IPMS Canada 1-48 RCAF Mustangs

1/48 RCAF P-51's

442 'Caribou' Sqn.

Mustangs IV's

Review by Steve Bamford Jan 16 '04

--------------------

This is a new decal sheet from IPMS Canada. The sheet includes markings for 4 different and colourful RCAF Mustangs in 1/48 scale.

As with all good decal sheets....this one has a story behind these colourful markings. These 4 RCAF Mustangs flew one of the last operational missions of WW2 in the European theatre. 14 RCAF Mustangs set out on this mission on May 9 1945 to provide an escort for naval forces sent to liberate of the Channel Islands which had been under German occupation since 1940 and were overlooked during the D-Day landings in Normandy. The Germans had offered to surrender, but there were rumours the German Commandant wanted to blow the destroyers out of the water. The RCAF Mustangs of 442 'Caribou' Squadron were sent to make sure the naval forces didn't meet unnecessary harm. As luck would have it, the German's surrendered peacefully and the mission was uneventful. Although 14 RCAF Mustangs left RAF station Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, 3 Mustangs had to return with mechanical problems. This mission was lead by Wing Commander James (JAS) Storrar flying KM232.

The first plane is a Mustang Mk. 1VA, KH729, flown by Squadron Leader Mitchell Johnston. This aircraft is a US P-51K, s/n 44-11497, fitted with an Aero Products prop, Dallas canopy and shrouded exhaust. The aircraft is natural metal. The Spinner is yellow with a black tip and the anti-glare panel and

canopy frame are yellow with a thin blue outline. There is a Squadron Leaders flag on the fuselage by the cockpit and on both sides of the tail you'll find the RCAF's overseas' roundel, which is a red maple leaf inside a blue ring. The code letters "Y2 A" are black with a yellow outline. The code letter decals come in 2 layers to ensure perfect registration.

The second plane is a Mustang Mk. 1VA, KH680, "Edmonton Special" flown by Pilot Officer A.J. Mallandaine. This aircraft is a US P-51K, s/n 44-11383, fitted with an Aero Products prop, Dallas canopy and shrouded exhaust. The aircraft is finished in the correct MAP colours of Dark Green and Ocean

Grey and Medium Sea Grey undersurfaces. The Spinner, antiglare panel and lower canopy are yellow while the rest of the canopy frame is natural metal. The entire aircraft has a rather worn and weathered appearance. The white script on the fuselage side by the canopy reads "Edmonton Special". There is an 18" wide Sky fuselage band. The code letters "Y2 B" have a yellow outline. The code letter decals come in 2 layers to ensure perfect registration.

The third plane is a Mustang Mk. 1VA, KM232, flown by Wing Commander James Storrar. This aircraft is a US P-51K, s/n 44-12395, fitted with an Aero Products prop, Dallas canopy and shrouded exhaust. The aircraft is natural metal. The anti-glare panel and canopy frame are light (RAF?) blue with a dark blue

edge. Note that the lower canopy frame and hydraulic fluid reservoir cover are a lighter shade. The windscreen framing appears to be dark blue. The front of the carburator intake and a thin stripe around the front of the nose are also dark blue. This aircraft was kept highly polished. The code letters "JAS" are black and have a light blue outline. The code letter decals come in 2 layers to ensure perfect registration. This aircraft has a Wing Commanders Pennant on the side of the fuselage by the canopy. The pilots eat armour and gun sight have been removed. this aircraft was fitted with an AN/APS-13 tail warning radar system

The fourth plane is a Mustang Mk. 1VA, KH661, flown by Flying Officer P. Bremner. This aircraft is a US P-51D, s/n 44-11188, fitted with a cuffed Hamilton Standard Prop, Inglewood style canopy and shrouded exhaust. The aircraft is finished in the correct MAP colours of Dark Green and Ocean Grey and Medium

Sea Grey undersurfaces. The Spinner, antiglare panel and canopy frame are yellow. The entire aircraft is kept well and shows few signs of wear. There is an 18" wide Sky fuselage band. The code letters are "Y2 C". There is a light grey replacement panel on the front of the left side of the engine cowling. On both sides of the tail you'll find the RCAF's overseas' roundel, which is a red maple leaf inside a blue ring.

The decals are contained on one decal sheet and do not include any stencils. The decals were flawlessly printed and the clear carrier film is trimmed very close to the crisply printed colored areas, which is always good to see. Some of the more complicated decals are 2 layers to ensure perfect registration. The printing is clear, crisp and of a quality that will ensure ease of use. The colours are solid enough that it appears these decals will cover any underlying paint with no problems. There are enough decals to make 3 of the RCAF Mustangs on this decals sheet. This decal sheet has a good variety of colourful schemes.

Also included are resin louvres which are designed to go over the perforated cowl breather panels in each side of the nose. These louvres were unique to Commonwealth Mustangs. The casting is very thin and cleanly done with no air bubbles.

The instructions are clear and include one page of colour profiles, a page of B&W tope views an extra 2 pages of text instruction are included with a info about all 4 aircraft. this is also text info about the placement of the resin louvres and how to create a Hamilton Standard prop from the kit prop and this includes a B&W line drawing to cut out and use at a template you attach with rubber cement of stick glue to the prop blades in the Tamiya Korean War P-51 D to create uncuffed Hamilton Standard prop blades.

Click on images below to see larger images of the instruction sheets

A very nice product and highly recommended.

Steve

I would like to thank IPMS Canada for providing me with this review sample.

To order this product which costs CDN$15 plus CDN$3 for shipping for IPMS Canada members or CDN$20 plus CDN$3 for shipping for non IPMS Canada members. You can order these decals from.....

IPMS Canada

Box 626, Station 'B'

Ottawa, Ontario

K1P 5P7

CANADA