Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series
HA8515bP-51B Mustang "Steve Pisanos" 36798, 4th FG, 334th FS, May 1944 (with pilots’s signature plate)
General Background
Later in WWII the Allied bombers were flying deep into Germany but suffered tremendous losses because of the lack of range the fighter escorts had. German fighters would wait beyond the range of the Allied fighters and then attack the vulnerable bombers. Once the P-51 called Mustang by the British had the Allison engine replaced with a British Merlin it possessed the high performance that had been lacking. With drop tanks the P-51 had the range to escort bombers all the way to Berlin and back.
The Aircraft
The only difference between the North American P-51B and C variants was the B was built in Inglewood and the C in Dallas. The B variant first flew on May 5, 1943 and the C variant first flew on August 5, 1943. The B variant saw 1,988 built while the C variant saw 1,750 built. On December 1, 1943 the P-51B Mustang flew its first combat mission and in March 1944 provided bomber escort to Berlin.
Hobby Master HA8515b, P-51B Mustang "Steve Pisanos" 36798, 4th FG, 334th, 1:48
- P-51B/C Production: 3,738B: 1,988 produced at Inglewood plantC: 1,750 produced at Dallas plantDimensions:Length: 32.25 ftWingspan: 37.04 ftHeight: 13.67 ftWeightEmpty: 6,985 lbsNormal T/O: 9,800 lbsMaximum Gross: 11,800 lbsPerformancePower Plant: 1 X Packard (Rolls Royce) V-1650-3-7 producing 1,380 hp in the B variant and 1,490 hp in the C variantMaximum Speed: 439 mph @ 25,000 ftService Ceiling: 41,800 ftRange: B – 1,180 milesC – 1,900 milesArmament 4 x .50 cal machine guns with 1,260 rounds2 x 1,000 lb bombs or rockets