P-51 Mustang Part 2. XP-51B Through P-51C

The P-51 Mustang was one of only a very few military aircraft that could be conclusively called a “war-winning design.” It was a truly remarkable aircraft design that evolved from a beautiful aerodynamic prototype that was created in just a few short months into an aircraft that finally allowed the American strategy of daylight precision bombing to be successfully and effectively achieved.

P-51 Mustang in Detail & Scale, Part 2 is the second part of a three-volume set of books in the Detail & Scale Series that present a detailed look at the North American P-51 Mustang and its British counterparts. Part 1 covered the early Allison-powered variants, and this volume takes a look at the early Merlin-powered Mustangs, including the P-51B, P-51C, F-6C, and the Mustang Mk. III. Part 3 will cover the P-51D and later variants of the Mustang, including their photo-reconnaissance and British versions.

Following the introduction, the first chapter summarizes the developmental and operational history of these Mustang variants which saw the excellent and combat proven North American design turned into a superb high-altitude fighter with the change to the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Produced in large quantities at two facilities, the P-51Bs and P-51Cs served in every theater of the war and proved themselves to be among the most outstanding fighters of World War II. Those converted to the F-6C photo-reconnaissance sub-variant provided valuable intelligence information to Allied commanders. Others, ordered by the British as the Mustang Mk. III, served in the Royal Air Force and with other Commonwealth Air Forces.

The next chapter takes a closer look at each variant of these early Merlin-powered Mustangs with a separate section for each. These not only include the production versions, but the Mustang Mk. X and XP-51B experimental and developmental aircraft are also covered, as is the F-6C photo-reconnaissance sub-variant. The text in each section is complemented with photographs, and art profiles are included for each of the production variants. Following the variants chapter is a gallery of photographs that illustrate the different paint schemes and some of the markings used on these early Merlin-powered Mustang variants.

As with all volumes in the Detail & Scale Series, the primary focus is on the details of the aircraft, and the details chapter includes ten different sections in which there are more than one hundred detail photographs and illustrations, most of which are in color, and many were taken specifically for this publication.

The book concludes with our usual Modelers Section where scale modelers will find concise and objective reviews of the kits available of the early Merlin-powered Mustang variants. All standard modeling scales are covered, and recommendations are made as how to correct inaccuracies and add details to the kits.

P-51 Mustang in Detail & Scale, Part 2 has over 220 high-resolution photographs, over 100 of which are in full color, plus eight illustrations and 14 full-color profiles.