Tamiya 60754 - 1:72 North American F-51D Mustang Korean War

Plastic model kit of the North American F-51D Mustang (Korean War) fighter in 1:72 scale

Tamiya 60754 depicts the Mustang in Korean War service, by then designated F-51D (for 'fighter'). This famous Second World War escort fighter, powered by a Packard (licence-built Rolls-Royce Merlin) engine, served in Korea chiefly as a ground-attack aircraft, carrying bombs and rockets.

The kit is from Tamiya's own tooling, with new parts and decals suited to the Korean conflict. The decals finish the aircraft in one of three USAF natural-metal schemes.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing and tail parts
• Bubble canopy and a detailed cockpit interior
• Underwing fuel tanks
• Waterslide decal sheet for 3 USAF marking options (Korean War)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Item number: 60754
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 136 mm, wingspan: 157 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

Note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

As a Tamiya-tooled kit it features good parts fit. Paint the cockpit interior before closing the fuselage and fit the canopy last, after painting.

Korean War Mustangs most often wore a natural-metal finish (e.g. Tamiya AS-12 Bare Metal Silver or XF-16 Flat Aluminum) with colourful unit markings. Lay the decals over a gloss coat to avoid silvering, then finish with a satin varnish. The instructions provide paint references for all three schemes.

Tools you'll need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes of various sizes and modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Panel-line wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Gloss varnish for the decals and a satin coat to finish
• Optional: self-adhesive canopy masks

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

The P-51D Mustang was one of the most effective escort fighters of the Second World War. After the war the aircraft remained in service in many countries, and the U.S. changed its designation from P-51 to F-51.

When the Korean War broke out in 1950, Mustangs were quickly committed to action. Although outclassed by jets in air combat, they proved their worth as ground-attack aircraft, hitting targets with bombs and rockets – often suffering heavy losses from ground fire during low-level passes.

Original aircraft specifications (F-51D):

• Length: 9.83 m
• Wingspan: 11.28 m
• Height: 4.17 m
• Empty weight: approx. 3,460 kg
• Powerplant: Packard V-1650 inline engine (licence-built Merlin, V12), approx. 1,490 hp
• Max speed: approx. 700 km/h
• Armament: six .50-calibre Browning machine guns; underwing bombs and rockets
• Crew: 1
• Service: Second World War and the Korean War

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of Japan's model-making industry. It launched its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960 and soon set a global benchmark for quality thanks to precise tooling and excellent parts fit. Tamiya's own-tooled kits are popular with beginners and experienced modellers alike, combining accurate detail with thoughtfully engineered, enjoyable assembly. Beyond plastic kits in many scales, the company offers a full range of accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. Tamiya operates in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.