In 1942, tests of P-51s using the British Rolls-Royce "Merlin" engine revealed much improved speed and service ceiling, and in Dec. 1943, Merlin-powered P-51Bs first entered combat over Europe. Providing high-altitude escort to B-17s and B-24s, they scored heavily over German interceptors and by war's end, P-51s had destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft in the air, more than any other fighter in Europe.

Between 1941 and 1945, the AAF ordered 14,855 Mustangs which 7,956 were P-51Ds. During the Korean War, P-51Ds were used primarily for close support of ground forces until withdrawn from combat in 1953.

Kyosho has created this famous fighter escort model to look like the P51D with rounded fuselage edges and smooth wingtips while maintaining safe and easy flight characteristics in a tail dragger model. The P-51D easily accommodates a 40-45 glow engine as well as popular electric power combinations.

Kyosho now produces this famous fighter/bomber with a precise factory assembled balsa and light ply main fuselage, tail feathers and wings. All surfaces are expertly covered with a strong lightweight covering that resist the effects of nitro glow fuels. The covering material is applied in layers to replicate the unique camouflage pattern with decals already applied for you.

Noteworthy is the rounded shape of the fuselage and the concave rear cockpit windows. The attention to detail carries through to the fiberglass cowl and is painted to match the fuselage colors. Gear covers and wheel well inserts are included with an accurately produced clear canopy.

Push rods are steel to wood shafts with aluminum ends that attach to beefy control horns.

The P-51D is shipped with fixed gear landing gear wires and wheels and are adaptable to mechanical 90 degree rotating retracts. The wire mount blocks in the wings are removable to expose the mechanical retract mounting blocks.

The P-51D is designed for ease of assembly with all of the hardware including the fuel tank, motor mount and spinner.

The light wing loading makes the P-51D a good first time tail dragger and capable of all of the fighter maneuvers such as loops, rolls, Cuban eights and more with easy and slow landing characteristics.

The P-51D's lightweight is also adaptable to Electric Power (EP).

Features:

• The main structure from laser and CNC cut balsa. The wings and fuselage are jig assembled for perfect alignment. The P-451D fuselage features rounded edges and shaped sides to emulate the full size P-51D Mustang.
• Factory covered for you with a strong lightweight fuel resistant covering in two layers to simulate the camouflage finish of the P-51D. The Kyosho covering is virtually wrinkle-free and is a low temperature covering.
• The landing gear can be either the included fixed gear or adapted with the factory installed blocks for mechanical retracts.
• Spacious fuselage interior facilitates easy radio installation and will easily accommodate batteries for electric flight.
• The lightweight construction of the P-51D makes it easy to convert for electric flight.
• Complete hardware for linkages, engine mount, fixed gear, wheels, fuel cell and spinner are all included in the kit.
• Assembly time depending on building skills is approximately 48 hours.

Parts Included 9 ounce/ 260cc Fuel Tank
Spinner, Tires, Steering tail wheel, main fixed gear, linkage parts and hardware.