Eduard 1/32
P-51D Mustang Exterior Detail Set

Eduard from the Czech Republic is easily the most prolific producer of aftermarket details. Period. Their series of photo-etched detail sets have brought additional fidelity to otherwise bland subjects, and have taken even the best-produced models and kicked them up a notch or two with details that cannot be produced with injection-molded plastic.

This release tackles the exterior of the DML 1/32 P-51D Mustang kit. The project starts in the Packard Merlin engine with plumbing and wiring details added to the kit engine. The set also adds replacement clamps for the firewall-mounted oil tank, access plates for the supercharger, and other smaller details all intended to 'busy up' under the hood.

The surrounding engine panel moutning skeleton gets a set of laminate detals to represent all of the dzus faster holes used to mount the hood and side access panels to the nose.

The radiator intake receives a photo-etched radiator face, while the radiator flap and interior well get a complete makeover in photo-etch. New sidewalls, exhaust flap, and other structural details are rendered nicely in photo-etch.

The wheel wells receive some detailing as well as the landing gear struts.

The set is rounded out with new fins and details for the kit's bombs, drop tanks, and rockets.

As you can see in the instructions, each step is nicely laid out to show where the new parts go and, when applicable, where a little surgery is required..

While this set will really set off the detail in DML's P-51D kit, this detail set is not for the beginning modeler. You will need to be able to remove the photo-etch parts from their frets (simple once you know how) and then be able to apply these details using cyano adhesives without gluing yourself to the kit parts. It isn't difficult, or else these sets wouldn't be so popular.

You should be able to find this detail set at your local hobby retailer or one of the many online hobby shops. Trust me, this is worth looking for! With a little work, this set may be adaptable to the Hasegawa P-51D as well, but no guarantees!

Recommended for experienced modelers!

My sincere thanks to Eduard for this review sample!