Hobby Master 1:48 Air Power Series HA7719 North American P-51D Mustang Diecast Model USAAF 78th FG, #44-72218 "Big Beautiful Doll", John Landers, RAF Duxford, England, December 1944 |
| 1:48 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| North American P-51D Mustang | | 8" | | 9.25" |
Flying a P-40 in the PTO; Colonel John Landers scored 6 victories. In 1944 he was sent to the ETO where he scored 8.5 victories of which 4.5 were scored flying a P-51. His total at wars end was 14.5 air-to-air victories and 20 ground victories. This made Landers one of the few pilots to achieve Ace status in both theaters of operation. His P-38, P-40 and P-51 were all named “Big Beautiful Doll”. His P-51D 44-72218 coded WZ-I was the 192nd produced from a batch of 3,000 ordered the day after D-Day.
Designed to meet an RAF requirement for fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, the P-51 Mustang was first flown on October 26th, 1940. This versatile aircraft was capable of escorting bombers on long-range missions, engaging in dogfights, and dropping down to destroy German targets on the ground. At least eight versions of the P-51 were produced, but it was the definitive P-51D that gave the Mustang its classic warbird appearance. Britain and the US both tested the airframe with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, which gave the aircraft tremendous performance gains. The Truman Senate War Investigating Committee called the Mustang "the most aerodynamically perfect pursuit plane in existence." © Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Hobby Master's 1:48 scale P-51 Mustang is a well-thought-out, quality product, constructed almost entirely from diecast metal with intelligent use of plastic components. The sliding canopy opens to reveal pad printed flight controls, instrument panel and radio equipment boxes. The all-metal propeller spins freely, and the wing flaps and radiator cowling are also movable. Separately applied metal exhaust stacks have six flanged pipes on each side, and pad printed rivets can be seen on the flaps, engine cowling and rudder. Landing gear and doors are constructed as a complete subassembly for easy configuration. Releases in this series include a variety of wing mounted external fuel tanks and ordnance.
© Copyright 2003-2013 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Hobby Master "1:48 Air Power Series" range presents detailed, ready-made diecast models of military aircraft.
Hobby Master "1:48 Air Power Series" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Opening canopies, revealing detailed cockpit interiors.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.
© Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.