Hobby 2000 72024 1/72 North American P-51B Mustang US Aces over Europe

The P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II.

The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a design team headed by James Kindelberger of North American Aviation (NAA) in response to a requirement of the British Purchasing Commission.

The Purchasing Commission approached North American Aviation to build Curtiss P-40 fighters under license for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Rather than build an old design from another company, North American Aviation proposed the design and production of a more modern fighter. The prototype NA-73X airframe was rolled out on 9 September 1940, 102 days after the contract was signed, and first flew on 26 October.

P-51 B/C Mustang in USAAF colors, model from Hasegawa w/Cartograf decals and Pmask masks.

Variants

• P-51 B/C Mustang, 4324823/B6-O, “Berlin Express”, pilot 1st Ltn William B. Overstreet, 363rd Fighter Squadron/357th Fighter Group, Leiston, UK, August 1944

• P-51 B/C Mustang, 42106451/HO-P, “Cripes A’Mighty”, pilot Maj. George Preddy, 487th Fighter Squadron/352nd Fighter Group, Bodney, UK, 12 June 1944

• P-51 B/C Mustang, 42106647/C3-D, “Big Mac Junior”, pilot Capt. John R. Brown, 382nd Fighter Squadron/363rd Fighter Group, A-15, France, July 1944

Specifications

• Item Size: 29.5cm x 14.2cm x 4.2cm