Eduard 1/48 North American P-51D Mustang – Kit preview
The 2019 edition of the Moson Model Show is on this weekend, and we’re starting traditionally with new kit news presented at the show. And not just any news – this one is likely to be the bombshell kit release of the year.
Courtesy of the Eduard staff, the iModeler crew was allowed to examine the test shots for the company’s forthcoming 1/48 scale P-51D Mustang. The kit will represent an early production D-5 version (without a fin fillet), although it is absolutely certain that we can expect a plethora of further P-51 variations to follow.
What is it
Eduard 1/48 North American P-51D-5 Mustang Profipack
Forthcoming injection-moulded kit with photoetched parts
Self-adhesive masks for canopy
Decal sheet with ? marking options
Available for our scrutiny are the three test-shot sprues in grey plastic, plus a clear sprue. It’s important to note that these do NOT represent the complete kit – for example, all interior, landing gear detail, propellers etc. are missing from this test-shot. Also, although some of the parts look almost production-ready quality, the Eduard representative was clear that much of the detail will still be refined before the kit reaches production.
What’s good
– User-friendly kit engineering
– Beautiful quality of mouldings
– Visible care for detail
– A complete early fusalage without wing fillet is provided
– Moulds are prepared to cover a wide range of P-51 variants.
– Everything in the kit appears to be well-researched down to the smallest bits of this well-known aircraft
– The quality of moulding and overall finesse of this kit is mouth-wathering.
Things to watch for
– In my mind there are none at this point, although Eduard’s design choices in the kit are bound to revive the classic debate about the puttied wings vs. rivets on a Mustang and how to best depict it on a model.
Release date
We’re being informed that Eduard aims at launching the kit (presumably with the first production items being available for purchase) at the 2019 IPMS/US National Convention on 7-10 August in Chattanooga, TN. General availability in hobby stores is expected in October.
Reviewer’s point of view
Do we need another quarter-scale P-51D? Having had these test-shots in my hands, the answer appears clear to me – with this quality, we do! Personally, I’m not going to resist buying the Eduard’s P-51D as soon as it becomes available, even though the previous Airfix, Meng and Tamiya offerings are already in my stash and are all excellent kits. That’s just how exciting this new P-51 feels…
Click on the pictures for details and further commentary.
37 additional images. Click to enlarge.
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Jeff Bailey said on April 27, 2019
This looks like a great kit. I bought the great (new) Airfix kit and was pretty impressed & satisfied. However, with this being fillet-less, I may have to get one of these when they arrive at Sprue Bros. or the other online firms I do business with.
Thanks for the great “look-see” of a new kit in the works.
Editor said on April 27, 2019
Thanks, Jeff!
Jeff Bailey said on April 27, 2019
You are welcome!
Tom Cleaver said on April 28, 2019
Airfix’s early D-5 arrives in June.
I think if you want a bunch of P-51s for schemes and marking, Airfix is the way to go, while if you want a few really nicely-detailed P-51s, this is it.
Me, I’ll go AC/DC.
Stellan Schroeder Englund said on April 27, 2019
Wing fillet? Fin fillet you must mean?
Sure this is going to sell loads being the first early fuselage in 1/48 ever. Now we can build the only Swedish early Mustang without resin parts.
George Henderson said on April 27, 2019
Great to see a P-51D kit without the dorsal fillet. Now lets light a fire under the decal makers collective keesters
Editor said on April 28, 2019
That’s right. The early version opens up for new marking choices, which is refreshing.
Craig Abrahamson said on April 27, 2019
Thanks, Martin…great review. Now – can you (or someone) point out the alternative(s) in the “three versions” of that bubble canopy?
It must be me, ’cause these old eyes can’t see much of a definitive difference. 🙁
Marcus Vinicius Teixeira Borges said on April 27, 2019
Craig,the D variant and the K variant had these variations,but I ain´t no expert…
Tom Cleaver said on April 28, 2019
There’s the “Los Angeles” canopy, the “Dallas” canopy, and the early “teardrop” canopy that you only see on the D-5.
Editor said on April 28, 2019
Thanks for clarifying this, Tom.
Matt Minnichsoffer said on April 27, 2019
Ok, now I will start building 1:48 scale kits. Gotta have one. Thanks for the nice review.
david leigh-smith said on April 27, 2019
The ‘Profipacks’ are amongst my very favourite things to build, every single one of them. This looks no different in terms of class and artistry.
Thanks,
‘Liked’
Pedro L. Rocha said on April 27, 2019
Nice premiere 😉 seems that Eduard did it again, another blockbuster surely
Brett Peacock said on April 28, 2019
And still no one includes the 110 gallon metal drop tanks for the VLR Pacific and Korean war Mustangs (Yeh, I know it’s only 60% of the parts, but they would or should be on the sprue tree with all the other ordinance, no?) They do provide the 75 gal Metal and 109 gal paper tanks as well as 250lb bombs.
Hope is not lost, as I’m reasonably sure they will box a Korea version, if not a Very Long Range one. But I’m not gonna hold my breath for those tanks.
Apart from that one nit, That’s a buyer.
Tony Prince said on April 30, 2019
Looks beautiful. They’ve made a good choice with this version. I’m glad the release date is June because I’ll have to fit in the Airfix Spitfire XIV first! Aren’t we being spoilt? Thanks Eduard.