tamiya kit, the final sheet in this trio of Mustang decals continues the coverage of 357th FG aircraft, with an odd man out from the 4th FG. Like the previous sheet, these are all olive drab and neutral gray P-51Ds, but unlike the previous sheet, only one of the options here has invasion stripes. That is the first option, "Tangerine," flown by Lt Henry A Pfeiffer of the 364th FS. This plane, coded C5 – E, has invasion stripes on the lower fuselage. The second 357th FG aircraft is "Master Mike," flown by Lt Col Joseph E Broadhead of the 362nd FS. This plane has a long mission tally list on the cowling and six kill markings under the canopy.
The third option is not only a departure from the 357th FG, but also a departure from purely camouflaged aircraft. This is an unnamed aircraft from the 334th FS, 4th FG flown by Maj Howard D "Deacon" Hively. This plane is painted in olive drab (or RAF dark green) over what is most likely natural metal. The nose is red, as is the rudder, and the white QP – J code letters are also trimmed in red.
Conclusion
LPS Hobby decals are printed by Microscale, so if you are familiar with those decals, these should hold no surprises for you. Here's a great opportunity to build some of those Mustang kits piling up in the closet. My thanks to LPS Hobby for the review samples.