Modelcraft 1/72 F-82G Twin Mustang

MODELCRAFT 1:48 NORTH AMERICAN F-82E TWIN MUSTANG

Reviewer: Brian Manning (contact via SMAKR webmaster)
Kit Review submitted: 21 October 2009

Aircraft History:

The most unusual and final variant of the Mustang to be produced was the P-82 Twin Mustang (later redesignated to F-82 in line with the 1948 designation upgrades, including P-51 to F-51 Mustang), a design that was the natural outgrowth of earlier P-51 models. It was developed in part due to pilot fatigue and boredom on long flights over the ocean during the Pacific campaign late in WW2, and the P-82 offered a unique two-pilot concept to solve this part of the problem.

The Twin Mustang was based on the earlier Mustang but was effectively a brand new aircraft incorporating numerous new technological innovations and was also some six feet longer than the standard P-51 Mustang fuselage. It was a radical departure from conventional aviation design in that it had a pair of lifting bodies [fuselages] that were joined by a centre wing and rear tailplane, plus provisions for a pilot in each of the fuselages, and improvements to pilot comfort and simplified cockpit arrangements. Throttles and propeller controls were located in both cockpits, the left side containing the primary overall control features while the right side was considered as the "co-pilots" cockpit, containing sufficient instrumentation for emergency/relief operation. The original P-82 was powered by a Merlin engine with counter-rotating propellers to eliminate any torque problems on take offs and landings.

Two prototypes were designated the NA-120 by North American and XP-82 by the USAAF and first flew in April 1945. The USAAF had already ordered 500 P-82's a year previously, however, only 20 P-82B's were actually completed before the end of WW2 and the contract was cancelled. Two of these were converted to night-fighters being designated P-82C and P-82D after the war - the difference being the radar carried.

In December 1945 the USAAF re-evaluated the program and placed an order for 100 P-82E escort fighters; then later 100 P-82F (containing the radar housed in the P-82C), and finally 50 P-82G Night-fighters (containing the radar housed in P-82D); and all were powered by new and improved Allison engines. The Night-fighters were intended to replace the ageing P-61 Black Widows in service. The total order of 250 P-82 aircraft was produced up until 1949, but 14 aircraft (including 5 G models) were actually diverted to become P-82H models, incorporating cold weather equipment for Alaska operations and bases.

As with its P-51 predecessor, versatility was the primary strongpoint for the P-82 Twin Mustang, able to carry a wide range of underwing stores, including rockets, auxiliary fuel tanks and bombs. Furthermore, the centre wing section could also be modified to house an additional eight Browning 0.50-caliber machine-guns.

The Twin Mustang was not produced in time for WW2, however, it did see action in the Korean conflict, by which stage of course it had been redesignated to F-82. It was an F-82 Twin Mustang that was officially credited with the first air victory of the war when five F-82G's were vectored to Kimbo airfield outside Seoul, June 1950, to intercept a flight of prop-driven Soviet-built North Korean Yak-9 fighters. From memory I believe there were three Yak-9's shot down without any loss to the F-82 flight (although different references say slightly different things). Soon after this engagement though, the F-82s were relegated to air defence duties of Japan until they were replaced by jets in 1951 and did not see a great deal of action further in the Korean conflict.

The F-82 in reality was almost obsolete when the Korean conflict broke out, even though it did enter combat on several occasions during the initial stages. It still served a critical role maintaining the USAF long-range-fighter capabilities during the post WW2 period, and was the last piston-powered fighter to be produced in any quantity by the USAF.

The Kit:

Several sprues are found in the box in light grey, totalling around 80-90. The parts do not have flash that I could see but ejector pin stubs and a couple of sink marks are evident. Panel lines are engraved but only to the extent associated with a kit typical of the 80's/90's era. Nothing detail wise jumps out and grabs you and it's already apparent there could be some fit issues ahead. Clear parts to make up the twin cockpits are supplied but are scratched and a bit distorted.

Construction:

Not much of a cockpit (x2 of course) is supplied but you do get a tub with the seats and main panel plus control column. The seat needs trimming to fit and the tub needs carving to fit. The fuselage halves are a poor fit together and need lots of work. At this point it is easy to ponder what is waiting ahead and wondering whether going on is worth it, but don't lose faith, it does get a little better. Needless to say a lot of work on the fit is required here.

Wings come in halves for the outer wings and a one piece fuselage to fuselage spar plus the tailplane boom at the back. No problems with the halves but all these parts had gaps at their join with the fuselage requiring a liberal amount of filler to correct. If I did the kit again, I would do the wings after carefully doing the inner spar and making sure that was correctly aligned. Similarly the tailplane section needs just as much care to align properly. In hindsight, the key message here is spend the time and effort to get this right, it makes the undercarriage sit better later. As for the radome - which is not even close to being inaccurate in shape - in a sentence, get rid of and try something else, as it is also a shocking fit.

The fit of the nose section on both fuselage is shocking, and needs a fair bit of work to fill and sand and blend. It doesn't look quite right either, doesn't capture the shape of the Mustang as it should in my opinion. The distinctive under fuselage scoop is nothing short of an ordeal to fit, barely fitting and needing a lot of patience and trimming and sanding and filling to look right. The prop blades are all wrong, retaining simplistic renditions of what I would say are probably first generation Mustang blades. Replace of bear with them - I chose the latter, fit was a small challenge but nothing close to the ordeal of the nose.

The undercarriage representation is nothing short of simplistic and lacks detail although the wheel bays are boxed in, but they are quite shallow. If you get the wing fit and alignment of the aircraft right, I think you should be able to get the aircraft to sit on its landing gear flat without too many issues. I was prepared for a battle here, but found it was reasonably easy, just needed some test fit runs and just a slight alignment change before setting aside to dry.

The canopies were one of the last things I put on the kit. I was hoping to end this build on a good note, but these clear parts were difficult to put on. I tried them on each of the fuselages to see if one fitted better, but they didn't really. Test fit, trim, test fit, carve, test fit, trim - and so on until finally achieved a reasonably flush fit to the fuselage. Still needed filler for the gaps.

All done! But when I look back on my build experience here I ponder a build article I read in scale modelling magazine about ten years ago, which was also not long after I bought this kit. It flippantly stated that this was one of the worst fitting kits of all time. I thought great, I just bought this kit and it will sit in my stash til the day I go yonder. However, finally having the guts to tackle the kit (and perhaps now with a bit more acquired skill too) it was nowhere near the frightful experience I was dreading. Maybe this is a good message to keep in mind, expect the worse and it can only be better! I think if you enter this challenge knowing you have one ahead of you, then you will be mentally prepared and can enjoy the experience. Yes the fit of the kit overall is a very long way from being good but I am convinced there are worse out there (PM kits anyone?).

Decalling:

Two schemes are provided in the kit and both Korean War USAF examples: I did the natural metal E PQ-207 with striking "USAF Thuderbirds like" red/white/blue striped trims on the radome, fins and wingtips. The decal sheet provides a little bit of stencilling but its not complete and the different stars/bars for the different schemes in the kit. Fearing I would have to raid my spares I was very pleasantly surprised to find the decals in this kit went on very well. A bit of silvering after all and care was needed applying them - but you are already alerted by my build experience this is not a kit for beginners, so for modellers who have built a few kits, you should find the decals straightforward.

Accuracy:

It has to be said it looks and breathes like an F-82 but it lacks a lot of the smaller vents and scoop details that the F-82 has. As a basic planform though it looks pretty good. Seems to be the right measurements compared to references.

Conclusions:

In reality the Modelcraft F-82 is a bit of a dog, particularly with regards to the fit of this kit. This kit certainly has a lot of issues that make it no good unless you are a reasonably experienced modeller. It wasn't as difficult as I heard it would be (perhaps then I was expecting the worst so the outcome was better?) but still required a lot of time and work to put together. I won't recommend this kit but leave it up to you to judge based on my article.

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