Arma Hobby 70070 - 1:72 P-51D Mustang

Plastic model kit of the American P-51D Mustang fighter in 1:72 scale

The P-51D is the most recognisable version of the Mustang: cut-down rear decking, a bubble canopy giving an all-round view and six heavy machine guns in the wings. Arma Hobby 70070 reproduces this version in 1:72 scale from completely new 2025 tooling prepared for the early D-5 and D-10 production blocks. The kit is officially licensed by Boeing.

The tooling captures features that are easy to overlook but decide how convincing the model looks: the filled and smoothed wing panels, Dzus fastener and rivet detail, alternative horizontal stabilisers and different canopy and fin shapes. An optional radio direction-finding loop antenna and a camera option are also provided. A further help is the clear assembly jig, which makes it easy to align the landing gear legs correctly relative to the airframe.

The Techmod decals cover three aircraft complete with full stencilling: P-51D-10-NA 44-14450/B6-S "Old Crow" of the 363rd Fighter Squadron / 357th Fighter Group at RAF Leiston, January 1945, flown by Lt Clarence "Bud" Anderson; P-51D-5-NA "Happy Jack's Go Buggy" of the 79th FS / 20th FG at RAF Kings Cliffe, 1944, assigned to Cpt Jack Ilfrey; and Mustang Mk IV (P-51D-5-NT) KH663/RF-M of No. 303 Polish Squadron at RAF Andrews Field, April 1945, flown by F/Lt Janusz Franckiewicz.

What's in the box:

• Two plastic sprues
• Clear sprue
• Die-cut self-adhesive masks for the canopy and wheels
• Techmod decals for 3 marking options complete with full stencilling
• Clear assembly jig for correct alignment of the landing gear
• Assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 70070
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Assembled length: approx. 137 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 157 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. The model requires assembly.

Building the model:

The new 2025 tooling gives a clear breakdown of the airframe and a moderate parts count, so the kit will work well for less experienced modellers too. The clear assembly jig is a real help — it lets you set the landing gear legs at the correct angles without eyeballing, which can be awkward on a Mustang. It is worth choosing the marking option early, as it determines the canopy and fin shape, the type of horizontal stabiliser and whether the loop antenna is fitted. We suggest painting and finishing the cockpit before joining the fuselage halves, since it is unusually visible through the bubble canopy. The manufacturer additionally provides files for home 3D printing — the code is included with the kit — covering supplementary accessories; this is an option for modellers with a 3D printer.

The two American aircraft are natural-metal machines, for which several shades of metallic paint are worth using to vary individual panels and bring out the filled wing sections. The Mustang Mk IV of No. 303 Polish Squadron wears British colours — Dark Green and Ocean Grey above with Medium Sea Grey below. We recommend applying the decals over a gloss coat to limit silvering and finishing the model with satin varnish. For extra detail you may consider aftermarket accessories available separately in our shop, such as turned metal barrels or photo-etched sets for this kit.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Fine modelling tweezers
• Brushes in a range of sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash for emphasising details and panel lines
• Gloss varnish under the decals and satin varnish for the final finish

About the aircraft – North American P-51D Mustang:

Once the P-51B/C had proved that the Merlin-engined Mustang was the answer to the need for a long-range escort fighter, one serious problem remained: the framed canopy and high fuselage spine almost denied the pilot any view to the rear. The answer was to cut down the rear decking and fit a bubble canopy — a solution already proven on British Typhoons. The result was the P-51D.

At the same time the armament was increased to six Browning M2 heavy machine guns of 12.7 mm calibre and their installation in the wing was improved, eliminating the gun jams common on the B model. The Packard V-1650-7 engine of about 1,490 hp drove a four-blade Hamilton Standard propeller. Under the wings the aircraft could carry 500 lb or 1,000 lb bombs or six HVAR unguided rockets, which made the Mustang an effective ground-attack aircraft. Early D-5 blocks did not yet have the fin fillet, which was introduced during production.

The P-51D became the most numerous version of the Mustang — around 8,000 were built — and the standard escort fighter of the Eighth Air Force in the last year of the war in Europe. Leading aces flew it, among them Clarence "Bud" Anderson of the 357th Fighter Group. Aircraft designated Mustang Mk IV also served with the RAF and the Polish squadrons, including No. 303. After the war the P-51D remained in service in many countries for years, fighting in Korea among other places in the close support role.

Original aircraft specifications (P-51D Mustang):

• Crew: 1 pilot
• Length: 9.83 m
• Wingspan: 11.28 m
• Powerplant: Packard V-1650-7 inline engine — a licence-built Rolls-Royce Merlin — of about 1,490 hp
• Propeller: Hamilton Standard, approx. 3.40 m in diameter
• Gun armament: 6 x Browning M2 heavy machine guns of 12.7 mm calibre
• External load: 2 x 500 lb or 1,000 lb bombs, or 6 HVAR unguided rockets
• Distinguishing features: bubble canopy and cut-down rear fuselage decking

About the manufacturer – Arma Hobby:

Arma Hobby is a Polish manufacturer of plastic model kits based in Warsaw, operating under this name since 2016. The brand was built on the experience of Attack Squadron, a company that previously specialised in resin accessories for aircraft models. Designs and injection moulds are produced in Poland, using computer-aided design and scans of surviving airframes. What stands out in this brand's kits is above all the very fine surface representation, thin trailing edges, well-executed transparencies and high-quality decals. The catalogue covers 1:72 and 1:48 scales with a strong emphasis on Polish aviation — the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra — as well as Allied aircraft of the Second World War. Arma Hobby kits have been recognised many times in industry awards, including the Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg toy fair. The manufacturer also develops kits supplemented with 3D-printed parts and offers files for home 3D printing.