1/72 P-51D Mustang (Hasegawa 1:72 Aircraft Series D25)

The P-51 Mustang is a fighter plane developed in the astonishing speed of 117 days, under a contract signed between the British Aircraft Purchasing Board and North American Aircraft Corporation in April 1940.

It was initially exported to Britain, but when America entered the war, it was also adopted by the United States Army Air Corps, which had been cold toward the P-51.

The D model had a lower rear fuselage top to improve rear visibility compared to the previous B/C models, and a rear-sliding valve canopy.  The early models did not have a dorsal fin in front of the vertical stabilizer, but one was added during production to improve directional stability.

The reason the Mustang is said to be a masterpiece of World War II has been proven in actual combat, but the secret to its excellence lies in its design, one step ahead of its class, and its overall cohesiveness.

Data:
Crew: 1
Width: 11.28m
Length: 9.83m
Height: 3.71m
Weight: 5,262kg
Engine: Packard Marine V-1650-7
Power: 1,450hp
Maximum speed: 703km/h/7,620m
Fixed armament: 6 x 12.7mm machine guns
First flight: Prototype 26/10/1940