Mushroom Model Publications bring us No 6126 in their "Yellow Series" of books – this one is a monograph of the "North American P-51D Mustang". I for one don’t really like the mustangs others seem to do – I just don’t get the hype that surrounds it. Though I do remember making the British P-51D "Dooley Bird" model kit when I was a little taka – to me it never had the same character to me as the larger P-47 thunderbolt. But on owning another of the earlier "Yellow Series" books on the thunderbolt I dived in to this book anyway and I can say now I am a "bit of a fan" of the Mustang after all!

Now I have to say a few things from the start – this book covers more than just the P-51D model of the Mustang – it goes right from its genesis from the requirement from the British Purchasing Commission handed to the North American Aviation company to build more Curtiss P-40'S for the defence of the British skies from the German Luftwaffe. The P-51K and photographical reconnaissance F-6, to the experimental after war mustangs and the "Twin" Mustang the P-82.

The book starts off with a Brief introduction which explains the conception of the aircraft from British fighter requirements, from North American Aviation wanting to make a better aircraft than the Curtiss P-40 – considered at that time Americas best fighter. Through to the initial design features such as the laminar flow wing and the streamlined aerodynamic surfaces. The original dis-satisfaction by the British in the aircraft they were delivered through to the development of the earlier mark mustangs with Alison engines and framed canopies, through to the game changing Merlin engined long range bubble top canopied mustangs now famous all around the world. Just enough and not too much history is garnished on here – everyone knows the story of the development ( from the drawing board to the flightline in a month" well they don't bore you with too many details here – which I think is great – more detail not more drivel I say!

The second small section goes on to explain the Production numbers and where they were made, and in which factories and their different designations There were two main production plants – one in Inglewood – California ( now famous for its drive bys) and one in Dallas ( now famous for J.R. Ewing) Dual control, 1950's TEMCO and Cavalier P-51s are explained, as well as the P-51K model which was the same as the D just with a different hollow steel propeller and a "Blown" canopy with more headroom made in the Dallas plant, known as - you guessed it - the Dallas Hood.

The Australian CAC Mustangs are discussed here – the only country amazingly to licence the production of the mustang. The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation ( CAC) in Sunny Melbourne (pardon the pun I'm from Sydney) Their production differences and numbers are detailed here. The last part of this section details the after war developed lightweight Mustangs and the one hundred and fifty or so airworthy aircraft still around today. Again not to long-winded - the balance is just right.

Next is a complete technical description of the P-51D Mustang. From the skin to the wing, the tail to the oil, and the propeller to the electrical, the aircraft is described at length here. If you were a designer in 1940 you would have freaked out if someone was to give you these descriptions as a requirement, but you would be able to make a good representation from the description given. I haven’t seen anything like it in another book – a really until useful description. Serial numbers and the aircraft specification are there for the "stats lovers" as well.

Most of this section is criss-crossed and filled with black and white photographs of mustangs from mainly the Second World War, in theatre with many nations and of course the USAAF. Prototype and later experimental Mustangs and their weapons are illustrated. As is the crowning glory of this book - the scale plans.

1/72nd top side and front on scale plans are given here for all of the major P-51D models constructed right through till the middle section of the book. This is great for smaller scale modellers – "But wait – there's more!" There is a fold out I discovered in the middle of the book – and this is one part that sets it apart from other monographs – it’s a duplex printed fold out poster of line drawings of the "D" in 48th AND 32nd scales – BONUS!

I am soo sick of scaling things up on the photocopier and making a hash of it all and wasting time and precious brainpower I know I will never get back – working out the scale at which I need to blow up the usually included 48th scale plans to get to my preferred scale correctly. ( smart-alecs amongst you will say it's easy but it never to me seems to work millimetre perfect when you have to stick 'em all together) I can't tell you how much of a bonus this is for me a large scale modeller – I immediately went to my Hasegawa and Dragon kits to see what all the fuss was about in the accuracy of the kits. This was not included in earlier "Yellow Series " books from MMP so I am really chuffed to say that this is included – nearly worth the cover price to me alone.

The end of the text section of the book – the next section is some meat in the sandwich. The detail section – and not just any planes have been portrayed here. Two of the most accurate reconstructions currently around - Midwest Aero Restorations " Happy Jack's Go Buggy" and Peter Tiechman's "Jumpin Jacques'" have been thoroughly documented here in a plethora of close up detail pictures. These aircraft have set a benchmark in the appearance of a restored airframe to make it just as an original would. There is nothing to me more dodgy than a modern walk around book with an aircraft with things in it that are wrong that even I can pick up!!! Both are top notch reconstructions and are worthy aircraft to base your own kit construction on – top marks again.

At the end part of this book – is again the other really shining light of this tome of knowledge – the aircraft profiles – "Holly Gee" as George Takai would say – it's just amazing how many colour schemes are in this section from different countries. Twenty nine different countries are included here for your inspiration – I wish there were decals for every one of them as they are all worthy of kitting. The good thing is they are not all biased to the USAAF versions. I have scanned a heap of them to show you here so as you have a scope of just some of the inspiration the book gave me.

For £13.99 all of this and the plans (sorry 1/144 guys you will need to go to the photocopier again) I can't really find fault with this book – the only improvement I could find is to include some decals – but that’s more expensive and problematic really.

So what do we think?

A great book on the Mustang – if you are a modeller and in need just one book on the P-51 this would be it. Fuller than a bent copper's pocket with information and inspiration - near perfect!

9.5/10

Adam Norenberg