Platz 1/144 F-82F/G Twin Mustang
By Matt Bittner
Introduction
Regardless of what some people think, the North American F-82 "Twin Mustang" was not the result of North American slapping two P-51 Mustangs together. It was an entirely new design only slightly based on the well-known P-51. It was designed during WW2 as a long-range, escort fighter but the war ended before it was put into production. Instead the Strategic Air Command (SAC) used it for that role. Plus, the Twin Mustang saw action during the Korean War, in fact it was the first USAF aircraft to make kill claims.
The Kit
The Platz 1/144 F-82F/G Twin Mustang consists of 23 pieces of grey, injected plastic and two clear injected canopies (plus everything is doubled since there are two F-82 models in one box). Decals, nicely printed by Cartograf and in register, are for the following aircraft:
- F-82F, FQ-477, s/n 46-477, 319th F(AW)S, 1949
- F-82F, FQ-479, s/n 46-479, 5th F(AW)S, 1949
- F-82G, FQ-377, S/n 46-377, 449th F(AW)S, 1952
The first two aircraft are overall black while the F-82G is natural metal with arctic-red tails and wingtips.
Construction will go extremely quick. Add the faux cockpit to one fuselage half (of each fuselage) – after painting, of course – and glue the fuselage halves together, ensuring you trap the prop holder as well. Glue both fuselages to the one-piece wing, along with the horizontal tail and you have a completed airframe (or two, if you're building both models at the same time). Turn the model over and add the radiator inlets and – if you choose – the closed landing gear doors (there are also complete landing gear so you could also model it on its "legs"). If you're building one of the F-82Fs then either add the radar radome now, or after painting. Plus, if you have decided to lower the landing gear then those pieces are best left off until after painting is finished (except for maybe the tail wheel well, you might want to add that prior to painting but definitely leave the tail wheel and gear off).
Conclusion
These are excellent examples of the F-82 Twin Mustang. With there being two kits in a box you can build both the F-82F and F-82G. The only thing I wish is for more decal options or an aftermarket decal sheet. There are plenty of F-82s that need to be built, especially SAC-flown aircraft and having only three options, you'll see the exact same aircraft in any competition. Now to get someone (RetrokiT?) to develop conversion parts to create the earlier and later F-82s. In fact, I plan on trying to use the RetroWings P-51 resin cockpits in at least one of these builds.
(Note: I was able to find a photo of the 449th bird on Wikipedia).