Continuing my Top Gun builds, this will be made into Maverick’s own P-51K Mustang that appeared at the end of Top Gun: Maverick. This P-51K, registration N51EW, is actually Tom Cruise’s own aircraft in real life. This kit includes some of the parts for the K variant even though it’s only sold as a P-51D.
I did a quick dry fit and it shows that some work will need to be done on the prominent seamline on the nose.
Maverick’s P-51 has been modified to a double-seater. No aftermarket part exists for this and as far as I know, there isn’t a kit of this variant either. I decided to just build the interior as is since with the canopy closed, most people won’t notice it anyway.
Some quick work with masking tape to replicate the restraints. The cockpit floor required some shimming for the fuselage halves to close together better than the dryfit.
I based the colors of the cockpit from my first P-51D build from a few years ago.
As usual with WWII planes, the office is really cramped.
The P-51K is installed with the Aeroproducts propeller instead of the usual Hamilton Standard propeller of the P-51D. The kit includes this prop although checking it against photos, the shape is not quite accurate: the prop tips should be broader and more squared off IMO.
Assembly was quick with no major fitting problems besides the ugly seamline on the nose. I left out the antenna behind the cockpit per how the Mustang appears in the film. The P-51K canopy is shaped slightly differently from a P-51D but this is not included in the kit. Also note that I had to fit the exhausts now instead of at the end. Doing that requires modifications that I didn’t think was worth the effort.
The gap filling was oh-so-refreshingly pain-free for once.
I pre-painted the wheel wells Real Color US Interior Yellow Green. This was my best guess since I haven’t been able to find a picture of the real thing online.
Build Log
Pt.1 – Construction | Pt.2 – Painting & Finishing | Pt.3 – Painting & Finishing
