Korea The Forgotten War-Modelsvit N. American F-82G Twin Mustang, USAF

When we planned on the Korean War GB, it was an opportunity to buildsome aircraft and ground equipment other than the well known F-86 Sabre, MiG-15's, Panthers and Sherman tanks. The Korean War made use of what was used in WWII, on both sides. From T-34's, Yaks, F-51's, B-29's,Pershing Tanks, Jeeps and more. Also introduce new technology of the day, like the F-82, F-80, the F-86, M-46 Patton. So with ICM releasing their series of B-26 Invaders, it was perfect to use one as a project for this. About this time we were aware that Modelsvit was going to produce an F-82G Twin Mustang, a year after we started the KWGB. It was perfect timing. Knowing that being the first time in building a Modelsvit product. I was expecting some challenges.

As the war progressed in the Pacific, the long range B-29 bombers could make the long flight to the Japanese Islands, but the P-38's. P51's and P-47's were struggling to make the flight. Not only distance but hours of flight in a fighter would have pilots fatigued in a very uncomfortable environment. The need of such a long range escort fighter to fly distances required a 2nd pilot, long range, XP-82 was developed by extending the fuselage for larger internal fuel tanks, 6 .50 cal guns mounted on the center section of the wing, 2 fuselages into a single wing with the ability for both to be able to fly the aircraft, eliminating the fatigue of having 2 pilots able to take control, while one rested. The XP-82 first flew in 1945. The priority of this project was pushed back a bit once the Marines were capturing Islands that were drawing closer to the Japanese Mainland. Which the distances grew shorter, and priority was on the B-29's and Mustangs and T-bolts that were able to fly the distance. At the end of the war, the need for a long range escort fighter was still a need and the Twin Mustang program continued with only 272 units built. The last series being the F-82G Night Figher version, which the last was delivered in 1949. But as the jet age started to become the priority in development, the use of the F-82 were relegated for training as some units were disbanding and air frames retired. An F-82G units were base in Japan when war broke out in 1950. The F-82 was the last piston engine developed for the Air Force and flown. F-82;s were used interim as the war started in facing the N.Korean Air Force in combat over the Korean peninsula. As jets started to become the mainstay the F-82G's were withdrawn from service and retired in 1953. The F-82G had a center pod housing the SCR-720C18 radar, the 2nd pilot was eliminated and the station in the RH fuselage became the radar operator. Capable of launching rockets and bombs depending on tasking.

I have the Modelcraft F-82 kit in the stash and had brought it down on several occasions and everytime put it back even after gathering some aftermarket stuff for it. As the KWGB was proposed I was going to use that as an excuse to finally start on it. Then the news came out that Modelsvit was going to do an F-82F/G Twin Mustang. I decided to wait for the kit and ordered one as soon as it became available. I knew I had time as the GB was almost a year into the series. The kit is a challenge but a pleasant one, reading build reviews as a guide and learning about it's quirks and issues helped in building it. Yes you do have to trim down the top edges of the main gear bay walls to get the top wing to fit properly over the center section of the lower wing while attaching a pair of almost complete fuselages, align, fit and still have all kinds of seams to fill. Yeesh. A bit of over engineering, but not like Kitty Hawk or Trumpeter at times that becomes tedious. The cockpits are well detailed, goes well together, nice touches with the fine extra details, the hoses provided, the decals for the interior are excellent and looks very good within the cockpit. Lots of fragile parts to remove from the sprues. I managed not to break anything. The only real big goof I made is at the end. The interior is Zinc chromate Green and the wheel wells are Zinc Chromate Yellow. I used Gunze Gloss Black for the airframe, The kit supplied the PE belts for the seats,and the unique exhaust manifold. For those I went with Resin 2 Details for the manifolds, excellent and easy to install. Much easier to work with than the PE provided ones in the kit. After painting, I have no idea where I put the national markings that came with the kit, so improvised but in my blind no clue mind knowing better, I used the normal blue back ground markings, when they should have been the red/white markings. Doooh, a glaring error. I may have just overpainted them with gloss black and re apply them, and you know I will do that down the road. Not an easy build, but not to the point that is frustrating. The details are excellent, I will build another Modelsvit kit in the future.

Fly Navy

Chuck

56 additional images. Click to enlarge.