Zoukei-Mura recently announced that they are taking pre-orders on their new 1/32nd scale Kawasaki Ki-100-I Otsu “Goshikisen”. To say this has been a long awaited kit is a gross understatement. Prior to this release, there was no mass produced injection molded Ki-100 model in 1/32nd scale available to modelers. Kudos to Zoukei-Mura for recognizing the need and producing this kit!
Zoukei-Mura
The pre-order period on the Zoukei-Mura Official Site runs from June 26, 2026 through July 26, 2026. For pre-orders coming from Japan, Zoukei-Mura has announced that shipments will begin on August 8, 2026. You can also pre-order the kit through the Volks USA, Inc. website until August 31, 2026, and shipments of those pre-ordered kits will begin in mid-September. The pre-order price through the Volks USA site is $124.00 plus $6.27 in shipping costs.
Zoukei-Mura
As you can see from the above and below photos of the built model from Zoukei-Mura’s website, it looks every bit the part of the real plane.
Zoukei-Mura
There appears to be two decal options as shown below. Both are well known aircraft, and I think it is a safe bet that after market decal manufacturers will provide us several other options as well.
Zoukei-Mura
Again, kudos to Zoukei-Mura for this long awaited kit. I have pre-ordered mine through Volks USA, and will do a review once I receive it in September.
Based on CAD drawings previously published by Zoukei-Mura, I believe modelers can also expect the release of the Ko version (fastback/razorback) of the Ki-100. I believe Radu Brinzan has confirmed that Zoukei-Mura will release both versions.
Eduard recently released the 2nd Weekend Edition boxing of its popular 1/72nd North American P-51D Mustang kit. The first three decal options are for Lt. Edward F. Pogue’s P-51D-5 “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” (79th FS, 20th FG, 8th AF); Capt. Clarence E. Anderson’s P-51D-10 “Old Crow” (363rd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF); Flt. Off. Charles A. Lane’s “Meatball Rap II” (99th FS, 332nd FG, 15th AF). All very interesting and popular subjects for modelers.
Eduard
Iwo Jima VLR Mustang Decals: Eduard has again included decals for 528 “The Enchantress” (P-51D-25-NA, 44-72671), a 457th FS, 506th FG Mustang flown by 2nd Lt. William E. Saks. Unfortunately, 2nd Lt. Saks was one of the pilots lost on the infamous June 1, 1945 “Black Friday” mission, but he was not flying 528 on that day. “The Enchantress” is popular amongst modelers because the nose art and the Albert Varga pin-up girl that adorns the fuselage.
Eduard
2nd Lt. Saks did not score any aerial or ground victories and was lost within a few weeks after the 506th Fighter Group arrived on Iwo Jima.
Dr. Theodore Paprocki sitting on the wing of “The Enchantress (506th Fighter Group Association via Maurita Paprocki)
Below are the aircraft profile drawings for the plane that are included in the instructions for the kit.
Eduard
528 “The Enchantress” survived the war and was part of the USAAF’s inventory that was transferred to Japan as part of the occupation.
528 “The Enchantress” (506th Fighter Group Association)
Because this is a Weekend Edition boxing, there are no photo etch or resin update sets within the kit. The decals included in the kit are very nice, in register, and with a full set of stencils for a 1/72nd kit. Just what we all have come to expect for Eduard.
Eduard
Kudos to Eduard for including decals for an Iwo Jima VLR Mustang in this boxing!
Eduard recently released its 1/72nd P-51D Mustang “Tales of Iwo Jima” Limited Edition Dual Combo boxing. The box art is very appealing.
Eduard
As can be seen from the kit’s aircraft profiles below, the decal options are similar to the 1/48th scale limited edition boxing in that it provides 12 decal options that cover all nine Iwo Jima VLR Mustang squadrons. They will be the same decal options with one change. The 457th Fighter Squadron decals will be for 539 “Lil Ole Meanie II”, flown by 2nd Lt. William G. Hetland and Lt. Hinkle, instead of 542 “Fighting Lady” flown by 1st Lt. Ralph Gardner and 1st Lt. Chester Jatzcak. The decals for 542 “Fighting Lady” are included in the 1/72 P-51D Mustang Profipack boxing.
Eduard
Below is a large aircraft profile of 539 Li’l Ole Meanie II. I am assuming it was included due to the pin-up art below the canopy of the beautiful woman in state of being partially undressed.
Eduard
I am not going to review the actual plastic parts as I have done that previously. You can find that review here. It is a beautiful and well engineered kit with exquisite rivet detail for a 1/72nd scale kit.
Eduard
No resin parts are included in this limited edition dual combo boxing. Customary of Eduard for limited edition boxings, a color photo etched fret is included for each kit that consists of cockpit components and scribing templates (Parts PE7 and PE19) to create accurate panel lines for the VLR Mustangs. The photo etched frets also contain the scribing and placement template, and parts (PE22-25) for the AN/APS-13 rear warning radar installed on the tail of late model Mustangs. Nice touch on Eduard’s part.
Some of Block 20(NA), and all of Block 25(NA) produced P-51Ds had the AN/APS-13 rear warning radar installed. The AN/APS-13 was a low power UHF tail warning radar transmitter/receiver which was used to detect aircraft approaching from the rear. Below 1500 feet it would have to be turned off, otherwise it would receive false readings from the ground. Its effective range against small fighter sized targets was 280 – 320 meters. When it detected an aircraft, a small red light would come on and a bell would ring. Below is a photo of a 462nd FS Mustang showing the location of the AN/APS-13 radar antennae on the tail.
Loomis Dean/USAAF/National Archives via Fold3
The AN/APS-13 radar was seen as somewhat of a blessing and a curse by pilots. Some 506th FG pilots that I have interviewed indicated it was an annoyance during formation flying because it would keep going off when a threat was not present unless you were the tail end Charlie. 1st Lt. William G. Ebersole of the 462nd FS indicated that it was common practice for pilots on VLR missions to turn the radar off during the long over water approach to Japan, and the long return trip back to Iwo Jima, only switching it on upon reaching the Japanese home islands.
There is a minor error on the assembly instructions that warrants pointing out. The avionics transmitters were different on Iwo Jima VLR Mustangs due to the addition of the SCR-695 IFF transmitter which was located right behind the SCR-522 radio transmitter. This addition necessitated moving the battery to the rear of engine compartment. Below is a nice computer generated image of how this set up looked.
John Terrell
Eduard has accurately produced the SCR-522 radio transmitter and SCR-695 IFF transmitter as one part (E3). Eduard also provides the normal configuration of the SCR-522 radio transmitter and battery as part E2. Below is page 3 of Eduard’s instructions (Step A) showing the assembly of the cockpit parts. Please note that the instructions indicate the correct part (E3), but the assembly drawing is of the SCR-522 radio transmitter/battery part (E2). Do not be confused by the wrong pairing of the part number and drawing. If you are building an Iwo Jima VLR Mustang, use part E3.
Eduard
Kudos to Eduard for putting out a 1/72nd Dual Combo Limited Edition boxing that provides decals for all 9 Iwo Jima VLR Mustang squadron. Nice to not to have to rely on the aftermarket decal industry to supply those options. If you want to build an Iwo Jima VLR Mustang in 1/72nd scale, this is the kit and the boxing to buy.
Neat photo! 47th Fighter Squadron ground crew members performing engine maintenance pause for their picture to be taken. This is a picture from a private collection that Mark Stevens of the 7th Fighter Command Association provided to me.
The simplified squadron marking of an all black spinner can be seen along the 47th FS emblem on the engine cowling panel leaning against the engine maintenance scaffolding.
7th Fighter Command Association via Mark Stevens
This photo is interesting for a number of reasons. First, there is absolutely nothing in the background to give any reference to where this maintenance activity took place. The only landmark on Iwo Jima, Mt. Suribachi, is not present, and there are no planes of any type or any other activity going on in the background. Unusual. Second, you can see a portion of the canvas wheel well cover that extends down onto the main landing gear leg. Canvas linings for the wheel wells were factory installed as a measure to keep grit, dirt and mud out of the wheel wells. In other theater of operations, like the European Theater, they were removed by ground crews. On Iwo Jima, they were a necessity to keep the volcanic grit and sand out of the wheel wells. Third, there is a black band painted on the inside of the landing gear cover and the main landing gear leg. This is very unusual and I have not been able to find another photo that shows this type of band.
This is most likely a Block 25 D model because of the presence of the HVAR rocket stubs underneath the wings.
Thanks to Mark Stevens for sharing this photo.
As a condition of the use of materials from the 7th Fighter Command Association website, the following disclaimer is included: Permission to use, copy and distribute documents delivered from this Worldwide Web server and related graphics is hereby granted, provided 1) That the use of the data will not be used for obtaining a profit of any kind, and 2) That the above disclaimer notice appear in all copies and that both that disclaimer notice and this permission notice appear. All other rights reserved. The name of “7th Fighter Command Association” may not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of this information without specific, written prior permission. Mark Stevens and the 7th Fighter Command Association makes no representations about the suitability of this information for any purpose. It is provided “as is” without express or implied warranty. Mark Stevens and the 7th Fighter Command Association disclaim all warranties with regard to this information, including all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness. In no event shall Mark Stevens or the 7th Fighter Command Association be liable for any special, indirect or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data or profits, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other action, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of this information.
While the Mustang had long legs, to get from Iwo Jima to the Japanese Home Islands and back required more than the standard 75 gallon drop tanks used in the European Theatre. In the two photos below, ground crewmen are seen unloading 110 gallon metal drop tanks in preparation for a VLR mission to Japan. On the trip to Japan, pilots would expend the aviation fuel from the drop tanks first, and then switch to the 85 gallon fuselage fuel tank which was situated right behind the pilot seat. Once that was expended, it was the fuel tanks in wings that would bring the Mustang home to Iwo Jima.
I love the photo below of the 335 “Is This Trip Necessary?”, a 531st Fighter Squadron, 21st Fighter Group P-51D-20 NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-63289). It captures the eloquent and graceful lines of the P-51D’s nose.
USAAF/National Archives via Fold3
Please note in the photograph below that the “plumbing” between the drop tanks and the wings has already been installed before the tanks are attached to the underwing ordinance racks. Just from the numbers on the photographs, we know that top photo was taken before the bottom photo. The assumption here is that 7th Fighter Command became more efficient over time in how they prepared their fighters for VLR missions. Or it could have been just how a particular squadron installed their drop tanks. Either way, the photos show some possibilities for some interesting diorama settings.
USAAF/National Archives via Fold3
In addition, the second photo provides information regarding the proper placement of kit decals on the drop tanks. Very neat.
Iwo Jima Models 