f5guy Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Hi everyone, I just picked up Caracal's decal sheet for ANG P/F-51Ds, but have no idea what kit to start with. I haven't built a WWII prop in 40 years heh heh! I'm not looking for a show stopper, or something accurate down to the last rivit...... just an easy, fun, inexpensive, and reasonably accurate build. Suggestions please! Thanks, Fred K. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Boyer Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Look for the Airfix kit of the Korean War F-51D. Good, easily built, and inexpensive. The Korean War version will have some of the later details you'll probably want for the ANG birds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Hegedus Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Either the Tamiya or Airfix F-51D kit. Both are excellent, and at least the Tamiya kit has both the cuffed and uncuffed (with square tips) Hamiltion-Standard props. The uncuffed is common on post-WWII Mustangs. Both kits are very similar, except for Tamiya providing optional canopies (IIRC) and Airfix allowing the option for lowered flaps out of the box, but on the downside the main landing gear struts on the Airfix are often warped and need either straightening or replacement with aftermarket ones. I was able to straighten all the ones I had that were warped and so far, they've all remained that way. Other than that, there isn't much to choose between one or the other aside from price. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted February 19, 2019 Author Share Posted February 19, 2019 13 hours ago, Paul Boyer said: Look for the Airfix kit of the Korean War F-51D. Good, easily built, and inexpensive. The Korean War version will have some of the later details you'll probably want for the ANG birds. Thanks Paul! Fred. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted February 19, 2019 Author Share Posted February 19, 2019 2 hours ago, Joe Hegedus said: Either the Tamiya or Airfix F-51D kit. Both are excellent, and at least the Tamiya kit has both the cuffed and uncuffed (with square tips) Hamiltion-Standard props. The uncuffed is common on post-WWII Mustangs. Both kits are very similar, except for Tamiya providing optional canopies (IIRC) and Airfix allowing the option for lowered flaps out of the box, but on the downside the main landing gear struts on the Airfix are often warped and need either straightening or replacement with aftermarket ones. I was able to straighten all the ones I had that were warped and so far, they've all remained that way. Other than that, there isn't much to choose between one or the other aside from price. Thanks Joe! Looking on ebay, the Tamiya kit seems to be much more available, and just as cheap as the Airfix kit, so I think Tamiya it will be. Thanks again, Fred. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Snowbird3a Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 8 hours ago, Joe Hegedus said: Either the Tamiya or Airfix F-51D kit. Both are excellent, and at least the Tamiya kit has both the cuffed and uncuffed (with square tips) Hamiltion-Standard props. The uncuffed is common on post-WWII Mustangs. the Airfix F-51 comes with the un-cuffed HS prop too. It comes down to price and/or availabliity. I have both kits, if all things were equal, I would go with the Airfix kit, despite the L/G leg situation and the inaccurate horizontal stabs. Cheers, Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Hegedus Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 19 hours ago, Snowbird3a said: the Airfix F-51 comes with the un-cuffed HS prop too. It comes down to price and/or availabliity. I have both kits, if all things were equal, I would go with the Airfix kit, despite the L/G leg situation and the inaccurate horizontal stabs. Cheers, Tony Thanks, Tony. I haven't seen the Airfix F-51, so was not sure what was in there. I've built several of both Tamiya and Airfix P-51s; I agree that it comes down to what you can get most easily. There really isn't much to choose between the 2, unless lowered flaps is a must-have for you. Currently, if I were in the market for 1/72 P-51s, the Airfix would probably get the nod as I can pick them up at Hobby Lobby (and take 40% off the price while I'm at it). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlCZ Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Hi ! 1. Place: Tamiya 2. Place: Hasegawa 3. Place: Airfix Hasegawa have little shallow whells wells, but is still very detailed and time to time relative cheap... Airfix is nice, but Tamiya is King of the Hill... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johnopfor Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 I agree, the Tamiya is probably the best, but you can't really go wrong with the Airfix F-51 too..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Snowbird3a Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Airfix; Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted February 21, 2019 Author Share Posted February 21, 2019 I bought the Tamiya kit guys. Thanks for your help! Fred. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlCZ Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Few weeks back i have a 7x Airfix. But i all sold and waiting for new Eduard 1/48 Mustang in over trees 🙂 - because quarter scale is quarter scale. But all - Tamiya, Hasegawa and Airfix are best ´Stangs in small scale. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted February 21, 2019 Author Share Posted February 21, 2019 12 hours ago, Johnopfor said: I agree, the Tamiya is probably the best, but you can't really go wrong with the Airfix F-51 too..... Nice! Who did the decals? Fred. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johnopfor Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 7 hours ago, f5guy said: Nice! Who did the decals? Fred. Those are some old OOP Ventura decals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 1 hour ago, Johnopfor said: Those are some old OOP Ventura decals. Cool subject! Fred. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chuck1945 Posted March 3, 2019 Share Posted March 3, 2019 Not a deal breaker one way or the other I suspect, but the Airfix kit is the only 1/72 P-51D with correct main gear bays Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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