Arma Hobby 1/72 P51 B/C Mustang

August 1, 2023 · in Aviation · · 20 · 349

This is the best kit I've ever put together, without a doubt. Beautifully engineered and produced, zero flash and no problems with any of the fit, apart from the front of the cockpit glazing being maybe half a millimetre too narrow to fit across the fuselage. Even the decal sheet is cleverly printed, so you don't need to keep cutting holes in it to get to the part you need - they've coordinated the order of printing with the stencil decals.
I tried to replicate the "stressed skin" look with paint, but it didn't come out anywhere near as nicely as the one I'd seen in a YouTube tutorial. First time I've tried a mainly bare metal finish, using some MRP and AK Extreme Metal colours. Some oils and Mig powder for final weathering, which I tried to keep to a minimum - I have a tendency to go overboard.

P-51C-10-NT , 43-25045/C3-W "My Pal Snookie", pilot Lt Edward T Pawlak, 382nd Fighter Squadron, 363rd Fighter Group, Lipiec, France, July 1944.

Reader reactions:
12  Awesome

7 additional images. Click to enlarge.


20 responses

  1. Looks great, Robert, I shouldnโ€™t worry about the You Tube video, most of them are posted by people who only worry about how many โ€œlikesโ€ they get.

    • Thanks George. The guy who did the video was very clever, and it was a really helpful tutorial. Not sure what the aircraft was - it looked a bit like a C47 or something like that. He black based it, then preshaded most of the panels in white. When he applied the metal coating it really did look impressive, and definitely gave the impression of the "stressed skin" look, which I hoped to replicate. Next time, maybe!

  2. Amazing result, Robert! a great kit for sure, but it takes your skills to produce such a marvelous model that looks definitely 1/48!
    Congrtulations!

  3. Thank you, Spiros !
    I've got the new Arma 1/48 Hurricane to build, but I need a couple of after market bits and pieces before I start it. The Mustard had some photo etch included, whereas the Hurricane has nothing.

  4. One great-looking Pony! I'm on my second ArmaHobby kit now - a bit heavily engineered, but really great kits!

  5. Thanks Greg. That's my second Arma. I built the 1/72 Hurricane a couple of years ago, but I don't remember it being as outstanding as the Mustang.

  6. With your skills you turned this kit into a beautiful Mustang, Robert @rob-cookson
    It could clearly pass as a 1/48.
    Well done.

  7. Certainly looks like it carries a 1/48 level of detail, which your excellent build brings out. Your attempt at skin stress looks successful to me - especially on the wings. That's very ambitious for 1/72!

  8. Thanks, Tim. I can't claim any responsibility for the level of detail - that's purely down to the team at Arma Hobby. I could not recommend this kit any more highly. It took me about 3 weeks - my normal time to finish a model is months, so I think that says it all

  9. Very nice build. I agree with your assessment as I've built this kit (as Gung Ho.)

  10. Incredible detail on a plane of this scale. Genuinely impressed!

  11. Nicely done Robert.

  12. Thank you Dan. I have a horrible feeling that Arma may well have ruined all the other kits in my collection! (Including about 45 Wingnuts !)

  13. A fine looking little Mustang!

  14. Looks very very good

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