Marek raises the bar with Mustangs!

**cgutzmer** · #1 03-27-2011, 07:56 AM

Hello all,
I dont usually pipe in here with kit announcements as I leave those for my newsletter but I thought these new Mareks should have a shout out so people know about them! He really raised the bar with this kits and I have gotten lots of great feed back on these.

If anyone will do a build for pics (thread preferred but not required) I will send them a free copy. REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to start build in next 2-3 days and build as only model (I dont want it to take forever), take good pics - not a low quality cell phone in a poorly lit room..... if you arent established on papermodelers.com with a couple threads of pics please link me so I can verify quality of work.
Thanks!

Here are the models along with the writeups Wyvern did for the shop!

1/33 N.A. P-51A Mustang 1st Air Commando Paper Model - ECardmodels.com Shop - Downloadable models
The North American P-51 Mustang is one of the classic aircraft of all time. This all-new paper model from Marek builds the first service version of the P-51, the P-51A model, and creates a 1/33-scale replica of "Barbie", a P-51A flown in Burma with the 10th Air Force's 1st Air Commandos on ground-support duties.

The earliest versions of the P-51 were noticeably different from their later brethren. Powered by the American Allison V-12 liquid-cooled engine, the early models were armed with only four 50-caliber machine guns and lacked the dorsal fin later fitted to the P-51D. The early models also featured a higher "razorback" rear fuselage with rear-view windows, contrasting with the bubble hood fitted to later aircraft.

The P-51 family fought in every theater of the war, beginning in 1942, and was one of the most feared Allied fighters and fighter-bombers where ever it was encountered. Flown operationally by pilots from at least eight Allied countries, the Mustang Post-war, the Mustang served into the 1960s with some 55 air forces worldwide.

This paper model by Marek is a new design of the early P-51, and incorporates increased levels of detail! Paper Model Features: over 300 parts, with 15 construction diagrams and nine wire template. 10-page PDF file. Fuselage formers with joining strips; wing spars with airfoil formers, and separate flying surfaces. Rolled landing gear legs with multiple detail parts, layered wheels, full boxed wheel wells, canopy with clear-part templates and inner/outer cockpit frames. Full interior with layered sidewall detail, controls, multi-piece gunsight and radio unit. Multi-piece exhaust stubs; rolled machine gun barrels. Degree of Difficulty: 5/5. If you enjoy building this paper model, please contribute a review!

Text by Bart Wheeler
Copyright 2011, Bart Wheeler and Ecardmodels.com

1/33 N.A. Mustang Mk.1 309 (Polish) Sq. RAF Paper Model - ECardmodels.com Shop - Downloadable
The North American P-51 Mustang is one of the classic aircraft of all time. This paper model builds the first service version of the P-51, the Mustang Mk.I, flown in the United Kingdom by No. 309 (Polish) Squadron RAF, a unit assigned to the Army Co-Operation Command for ground support and tactical reconaissance missions.

The earliest versions of the P-51 were noticeably different from their later brethren. Powered by the American Allison V-12 liquid-cooled engine, the early models were armed with only four 50-caliber machine guns and lacked the dorsal fin later fitted to the P-51D. The early models also featured a higher "razorback" rear fuselage with rear-view windows, contrasting with the bubble hood fitted to later aircraft.

The P-51 family fought in every theater of the war, beginning in 1942, and was one of the most feared Allied fighters and fighter-bombers where ever it was encountered. Flown operationally by pilots from at least eight Allied countries, the Mustang Post-war, the Mustang served into the 1960s with some 55 air forces worldwide.

This paper model by Marek is a new design of the early P-51, and incorporates increased levels of detail! Paper Model Features: over 300 parts, with 15 construction diagrams and nine wire template. 10-page PDF file. Fuselage formers with joining strips; wing spars with airfoil formers, and separate flying surfaces. Rolled landing gear legs with multiple detail parts, layered wheels, full boxed wheel wells, canopy with clear-part templates and inner/outer cockpit frames. Full interior with layered sidewall detail, controls, multi-piece gunsight and recon camera. Multi-piece exhaust stubs; rolled machine gun barrels. Degree of Difficulty: 5/5. If you enjoy building this paper model, please contribute a review!

Text by Bart Wheeler
Copyright 2011, Bart Wheeler and Ecardmodels.com

**Leif Ohlsson** · #2 03-27-2011, 09:46 AM

This will be very interesting to study closer! I always had a view towards working on the RAF version of the P51A, since it looked like such a good project for a paper model - no blister canopy, thus no need for vacuforming. Also, I like the colours of the RAF version, although it seems they could do with a little bit of experimenting towards the warmer nuances of the early RAF scheme.

Cf. this original october 1942 photo (even higher resolution available) of Mustangs being readied at the North American Inglewood factory, California:

There are several camo versions being worked on at once here, I like the one closest to the camera. I keep telling myself that this one is going to Britain!

For further inspiration, have a look at this comparatively high-quality war-time film sequence:

The P51A was mainly a ground attack aircraft. Just like the P39 Airacobra it did not have a competitive performance at altitude, due to the single stage compressor of the Allison engine. At low altitude, however, it was faster even than the Spitfire. The classic P51D bomber escort version would develop out of the early versions as the P51 airframe was combined with the Packard-built Merlin engine, a blister canopy, and a dorsal fin...

Leif

**Don Boose** · #3 03-27-2011, 09:57 AM

This is good news on many fronts. Marek, early model Mustangs, and No. 1 Air Commando.

Thanks, Leif, for the additional resources and excellent images and film (whoever "BomberGuy" really is, he has done aviation enthusiasts a great service by making so much wonderful historic footage available).

Don

**cjwalas** · #4 03-27-2011, 10:13 AM

Glad to see Marek taking the next step up. These both look like really good kits and like Leif, I prefer the RAF version. I've been wanting to do one of these for a while. I'm really, really tempted, but I promised myself I'd finish my Verne Steam House before my next model.
I'd still love to see this one get a build thread!
Chris

**YankeeBoy** · #5 03-27-2011, 10:21 AM

These models are definitely "a cut above" the older 1:50 versions (and the various repaints of them in 1:33 scale.) These are completely new with joiner strip construction, detailed (very detailed) cockpit, landing gear wells and fiddly bits. The colors are dead on according to my references and the USAAF version has wing tanks and early bazooka-style rocket tubes.

As a personal to Marek - please, please continue this series with a P-51B/C/Mustang III and a P-51D/Mustang IV. You have much of the work already done and they would be a most welcome addition to Chris' store!

**richkat** · #6 03-27-2011, 10:33 AM

One thing we know Brit pilots are not afraid of the ground...did his prop touch in that clip?.....maybe not but I think he scared some earthworms......Rich

**Darwin** · #7 03-27-2011, 02:02 PM

I've had these on the HD for a while, and finally got around to printing them out. Definitely a huge step up, especially in the diagrams. Please let Marek that his efforts truly are appreciated. Now the quandary (of course, now that he's shown his full abilities, we are going to hold his feet to the fire to keep things at this level)...do we rise up and request he spend his time bringing his old designs up to this level, or do something more interesting and give us some brand new subjects? Whichever he decides to do, I for one will keep adding them to my library as soon as they hit the store.