JRutman Products 1/32
P-51B Mustang Cockpit

Those of you who have purchased the Trumpeter 1/32nd P-51B Mustang kit have probably recognized some of the shortcomings in this model, one of the most notable being the lack of detail in the cockpit. In this scale and with its simplicity, scratch building a new cockpit for the P-51B would be a fairly straightforward project. However, for those of us who would rather spend time on the pistol range, buying Jerry Rutman’s replacement cockpit is the way to go. Jerry has designed this cockpit and new fuel tank/radio compartment specifically for the Trumpeter kit, so the fit should be good. As you can see in the accompanying photos, the set also includes a new cockpit shroud and gun sight improving this area of the cockpit.

The set is well detailed and includes a seat without lap belts or shoulder harnesses, easy to add using any of the aftermarket sets available for cockpits in this scale. I have a set of Cutting Edge WWII posable belts (CEC32094) I have wanted to try and this would be a good application to do so.

There is includes a pouring block with very tiny details surrounded by flash that will be hard to remove and clean up without damaging the parts or having the carpet monster devour them. However, most of these parts can be easily remade if one or more of them decide to escape while being mounted.

Probably the most delicate piece of the entire set is the rack on which the SCR 522A radio and P94A dynamotor sit on that is located on top of the fuel tank. It is surrounded by flash and it accidentally broke it into several pieces during clean up. I will probably elect to make a new one prior to installing the radio and dynamotor.

Jerry includes a one page nicely drawn set of instructions indicating where everything goes. Each of the tiny details mentioned above is numbered and the drawings show where they go.

JRutman Products also make a number of other aftermarket sets to improve and enhance the Trumpeter P-51B kit (as well as many other 32nd scale kits), so I highly recommend you take a look at his listings at www.jrutman.com.