'Very Long Range: Tales of Iwo Jima'

This is a limited edition kit from Eduard, using their new-tooled P-51D and focusing on aircraft from the 15th FG, 506th FG and 21st FG used for very long range missions.

Inside the box you will find one clear and six dark grey-coloured sprues plus two frets of photo-etched, resin wheels etc and a set of self-adhesive paint masks. The kit is very much unchanged from the previous editions, with all those depicted either the -20 or -25 variant. New additions in this version include resin HVAR stubs in place of the plastic ones moulded in situ with the rockets themselves and inclusion of the J sprue with two styles of drop tanks and racks.

Markings
The kit offers twelve decal options: 
• P-51D-25, S/No.44-73382, flown by Lt Col. J. W. Mitchell, CO of the 15th FG, 7th AF, Iwo Jima, summer 1945

• P-51D-20 S/No.44-63483, flown by Maj. G. L. Snipes, CO of 45th FS, 15th FG, 7th AF, Saipan, February 1945

• P-51D-20, S/No.44-63483, flown by Maj. R. W. Moore, CO of 45th FS, 15th FG, 7th AF, Iwo Jima, August 1945

• P-51D-20, S/No.44-63420, flown by Capt. E. L. Bright, 47th FS, 15th FG, 7th AF, Iwo Jima, Summer 1945

• P-51D-20, S/No.44-63984, flown by Maj. J. B. Tapp, CO of 78th FS, 15th FG, 7th AF, Iwo Jima, May 1945 

• P-51D-25, S/No.44-73407, flown by Maj. J. B. Tapp, CO of 78th FS, 15th FG, 7th AF, Iwo Jima, summer 1945

• P-51D-20, S/No.44-63451, flown by Lt. R. J. Louwers/Lt. J. E. Montgomery III, 46th FS, 21st FG, 7th AF, Iwo Jima, July 1945

• P-51D-20, S/No.44-63733, flown by Maj. P. W. Imig, CO of 72nd FS, 21st FG, 7th AF, Iwo Jima, March 1945

• P-51D-25, S/No.44-73623, flown by Maj. H. C. Crim (later flown by Flt Off. Theo Gruici), CO of 531st FS, 21st FG, 7th AF, Iwo Jima, July/August 1945

• P-51D-20, S/No.44-72570, flown by Lt. R. S. Gardner/2nd Lt. C. Jatczak, 457th FS, 506th FG, 20th AF, Iwo Jima, June/July 1945

• P-51D-20, S/No.44-72579, flown by Capt. J. B. Baker Jr., 458th FS, 506th FG, 20th AF, Iwo Jima, July 1945

• P-51D-20, S/No.44-72587, flown by 2nd Lt. W. G. Ebersole/2nd Lt. J. R. Bercaw, 462nd FS, 506th FG, 20th AF, Iwo Jima, July 1945

​​​​​​​The decal sheet looks lovely and include a full set of airframe stencils, walkways, propeller logos and even the stripes for the tail of option 2. Only one set of national insignia are included, but just adding these will allow you to make any more of the eleven remaining options after you have built this kit!

 
Conclusion
An excellent limited edition release, the base D-20/25 series kit is superb, so there is no reason this one won't be as well. It is certainly worth the asking price and highly recommended to all USAAF or P-51 fans.

Our thanks to Eduard (www.eduard.com) for the review sample, UK modellers can obtain this kit from Hannants here.