How to Build a P-51 Mustang Model Airplane

If being acknowledged as the premier piston-powered fighter of the Second World War wasn’t enough, there are other reasons to consider the P-51 Mustang as a modeling project. Beginner hobbyists will find its single-engine, monoplane design easier to construct than multi-engine or biplane aircraft, while its wide range of variants, national markings and paint schemes provide seasoned modelers ample opportunity for customization. Whether finished in olive drab or as the colorful mount of any of the aces that flew her, this legendary plane makes a great addition, or start, to your own squadron of aircraft models.

Things You'll Need

• Hobby knife
• Sandpaper, 1,200 to 2,000 grit
• Model glue
• Model paints in the appropriate color
• Model putty
• Thinner
• Model primer

Instructions

Preparation

1. Wash the sprues--the plastic frames holding the parts--with soapy water to remove residual oils then tamp dry.

2. Trim excess flash--the plastic flange left over from manufacturing--from the pieces. Sand down any irregularities or brand marks beginning with 1,200 grit and working upward.

3. Prime the entire kit with a light coat of spray primer. Identify which parts (i.e. pilot, cockpit, wheels, canopy, weapons and engine) require painting prior to assembly. Paint these parts while still attached to the sprue. Let dry.

Assembly

1. Remove parts from the sprue as needed using the modeling knife. Trim away rough spots from where the piece was connected and sand it smooth.

2. Test fit all components and assemblies by fitting them together dry before gluing them. Sand lightly to remove any irregularities or primer along the areas to be glued.

3. Assemble the kit in the order designated by the instructions, applying glue sparingly to the parts to be connected. Avoid over-gluing as the excess will squeeze out from the seams and be visible even after the model has been painted. Wipe away excess glue as it appears. Let multi-piece assemblies like wheel struts dry completely before gluing them to the aircraft.

4. Touch up the unpainted spots where prepainted pieces have been removed from the sprue (i.e. the top of the pilot’s head, gunsight and wheels) before attaching. Fill gaps in the model where seams meet imperfectly with model putty, sanding when dry.

5. Allow the assembled kit to dry. Sand down any blotches of glue that have spread from the seams. Rinse off dust, particles and fingerprints by rubbing the kit under a gently flowing tap. Tamp dry.

Painting

1. Mask the canopy with masking tape. Paint and reverse mask any desired markings like D-Day stripes or squadron colors before applying the overall paint scheme. Paint the aircraft according to the schemes included with the kit or to match a historical aircraft of preference. Let paint dry completely before removing masking and applying decals.

2. Accent the model by brushing on a thin coat of black wash (black paint thinned with water or solvent) into its indentures (such as sunken rivets and the seams between panels and flaps).

3. Simulate wear and weathering by drybrushing--using only enough paint to catch contours or leave faint streaks--patches of silver in areas the paint would have worn off the actual aircraft (i.e. pilot’s step, edges of cockpit, access panels and wings). Blacken exhaust ports, gun bores and shell ejection slots by drybrushing them with black.

Tips & Warnings

• Test blackwash solutions and drybrushing mixtures on pieces of sprue to gauge their effectiveness before applying them to the model.

• Using a sheet of plywood as a work surface provides a backing to safely cut parts from the sprues, can serve as a palette as well as to catch glue or paint spills.

• Adding a modeler’s vice, magnifying glass and tweezers greatly eases the job of working with small pieces and other delicate assemblies.

• With production stretching from 1941 to 1975 and a service history in over 20 air forces, opportunities to customize the P-51 abound. Basing your model on a photo of an ace’s plane or one in non-USAF service then using custom decal sets available online or at hobby shops will produce a kit that’s truly unique.

• Hobby knives are sharp; always cut away from your body and against a firm surface.

• Work in a well-ventilated area so fumes from glue, paint and thinners don’t accumulate.

• Never twist parts from the sprue as this can cause them to bend or break.

References

• “Fighting Aircraft of World War II”; Bill Gunston; 1988
• Model Airplane Building; Learn to Build a Realistic Plastic Airplane Model

Resources

• P51 Mustang Models; Precision Built Plastic Models of the P-51 Mustang
• “Aircraft of World War II”; Jim Winchester; 2004
• “The Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft”; Robert Jackson; 2004