What is best value kit to depict 1/48 ANG F-51D?

[Dutch]

As the title suggests, I am wondering what is "best value" readily available kit to depict 1/48 ANG F-51D?  By "best value," I mean the cheapest kit (<$15-$20) with the most correct features or easily corrected features without resorting to aftermarket doo-dads. I am not a P-51 aficianado, and don't have any P-51 books, just Francillon's Aerograph 2, which has mostly small photos.

 

As a baseline, I think I need the Aeroproducts un-cuffed prop and possibly a Dallas hood, but am unsure of the exhaust stacks or other details that may vary from kit to kit. 

 

I currently have as options: Monogram, Otaki/ARII/AMT, Hasegawa, & Tamiya P-51D kits. 

I am currently not considering the following kits: Airfix, Hawk/Italeri/Testors, Hobbycraft, ICM, Revell (original), & Meng. 

 

Appreciate your collective input.

R/ Dutch

Edited May 25, 2017 by Dutch
Fix kit list, fix prop type

[Dutch]

Now that I look at the kits again on Scalemates, should i consider the Revell P-51D instead of the Monogram P-51D?  The Revell kit seems to have the correct prop and hood while the Monogram kit has a cuffed Hamilton-Standard prop.

Edited May 25, 2017 by Dutch
Fix prop type

[Slartibartfast]

The prop was an uncuffed Hamilton-Standard. Canopy could any one of the four known varieties. Just be sure the kit is a later model D so it has the rocket launcher stubs.

[Dutch]

@Slartibartfast,  Thank you, I reversed the prop manufacturers by mistake.  You are right, I do need the uncuffed prop.  I researched some Hasegawa & Tamiya kit reviews and have pretty much determined that the Hasegawa kit is my first choice as it offers both cuffed & uncuffed props and both regular and Dallas hoods.  However, I can find a Revell kit for ~$15 and a Hasegawa kit for ~$21-$25.  Should I go ahead for the Hasegawa kit?

Edited May 25, 2017 by Dutch

[Dutch]

@Slartibartfast,  Wait!  Now I am confused.  I have read an IPMS Hasegawa kit review and a Hyperscale Hasegawa kit review, and both mention that the Hamilton-Standard prop was cuffed, while the Aeroproducts prop was uncuffed. After a little more digging, I found a Britmodeller review which mentions that Hamilton-Standard had both cuffed and uncuffed props. Even Wikipedia P-51 article mentions the three props, stating that most F-51Ds in service during the 1950s were fitted with the uncuffed HS prop. So, I am now educated (at least a little).  Anyway, I am pretty much decided on the Hasegawa kit for having all the right parts OOTB: prop, correct drop tanks, and two options for hoods. R/ Dutch

Edited May 25, 2017 by Dutch
Correct previous mistakes.

[dnl42]

Curious why you aren't considering the upcoming Airfix? At <$27 list, it should be an outstanding kit based on their recent releases...

 

Clearly though, Airfix is planned for September; everything else is available now...

[Dutch]

@dnl42, Thank you for the link. I was not aware Airfix was releasing a new P-51D.  It does look very nice, except for the cuffed prop. I may consider it. R/ Dutch

[eraucubsfan]

Just out of curiosity, why aren't you considering the Tamiya F-51 kit? 

[Dutch]

@eraucubsfan, Good question.  I have read a review of the Tamiya P-51D kit that says that the canopy is a two piece affair with the clear separate from the sliding frame.  Most builders recommend using a vacuform replacement, just the extra step I was hoping to avoid.  I would prefer the whole canopy be one piece.  Secondly, every review I have seen shows the Tamiya kit with HS cuffed props. The Hasegawa reviews mention both cuffed and uncuffed props and 75 gal metal tanks, though I will probably build mine "clean."  I see that the Tamiya #61044 F-51D Korean War kit comes with a new parts tree for HS uncuffed prop and rockets and bombs.  I might consider it, but the canopy still turns me off.

[eraucubsfan]

@Dutch  Yes the canopy is a two piece affair, but I didn't mind it at all. Makes painting/masking it a lot easier, in my opinion.  I can confirm because I just built one a year or so ago, it does come with the un-cuffed propellers,  different canopies, along with rockets etc... 

[Slartibartfast]

The problem with the Tamiya hood is the sprue attachment point. It is apparently quite difficult to cut the sprue and clean the hood without leaving evidence of the sprue attachment.

[Dutch]

Well, I see on evilBay that Tamiya #61044 F51D Korean War kit is going for ~$25-$27.  On Amazon, it is selling for under $20, or the same price as the Hasegawa kit.  So I might just get the Tamiya kit this weekend.

[DonSS3]

I saw a Tamiya F-51D on eBay that was at $10.00 or so. Of course a couple of bids could change that… 

If you're in the US, I see that recently they've been selling for somewhere in the $10-15 range. There was one that went for $25.00, but I have no idea why when most the others are going for less than half of that. 

[DavidRezabek]

Look for an ICM P-51D or a P-51K. They are Tamiya knock offs & they tend to be cheaper. The kits include both shrouded and unshrouded exhausts and both types of Hamilton Standard props, cuffed & uncuffed. Both types of props were found in ANG units though the uncuffed tended to be a little more numerous in use. (The uncuffed HS prop has squared off tips. The Aeroproducts prop - which you don't want for most ANG Mustangs - was cuffless but had pointed prop tips.) Canopies are a crap shoot. All types were in use during this time frame.

 

http://modelingmadness.com/scott/allies/previews/icm/48154.htm

 

- David

Edited May 29, 2017 by DavidRezabek

[Scooby]

The 1/48 MENG P-51D would be the best. It has all the options required.

[Dutch]

@Scooby,  Hmm.. yes the Meng kit is very tempting.  It is "glueless" (i.e. snap & screw together), right?  It is also the most expensive quarter inch scale Mustang on the market right now.  That was the main reason for not including it in the list.  I have a line on a Tamiya #61044 F-51D Korean War Mustang (with all the right parts) for under $20, so will go that route.  Thanks to everyone for their input.  R/  Dutch