1/48 Eduard, 1/32 Tamiya and 1/1 P-51D Mustang

Gallery Article by Rafi Ben-Shahar on Nov 28 2019

 

      

Having flown in the "Miss Helen" P-51D, I was curious about the history of the aircraft. Its third and final service role was in the IDF. During its time in the IDF, the aircraft was given the number 43.

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The new Eduard kit was an obvious choice to depict 43. Surface detailing of the kit is probably the best among the 48th scale mustangs. The fit of parts is tight. However, engineering does not come up to the standard of surface detail. On too many occasions I had to use a fast drying glue to ensure proper joint of parts. The wheel bay is nicely molded, but the majority of the piping and electrical cables are missing. In all, I found that there is an advantage in the Eduard model over similar models in the scale. It is in giving you the incentive to go the extra building mile thanks to the beautifully carved plastic.

When dealing with Mustang models, the Tamiya 32nd scale model cannot be ignored. I built the model presented here some time ago. The standards of engineering and surface details mach at the top of the plastic molding quality scale. Yet, scratch building is required in the wheel bay and engine areas.

In conclusion, which model aircraft would you prefer? My choice is obvious.

Rafi Ben-Shahar

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Photos and text © by Rafi Ben-Shahar