P-51D Mustang
Very Long Range

Arma Hobby, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The North American P-51 Mustang was originally designed in 1940 to meet a British requirement for a new fighter, but it was the installation of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine that transformed the aircraft into one of the outstanding fighters of the Second World War. Combining exceptional high-altitude performance with remarkable fuel efficiency and a highly aerodynamic airframe, the Merlin-powered Mustang possessed one quality that no other Allied fighter could match in such abundance—range.

Initially developed to escort USAAF heavy bombers deep into occupied Europe, the P-51 quickly proved capable of accompanying B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators all the way to Berlin and back. Fitted with external drop tanks, the Mustang could remain with the bomber formations throughout their missions, dramatically reducing losses while steadily wearing down the Luftwaffe's fighter force. By the end of the European air campaign, the Mustang had firmly established itself as the premier long-range escort fighter of the war.

Its greatest test, however, lay half a world away.

Following the capture of Iwo Jima by US Marines in March 1945, the volcanic island rapidly became an advanced base for the USAAF's VII Fighter Command. Located approximately 750 miles south of Japan, Iwo Jima placed the Japanese Home Islands within range of the Mustang for the first time.

From makeshift airfields carved out of the island's black volcanic ash, P-51D Mustangs began escorting B-29 Superfortress bombing missions over Japan. These were among the longest fighter sorties of the Second World War, with missions often exceeding seven hours. In addition to escort duties, Mustang pilots flew fighter sweeps and conducted devastating low-level attacks against Japanese airfields, transport networks and military installations, seeking to destroy enemy aircraft before they could challenge the incoming bombers.

Operating in difficult conditions from an island still scarred by recent fighting, the Mustang units of VII Fighter Command played a vital role during the closing months of the Pacific War. Their presence greatly reduced B-29 losses while extending Allied air superiority over the Japanese mainland. By combining extraordinary endurance with superb combat performance, the Very Long-Range Mustang once again proved itself to be exactly the aircraft the USAAF needed, this time over the vast distances of the Pacific.

Arma Hobby has developed a strong following since 2020 thanks to their highly detailed and beautifully textured 1/72 scale aircraft releases, also venturing into 1/48 scale from 2021.

Arma Hobby kicked off a 1/72 scale P-51B/C Mustang family in 2021. They expanded the range to include a new 1/72 scale P-51D Mustang last year, and now Arma Hobby has added a new sprue to permit the modeller to build a Very Long Range variant.

Arma Hobby's new 1/72 scale P-51D Mustang VLR comprises 141 parts in grey plastic, eight parts in clear plastic, self-adhesive die-cut canopy and wheel masks, markings for three aircraft options and an undercarriage alignment jig included on the clear sprue.

The main difference between this kit and its precedessors is the inclusion of a new sprue containg 34 parts. This delivers 110 and 150 gallon drop tanks, rockets and mounts.

This model is in the standard series so we do not find photo-etched or 3d printed parts. Arma has, however, included self adhesive masks and you may download files for 3d printing your own detail parts. The die-cut masks are the paper "Kabuki" style.

The grey plastic parts are delivered on two sprues. Moulding quality is excellent with no flaws or visible moulding imperfections on my sample. Arma’s website advises that long-run metal moulds are used for their kit production, and it shows.

Being a long-run kit, the parts are moulded with all the alignment aids that you would expect including locating pins, holes and tabs.

The larger parts are moulded with a satin finish. Surface textures are just gorgeous. Recessed panel lines, circular fastener heads and other structural details are very fine.

The fabric texture on the elevators are represented by very subtly raised rib tapes. The elevators are moulded as part of the horizontal stabilisers.

The fuselage is supplied as left and right halves with a few elements that allow some important options.

The most obvious is the separate rudder, fin and horizontal stabilisers. Two sets of each are included. One set represents the fin without the fillet, while the second depicts the later fin filleted version.

The fillet is moulded in the centre of the horizontal stabilisers.

The lower side cowling vents are also supplied separately. Three options are offered - blanked off, perforated and louvered.

Two sets of exhaust may be found on the sprues - shrouded and unshrouded.

Flaps are supplied as separate parts. They are designed to be built dropped. Note also that the flaps seem to have a subtle oilcanning effect along the lines of recessed rivets. I'm not sure if this is intentional but it looks convincing!

Some cockpit sidewall detail is moulded directly to the inside of the fuselage. Additional separate parts include a plastic cockpit floor, radiator ramps, side console, throttle quadrant; a moulded pair of rudder pedals that fit in behind the instrument panel, control column, fuel tanks, radios and more.

Two styles of pilot's seat and instrument coaming are supplied.

Decals are used extensively for the various cockpit faces. A plastic instrument panel is also supplied with raised bezels and switches. The decal sheet supplies two sets of harness straps and instrument panels. I think decals will be very effective in the front office in this scale.

The wing parts are full span, top and bottom. They are thin at the trailing edges. I particularly like the very fine and busy recessed rivets on the centre section of the lower wing.

Wing panel lines and recessed rivets have been toned down on this model to more obviously depict puttied metal.

The wheel wells are really nicely detailed and the rear wheel well wall is accurately straight. The chord-wise reinforcements are moulded direcly onto the inner surface of the upper wing, which will make assembly very fast and easy.

Arma again provides silver-coloured decals for the wheel well ceiling.

A wing spar is provided to ensure that the dihedral will be the correct angle. This doubles as the rear undercarriage wall.

The main wheels are moulded as one piece each and are excquisitely detailed, including raised lettering. The wheels are subtly bulged and flattened. The tail wheel and strut are moulded as a single part. Detail looks good.

A generous allowance of ordnance is included.

There are two 108 gallon paper tanks, two 90 gallon metal tanks and two 250 lb bombs.

Three styles of canopy are offered. I think they are:

• Early Inglewood — low, teardrop canopy.

• Late Inglewood — higher, smoother bubble.

• Dallas — tallest and most bulged version.

Three sliding section and windscreens are separate parts for all three canopy options.

Navigation and formation lights are moulded as part of the wings.

Self adhesive masks are supplied for the canopies and wheels. These are the paper Kabuki style masks. These will be welcomed by modellers who dislike cutting their own masks.

Instructions are supplied as a 12 page stapled A5-sized booklet.

The kit is packed into a end-opening cardboard box. I have said it before but I have never been a fan of end-opening boxes - access to the parts is more difficult, loose parts can easily be lost while retrieving instructions or a larger sprue, and the format is less structurally rigid, inviting the contents to be crushed when the box is inevitably at the bottom of a pile of kits.

I know it is a nit-pick but I would prefer to see future Arma Hobby releases in a lid-style of box.

Rounding out the package is a clever alignment jig.

This is made up from four pieces on the clear sprue.

Assembly appears fast and easy, and it will guarantee alignment of the wings and the undercarriage.

The package is rounded out with a downloadable file for self-printing extra detail parts on a 3D resin printer.

Marking Options

The kit decal sheet offers markings for two VLR P-51D Mustangs.

They are:

• P-51D-20-NA Mustang “Snortin’ Phyllie” 1st Lt. Herb Straughn, 531st Fighter Squadron, 21st Fighter Group, Iwo Jima, spring–summer 1945.

• P-51D-25-NA Mustang “Little One” 1st Lt. Francis J. Pilecki, 458th Fighter Squadron, 506th Fighter Group, Iwo Jima, spring 1945. Tail stripe decals have been specially shaped to match the curved fin surface, providing a more realistic result than the flat tail bands often seen in other kits.

One set of US national markings are included.

Stencil markings are printed on the same single sheet, as are propeller logos.

Colour callouts are provided for FS numbers and model paint numbers from a wide variety of companies – Hakata, AK, Lifecolor, AMMO, Humbrol, Vallejo and Tamiya.

Decals are luxuriously printed by Cartograf. They are glossy, colours are well saturated and everything is in perfect register.

Arma Hobby has once again demonstrated why it enjoys such a strong reputation among 1/72 scale aircraft modellers. This Very Long Range Mustang boxing builds upon that solid foundation with the addition of a thoughtfully engineered new sprue containing the distinctive external stores required for the Iwo Jima-based escort fighters.

Kit design is sound throughout, with positive locating aids, a handy undercarriage alignment jig and an impressive level of detail straight from the box. Surface textures are amongst the best currently available in injection-moulded plastic, while the inclusion of canopy masks, downloadable 3D-print files and beautifully printed Cartograf decals adds further value to an already comprehensive package.

The two marking options capture an important but relatively under-represented chapter in Mustang history, when these elegant fighters flew some of the longest escort missions of the Second World War from the battered airstrips of Iwo Jima to the Japanese Home Islands.

This is an exceptionally well-executed kit that should build into an accurate and detailed replica with relatively little effort. Whether your interest lies in the Mustang itself, the Pacific air war, or simply building a very attractive1/72 scale aircraft kit, Arma Hobby's P-51D Mustang VLR deserves a place on your shortlist.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Arma Hobby for the sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2026 by Brett Green
Page Created 7 July, 2026
Last updated 7 July, 2026

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