Kit Review: Arma Hobby’s 1/72 P-51D Mustang Very Long Range (Kit No. 70073)

On August 7, 2026 By acarothersvlrmIn Arma Hobby, Kit ReviewsLeave a comment

Arma Hobby recently released an Iwo Jima VLR Mustang boxing of their popular 1/72 North American P-51D Mustang kit. It was released in mid-May 2026, and is now making its way into US online retail hobby stores. The box art is striking with a 21st FG VLR Mustang loaded out with 165 gallon drop tanks and six HVAR rockets. Very cool!

There are two decal options. The first is a 531st FS, 21st FG P-51D-20 NA (Serial No. 44-63918) 312 Snortin’ Phyllie flown by 1st Lt. Herbert Straughn. Nice to see a decal option for a 531st FS Mustang other than Major Harry Crim’s 300 My Achin’ Ass.

The second decal option is a 458th FS, 506th FG P-51D-25 NA (Serial No. 44-72612) 576 Little One/Jeannie assigned to 1st Lt. Max E. Ruble and 2nd Lt. Francis J. Pilecki. On June 10, 1945, 1st Lt. Ruble was credited with shooting down a Mitsubishi JM2 Raiden.

Again, thanks to Arma Hobby for providing two decal options not seen in other kits, and not well covered by after market decal manufacturers (decals for 576 Little One/Jeannie are provided in all three scales on the decal sheet which comes with the book: 506th Fighter Group: The History of the 506th Fighter Group, Iwo Jima 1945 by Robert Grant). This book is published by AJ Press as part of their Fighting Units in Color series. My review of this book can be found here: https://iwojimamodels.com/2019/12/14/book-review-506th-fighter-group-the-history-of-the-506th-fighter-group-iwo-jima-1945-by-robert-j-grant/

On to the sprues. Arma Hobby’s original release of its 1/72 P-51D Mustang (Kit No. 70070) contained three sprues; two molded in light gray plastic (A & B), and one in clear plastic (T) for the canopies and other clear parts. The Very Long Range boxing includes an additional sprue for the 110 and 165 gallon drop tanks, sway braces, and HVAR rockets. As can be seen from a review of the sprues, you can build any variant of the D model from the D-5 to the D-25 from this kit.

The first sprue (A) consists of the wings, control surfaces, standard drop tanks, bombs, landing gear components, wheel well components, propellers (both Hamilton Standard and Aeroproduct), and the two Uncle Dog antennas (parts A4 & A5). Arma Hobby gives you two different horizontal stablizers; one with fabric covered elevators and one with metal covered elevators. A nice feature on Arma Hobby’s part, and each set is molded as one piece which should help with construction and alignment.

A couple of items worthy of note. First, the panel lines on the wings are very faint except for the parts of the wings which would be accessed be maintenance crews. I am assuming this was done in this manner so if you wanted to represent model as having the puttied wings, it would not take much to fill the panel lines. In addition, the top wing halves have been molded as one piece so as to provide detail for the top of the wheel wells. Again, a nice touch on Arma Hobby’s part as this will allow for ease in masking the top of the wheel wells when painting the support stringers.

The second sprue (B) consists of the fuselage halves, interior and cockpit parts including both the Warren-McArthur and Shick-Johnson seats, separate spinners for the Hamilton Standard cuffed propeller and the Aeroproducts propeller, both types of dorsal fins (swayback for modified D-5s and early D-10s and the regular dorsal fin for later blocks), and both shrouded and unshrouded exhaust stacks.

A couple of items worthy of note. First, unlike the 1/72nd Eduard P-51D Mustang, the rivet detail on the fuselage halves is very restrained. So if rivet detail is important to you in 1/72nd scale, you are going to have to break out your riveter. Second, the structure of the cockpit sides is molded into the fuselage halves as seen below.

I like this approach because the cockpit sides will be easier to paint and detail and it should allow for an easier insertion of the completed cockpit into the fuselage.

The additional sprue contained in this boxing includes both styles of drop tanks carried by Iwo Jima VLR Mustangs, the sway braces for each type of tank, and six HVAR rockets that were carried during strike missions toward the end of conflict in the Pacific Theater. The shapes and contours of the drop tanks look good.

The sprue containing the clear parts (T) contains the windscreen, all three variations of the canopy, and the other clear parts. The windscreen and canopies are crystal clear and the clear sprue is bagged separately to avoid scratches.

The additional parts at the top of the sprue are parts for a display stand and/or construction jig as shown below. The main landing gear wheels fit in the slots at the front of the stand with wing supports at the sides and fuselage support at the back. Neat idea.

Are there necessary parts missing? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is yes. Arma Hobby failed to include the SCR-695 IFF transmitter that was situated behind the SCR-522 radio transmitter on Iwo Jima VLR Mustangs as shown in the computer generated image below.

This omission is confirmed by their own assembly instructions.

How big of an omission is this? Not very. First, in 1/72nd scale, most people viewing a built up model in your display case or even at a model contest would not even recognize this omission. Second, you could easily sand off the detail on the battery and add some plastic pieces to accurately represent the SCR-695 IFF transmitter. Third, you could build an early Iwo Jima VLR Mustang with a single mast antenna before the SCR-695 IFF transmitter/Uncle Dog twin antennae were installed as field modifications. There are a lot of pictures of 15th and 21st FG Mustangs after their arrival on Iwo Jima in early March with the standard single mast antenna.

The decals look really good and are printed by Cartograf so they should work well. Fuselage and tail stripes are provided for the 458th FS Mustang 576 Little One/Jeannie so you will not have to do all of the complex and tedious masking. Nice touch on Arma Hobby’s part. There are also aluminum colored decals for the tops of the wheel wells at the bottom of the decal sheet. The use of the decals will eliminate the need for masking. Just paint the tops of the wheel wells Zinc Chromate Yellow and apply the decals in their appropriate locations. An interesting and novel approach.

The aircraft profiles in the instruction booklet are well done. I do not have any photos of 312 Snortin’ Phyllie, so I reached out to Mark Stevens of the 7th Fighter Command Association to see if he could share any photos he has of the plane. Surprisingly, he did not have any photos either, and I could not find any on the internet. Someone obviously has a few photos of this plane.

The 506th Fighter Group Association has several very nice photos of 576 Little One/Jeannie in its collections.

***2nd Lt. Francis J. Pilecki (506th Fighter Group Association)***

This looks like an extremely nice 1/72nd North American P-51D Mustang kit. From what I have seen of already built models, they certainly look every bit the part of the real thing. If you are wanting to build a Iwo Jima VLR Mustang in 1/72nd scale, this is an excellent option.

Kudos to Arma Hobby!

Kit Review: Eduard’s 1/72nd P-51D Mustang “Tales of Iwo Jima” Limited Edition Dual Combo Boxing

On August 23, 2025July 25, 2026 By acarothersvlrmIn Eduard, Kit Reviews, Kit/Product ReviewsLeave a comment

Eduard recently released its 1/72nd P-51D Mustang “Tales of Iwo Jima” Limited Edition Dual Combo boxing. The box art is very appealing.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Photo(s) of the Week; Mission Prep

On June 2, 2025 By acarothersvlrmIn Photo(s) of the WeekLeave a comment

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.

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.

In addition, the second photo provides information regarding the proper placement of kit decals on the drop tanks. Very neat.

Photo(s) of the Week; Return from the Empire

On April 15, 2024April 14, 2024 By acarothersvlrmIn History, Photo(s) of the WeekLeave a comment

Ground crews were anxious for the return of their pilots and planes from the first VLR escort mission to the Japanese Home Islands. The 7th Fighter Command lost only two Mustangs and one pilot (1st Lt. Robert G. Anderson, 531st FS/21st FG) on the April 7th mission.

In the photo above, ground crew watch on as a P-51D Mustang lands on Iwo Jima. If you enlarge the photo, on the other side of the runway are two C-46 Commandos, a C-47 Dakota, a P-51D Mustang, four PB4Y-1 Liberator patrol bombers, and a PB4Y-2 Privateer patrol bomber.

P-51D Mustangs were not the only planes to land on Iwo Jima on April 7th. In the photo above, a damaged B-29 Superfortress lands on the same field. If you enlarge the photo, the prop on the right outside engine has been feathered. It appears that the first two photos were taken by the same 7th Air Force Combat Camera photographer. In this photo, he standing next to the tail of the damaged PV-1 Ventura shown in the first photograph.

In the photo above, ground crew and support personnel clamor around 68 “Victory Belle”, a 45th FS/15th FG Mustang, as the pilot waits to exit the cockpit while discussing the mission with his ground crew. A couple of things to note. First, it does not appear that the twin Uncle Dog antennae have been installed on Victory Belle yet. Second is the wear on the backside of the propeller blade. Only the cuff at the bottom of the propeller blade has retained its color because it was made of a hard rubber composition. The volcanic grit on Iwo Jima took its toll on painted surfaces. I am unaware of any after market decals for Victory Belle.

***Major James B. Tapp, 78th FS/15th FG (USAAF/National Archives via Fold3)***

In the photo above, Major James B. Tapp, enjoys a sandwich and a cup of coffee after the April 7th mission. Major Tapp was the top scorer on the April 7th mission downing four Japanese fighters that were attacking the B-29 Superfortress formations.

References:

1. The Long Campaign: The History of the 15th Fighter Group in World War II, John W. Lambert, Schaffer Publishing Ltd. (2006).

2. Very Long Range P-51 Mustang Units of the Pacific War; Carl Molesworth; Osprey Publishing Limited (2006).

Decal Review: AeroMaster Decals’ 1/48 The Very Long Range Escorts “The Iwo Jima Mustangs” Fancy Art Part 1 (48-794)

On March 29, 2024March 30, 2024 By acarothersvlrmIn Aeromaster Decals, Decal ReviewsLeave a comment

This is AeroMaster’s second decal sheet dedicated solely to Iwo Jima VLR Mustangs. Three additional sheets on Iwo Jima VLR Mustangs would be subsequently issued by AeroMaster under the series “The Very Long Range Escorts ‘The Iwo Jima Mustangs’ Fancy Art.”

This sheet provides markings for the planes of two VLR aces: Major James B. Tapp’s 101 “Margaret – IV” (8 aerial victories), and Major Harry C. Crim, Jr.’s 300 “My Achin! [Ass]” (6 aerial victories).

The sheet also provides markings for the planes of two 506th FG squadron commanders: Major Harrison E. Shipman’s 550 “Madam Wham-Dam” (458th FS), and Major Thomas D. DeJarnette’s 600 “Tallahassee Lassie” (462nd FG).

Originally issued in 2005, the decals look good, are in register and are for the most part accurate. Photo documentation that has recently emerged shows there are a few omissions and errors on this sheet, but this is still a very nice decal sheet.

Major James B. Tapp (78th FS/15th FG) – Major Tapp was the second highest scoring VLR Mustang ace with 8 aerial victories. All eight victories were scored in 101 “Margaret – IV” (44-63984), a P-51D-20NA. Major Tapp scored 4 aerial victories on the first VLR mission on April 7, 1945. He scored another victory on April 12, 1945, which represents the 5 victories on the decal sheet.

***Major James B. Tapp’s 101 Margaret-IV (7th Fighter Command Association/Mark W. Stevens)***

As can be seen from the photo above and the photo below, the name “Margaret – IV” and the Bushmaster squadron emblem are on both sides of the nose. The photo below shows that there are additional markings on the right side of the fuselage below the canopy.

This last photo shows the markings on the right side of the fuselage which includes kill and mission markings. In addition to the name of the Crew Chief Sergeant Blanco, there is the name of another ground crew member which is undiscernable from the photo. This photo also shows that the 0 in the fuselage number is broken rather than solid.

***Crew Chief Sgt. Blanco on the wing of Major James B. Tapp’s 101 “Margaret-IV” with unknown crew member in cockpit (Brian Walter)***

Unfortunately, the kill and mission markings on the right side of Major Tapp’s Mustang are not contained on this decal sheet. The most accurate and complete decals for 101 “Margaret – IV” are found in the Eduard kits.

Major Harry C. Crim, Jr. (531st FS/21st FG) – Major Crim was the 3rd highest scoring VLR ace with six confirmed victories, and the only fighter ace of the 21st FG. He joined the 21st FG in August, 1944, after serving with the 14th Fighter Group in Tunisia flying the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. Unable to score any aerials victories with 14th FG, he scored his first two victories, a Kawasaki Ki-61 “Tony” and a Kawasaki Ki-45 “Nick” on April 7, 1945, the first VLR mission flown by the 7th Fighter Command Mustangs. His last victory, a Mitsubishi A6M Zero, came on July 6, 1945 during a strike mission against Atsugi airfield. Major Crim was also credited with six ground victories.

***Assistant Crew Chief Sergeant Stanley McCarro in the cockpit of Major Crim’s 300 “My Achin! [Ass]” (Harry Crim via Tom Ivie/Carl Molesworth)***

44-73623 was a P-51D-25NA, and Major Crim’s second VLR Mustang. The kill markings, mission markings, and ground crews’ names appear to be very good on the decal sheet except for Asst. Crew Chief Stanley McCarro’s name being misspelled. The only other deficiency in these decals is the artwork for the donkey/ass.

***Major Harry C. Crim Jr.’s 300 “My Achin! [Ass]”***

The photo above shows a portion of the canvas wheel well covers which were a standard production feature that were discarded by European Theater Mustang groups, but were maintained in place by the Iwo Jima Mustang groups as a means of keeping sand and volcanic grit out of the wheel wells.

After Major Crim rotated home, “My Achin! [Ass]” was assigned to Flight Officer Theo Gruici, who had Major Crim’s kill and mission markings and the names of the ground crew removed, and had a reclining nude painted on the fuselage. Most decal manufacturers have a nude on the left landing gear cover for Major Crim’s markings, but I have yet to see a photo confirming this. The nude on the left landing gear cover is mostly obscured by the 110 gallon drop tank in the photo below, and it raises the question whether there was a nude also on the right landing gear cover. After inquiring of others who have more extensive photo collections than I do, there does not appear to be any photos of the right side of the plane. Some questions will never be answered.

***Flight Officer Theo Gruici’s 300 “My Achin! [Ass]” (7th Fighter Command Association/Mark W. Stevens)***

Major Harrison E. Shipman (458th FS/506th FG) – 550 “Madam Wham-Dam”, a P-51D-25NA, 44-72607, was assigned to Major Harrison E. Shipman, commander of the 458th FS. Major Shipman served as the 458th’s commander during the squadron’s time on Iwo Jima, and was not credited with any aerial victories.

***Major Harrison E. Shipman in 550 “Madam Wham-Dam” (Harrison E. Shipman via 506th Fighter Group Association)***

The actual color of the background for the nude nose art on the right side of the fuselage in front of the cockpit is unknown. AeroMaster provides you with three options; red, blue and yellow. My preference would be blue, but it could be red as well. It appears to be a little too dark for yellow.

***Major Harrison E. Shipman sitting on the wing of 550 “Madam Wham-Dam” with Captain Pete Nowick*** ***(Harrison E. Shipman via 506th Fighter Group Association)***

“Madam Wham-Dam’s” time on Iwo Jima was short lived. She arrived on either May 11th or the 13th and was lost on the disastrous June 1, 1945, Black Friday mission with 506th FG Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Harvey J. Scandrett at the controls.

***Major Harrison E. Shipman and Lt. Col. Harvey J. Scandrett with “Madam Wham-Dam” (Harrison E. Shipman via 506th Fighter Group Association)***

Please note the last two photos of “Madam Wham-Dam” and the color of the main landing gear legs. They are considerably darker than the main landing gear legs on either Major Tapp’s “Margaret – IV” or Major Crim’s “My Achin! [Ass]” which suggests that they have been painted. I have also seen what appears to painted landing gear legs in pictures of 21st Fighter Group Mustangs.

506th Fighter Group Squadron Commanders from left to right: Major Harrison E. Shipman (458th), Major Thomas D. DeJarnette (462nd), and Major Malcolm C. “Muddy” Waters (457th) (Harrison E. Shipman via James Shipman)

***600 “Tallahassee Lassie” (Curt Gwaltney via Carl Molesworth)***

Major Thomas D. DeJarnette (462nd FS/506th FG) – 600 “Tallahassee Lassie”, a P-51D-20NA, 44-72547, was also flown by Lt. Col. Harley Brown, Deputy Commander of the 506th Fighter Group. DeJarnette and Brown were well acquainted with each other having flown Bell P-39 Airacobras in combat with in 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group in New Guinea earlier in the war. Major DeJarnette is in the back row of the photo above, second from the left. Lt. Col. Brown is to Major DeJarnette’s left.

Major DeJarnette was credited with shooting down a Kawasaki Ki-61 ‘Tony’ on the June 10, 1945 escort mission to the Tokyo area. Lt. Col. Brown was credited with damaging a Nakajima Ki-84 ‘Frank’ on the July 19, 1945 fighter strike mission against targets in the Nagoya and Osaka areas. Both men survived the war.

This decal sheet has been long out of production but you can still find it on eBay with the other sheets in the series. Although there are a few inaccuracies and omissions, it is still a quality decal sheet.

If you are wanting to purchase a more recently produced decal sheet for some of these planes, DK Decals has produced a 1/72 scale sheet containing markings for “My Achin! [Ass] and “Madam Wham-Dam”. My review of this sheet is found here:

https://iwojimamodels.com/2020/12/08/decal-review-dkdecals-p-51d-mustang-very-long-range-p-51-units-iwo-jima-1945-72087/

DK Decals has also produced a 1/48th scale sheet containing the markings for “Madam Wham-Dam”. My review of this sheet is found here:

https://iwojimamodels.com/2020/12/05/decal-review-dkdecals-p-51d-mustang-vlr-units-iwo-jima-1945-48029/

References:

Very Long Range P-51 Mustang Units of the Pacific War; Carl Molesworth; Osprey Publishing Limited (2006).

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.

Iwo Jima Models

Tag: 531st Fighter Squadron