North American P-51H „Mustang“ – the American fighter

The experience, gained in the development of lightweight “Mustang” fighters (especially the XP-51F) allowed the production of a new modification of the aircraft. It is designated P-51H (NA-126). The production of a new fighter was approved on April 20, 1944. Its main designer was Artur Patch. On June 30, 1944 a contract was signed for the delivery of 1,000 P-51H fighters, and aircraft production began at the Inglewood factory. The new “Mustang” was equipped with a V-1650-9 engine, its starting power reached 1380 h. p., in a short-term regime it could be increased up to 2220 h. p. at an altitude of 3100 m by injecting a mixture of water and methanol into the cylinders. At an altitude of 7625 m the engine power reached 1800 h. p. The engine turned a four-bladed 3.38 m diameter “Acroproducts” propeller. At an altitude of 7625 m the P-51H developed a speed of 784 km/h, the characteristics of the take-off speed were slightly improved. The “Mustang” was armed with 6 x 12.7 mm machine guns, mounted in the wing. Their total combat kit is 1820 rounds. Under the wing the plane could carry 6 unguided 127 mm caliber missiles or 2 x 227 kg bombs. Instead of bombs, two additional fuel tanks of 417 l each could be hung. The first flight of the P-51H (44-64160) was made by Bob Chilton on February 3, 1945. After 3 days the prototype was destroyed, when a propeller fell off during landing. As was often the case during the war, serial production began before the tests were completed. By July 30, 1945 221 fighters were delivered to combat units, and by September 2 their number had already increased to 370. A total of 555 serial "H" version “Mustangs” were produced, and none of them saw combat in World War II, but a few years after the war they remained in the arsenal of the US Air Force, later transferred to the National Guard.

A well-designed and fairly richly detailed model of medium complexity for intermediate to advanced modelers. Well detailed cockpit interior, chassis, hanging weapons (missiles, bombs, fuel tanks), there are even details of the bomb cart. Cladding details are printed with silver "metallic" paint. However, advanced beginners and less experienced modelers can also glue this model together, if they work under the supervision of a more experienced colleague and do not make the cockpit interior, see-through cabin cover, make the landing gear retracted - in the flight position - and perhaps abandon the outboard armament.