Warbird Decals 1/48 P-51D Thunderbirds Decal First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Here is an interesting set of decals from Warbird - the USAF Thunderbirds for the P-51 Mustang. The artwork is consitent with two eras of Thunderbirds history, the first being the bare metal T-Birds such as the F-84 and F-100, and the white T-Birds as flown by the F-4E and T-38. Warbird Decals has re-worked this artwork and sized it to fit the Tamiya 1/48 P-51D Mustang (OK, F-51D by this time).

The markings provide layout used by the bare metal T-Birds which would look great on the P-51, as well as the Bicentennial season markings flown by the T-38. Of course these are 'what-if' markings, and it is hard to imagine the P-51 in place of the F-100 or F-4E, but could you imagine how much more interesting that long low-budget period would have been had the Thunderbirds operated the P-51 instead of the humble T-38? No offense to the T-38 crowd, but a formation of Packard Merlins would have been far more musical in the hands of the USAF's finest pilots.

Warbird Decals are available through a number of online retailers.

My sincere thanks to Warbird Decals for this review sample!