I had the privilege of commanding No 3 Squadron RAAF at Butterworth, Malaysia in 1979-1981, so when Tamiya came out with its superb 1/32 P51D kit, I just knew I had to make a model of one of the types flown by my old squadron during WW2.

The subject is KH677, a P-51K flown by Squadron Leader Murray Nash in northern Italy in late 1944/early 1945. About the only thing needed to convert the D to a K was to replace the kit’s Hamilton Standard with an Aeroproducts propeller from Grey Matter Resin.

The exterior decals are by Xtradecals, Squadron Leader Nash’s codes were painted using masks by Montex Masks, and the cockpit was enhanced with Barracuda Studios P-51D Mustang Cockpit Stencils and Placards. Since I wanted the model to have a “used” appearance, I did a little modest hairspray-induced paint chipping and grimed-up the exterior using MIG washes. I got pretty much the result I was after, but I now regret that I didn’t take the trouble to putty the wings.

Unfortunately, KH677 did not survive the war. Sometime in early 1945, Squadron Leader Nash’s codes were transferred to an NMF P-51K (KH716), and KH677 was re-coded with a diamond character replacing Nash’s “P”. She was shot down by FLAK on 11 April while being flown by “Jungle Jim” Edmonds, who was No 3 Squadron’s last combat fatality of the war.

7 additional images. Click to enlarge.