P-51 Mustang models · Compare UK prices
P-51 Mustang Models & Kits
Find a North American P-51 Mustang by scale, variant and building difficulty. Compare Airfix, Tamiya and Revell plastic kits, from compact 1:72 starter sets to detailed 1:32 projects.
Choose a P-51B, bubble-canopy P-51D, Mustang Mk.IV/P-51K or later F-51D. The range also includes no-glue brick builds, metal and balsa projects, and finished diecast aircraft. Our history and variant guide explains the key differences.
Featured build · Tamiya P-51D Mustang, 1:32
Three featured Mustang models
An Easy starter set, a detailed large-scale kit and a finished collector model offer three different ways to enjoy the Mustang.
Great for a first painted Mustang
Easy · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · Paints, glue and brush included
Great for a detailed large-scale display
Challenging · Plastic · 1:32
1:32 · About 30.8 cm long
Great for a ready-built collector display
Ready-built · Diecast · 1:72
1:72 · Finished model and display stand
Easier 1:72 Mustang kits
These Airfix and Tamiya choices are rated Easy for construction. They still need careful fitting and painted finishing; the starter set includes basic supplies, while standard kit boxes need separate materials.
Great for a first painted Mustang
Easy · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · Paints, glue and brush included
A compact introduction to glued aircraft kits, with 31 plastic parts and the basic finishing materials in the box. Its Easy rating still involves trimming, careful fitting and painting.
Great for using your own paint collection
Easy · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · Standard kit boxing
Choose this standard Airfix kit when you already have adhesive and paints. The small display footprint suits a growing aircraft collection; allow time for canopy masking and a tidy finish.
Great for a compact traditional build
Easy · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · Easy construction project
A small-scale alternative to Tamiya’s larger Mustangs. The Easy construction rating describes assembly: a smooth metallic finish and neat markings can still demand practice.
No-glue Mustang builds
Airfix QUICKBUILD, Apostrophe Games and COBI offer push-fit or brick assembly. Compare the format and stated scale: only the COBI selection here specifies 1:32.
Great for a first no-glue model
First Build · Plastic
No stated scale · Pre-coloured push-fit parts
Interlocking, pre-coloured pieces make this a First Build option without glue or painting. Airfix does not state a scale for J6016, so choose it for the building experience rather than matching a scale collection.
Great for a brick-building project
Easy · Plastic
258 pieces · No stated scale
An Easy brick-built interpretation of the Mustang, assembled without adhesive. The 258-piece format offers a different construction experience from a conventional aircraft kit; no scale is stated.
Great for a Top Gun display
Easy · Plastic · 1:32
1:32 · 350-piece brick build
This licensed Top Gun: Maverick boxing recreates the film’s Mustang with 350 building blocks. Its 1:32 scale makes it a substantial display, while the printed brick construction avoids a separate painted finish.
Choosing a Mustang scale
Start with your display space and the kind of build you enjoy. Scale describes size relative to the full aircraft; it does not determine construction difficulty.
| Scale | Subject | What to consider | Catalogue examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:72 | Plastic kits and finished diecast | Compact aircraft displays; fine canopy frames and decals still need care. Kit and ready-built models have different buying criteria. | Airfix starter set · Corgi diecast |
| 1:48 | P-51B, P-51D, F-51D and RAF subjects | For the same aircraft, this is 1.5 times the length and span of 1:72. Compare the variant and construction rating as well as size. | Tamiya P-51B · Airfix Mk.IV/P-51K |
| 1:32 | Large plastic kits and a COBI brick build | Allow roughly 35 cm of wingspan for the conventional P-51D kits. Shared scale does not mean shared assembly method or difficulty. | Tamiya 60322 · Revell 03944 · COBI 5846 |
| 1:25 | Balsa framework construction | Choose this for a wood-and-covering project, with different alignment and finishing tasks from moulded plastic. | Guillow’s 905 Mustang |
| No stated scale | QUICKBUILD, other bricks and metal models | Use the listed dimensions and construction format when planning a display. Do not assume these match a conventional scale collection. | Airfix QUICKBUILD · Apostrophe Games · Metal Earth Sweet Arlene |
1:48 Mustang models
This scale supports several distinct subjects: Tamiya’s earlier P-51B and Korean War F-51D, plus Airfix’s RAF and RAAF Mustang Mk.IV/P-51K. All three below are Intermediate builds.
Great for an earlier Mustang profile
Intermediate · Plastic · 1:48
1:48 · Raised rear fuselage
The P-51B’s razorback fuselage gives it a different outline from the later bubble-canopy P-51D. This Intermediate kit offers a useful starting point for comparing Mustang variants in the same scale.
Great for a Korean War subject
Intermediate · Plastic · 1:48
1:48 · Post-war F-51D boxing
A Mustang in its later F-51D identity, depicting aircraft used during the Korean War. Choose this Intermediate kit for its specific service setting and markings rather than assuming every Mustang boxing represents WW2.
Great for RAF and RAAF markings
Intermediate · Plastic · 1:48
1:48 · British and Australian options
An Intermediate alternative to a US-marked P-51D. This boxing supplies RAF Dooleybird and RAAF schemes, giving a 1:48 collection a different national identity; check the chosen scheme’s date and finishing instructions.
Detailed Mustang builds
Choose these Challenging or Expert projects when you are comfortable with precise alignment, detailed components and a considered paint finish. Larger scale gives more room for detail and more surface area to finish.
Great for a detailed 1:48 project
Challenging · Plastic · 1:48
1:48 · Challenging assembly
A step up from the compact Easy kits, with more demanding assembly and finishing. Its larger format suits a modeller ready to spend more time on cockpit detail, alignment and a carefully painted Mustang.
Great for an experienced large-scale build
Expert · Plastic · 1:32
1:32 · 158 parts · About 30 cm long
Revell’s early-version P-51D is rated Expert by Model Steam and Level 5 by Revell. Separate control surfaces and detailed cockpit and undercarriage work make this a project for an experienced builder.
Great for a detailed large-scale display
Challenging · Plastic · 1:32
1:32 · About 30.8 cm long
A Challenging 1:32 build with detailed radiator components and alternative early- and late-type tails. Allow room for its roughly 35.4 cm wingspan and time for precise assembly and painted finishing.
Ready-built Mustang models
These three 1:72 diecast aircraft provide a finished display without constructing or painting a kit. Compare the specific variant and markings; construction difficulty does not apply.
Great for a ready-built collector display
Ready-built · Diecast · 1:72
1:72 · Finished model and display stand
A finished diecast P-51D in Bill Whisner’s Moonbeam McSWINE markings. The supplied stand supports a display without kit construction, making aircraft identity and paint scheme the main buying decisions.
Great for a 1944 Debden subject
Ready-built · Diecast · 1:72
1:72 · Capt. D. R. Emerson markings
A ready-built Mustang representing Captain D. R. Emerson’s aircraft of the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group at Debden in 1944. Compare its markings with the other finished models before choosing.
Great for a ready-built P-51B
Ready-built · Diecast · 1:72
1:72 · Finished display model
A finished P-51B offers the earlier Mustang profile without gluing or painting a kit. It has no construction difficulty rating; check the product images and supplied display contents against your collection.
How to choose a Mustang model
Start with the construction method. For an introduction to glued and painted aircraft, Airfix’s A55013 starter set includes basic finishing supplies. For assembly without paint or adhesive, choose QUICKBUILD or one of the brick sets. A finished diecast model offers a display without building a kit.
Match the rating to your experience. Easy kits still require care with small parts and paint. Intermediate subjects such as Tamiya’s P-51B suit a modeller ready for more finishing work. Tamiya’s 1:32 P-51D is Challenging, while Revell’s early P-51D is Expert. These are Model Steam construction ratings; see how our rating system works.
Choose the aircraft and scheme. A P-51B and P-51D have visibly different fuselages. Tamiya’s F-51D represents Korean War service, and Airfix’s Mustang Mk.IV/P-51K offers RAF and RAAF markings. Check the exact boxing before choosing decals or planning a group display.
| Preference | Suitable approach | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic painting supplies in the box | An Easy starter set; check tools separately | Airfix A55013 |
| No glue or paint | Pre-coloured push-fit or brick construction | QUICKBUILD J6016 · COBI 5846 |
| A different Mustang profile | Earlier P-51B with raised rear fuselage | Tamiya 61042 |
| A larger, detailed project | Allow space, tools and time for careful finishing | Tamiya 60322 · Revell 03944 |
| A finished collection piece | Ready-built diecast without a construction rating | Corgi AA27709 |
Compare the recommended Mustang models
Compare each recommended model by variant, construction format, scale and difficulty, then check its current offer.
| Model / brand | Variant / format | Scale | Difficulty | Price | Buy now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airfix A55013 P-51D Starter Set | P-51D · Plastic starter set | 1:72 | Easy | £11.95 | |
| Tamiya 60322 P-51D Mustang | P-51D · Glued plastic | 1:32 | Challenging | £102.65 | |
| Corgi AA27709 Moonbeam McSWINE | P-51D · Finished diecast | 1:72 | Ready-built | £57.99 | |
| Airfix A01004B P-51D Mustang | P-51D · Glued plastic | 1:72 | Easy | £8.99 | |
| Tamiya 60749 P-51D Mustang | P-51D · Glued plastic | 1:72 | Easy | £14.74 | |
| Airfix QUICKBUILD J6016 P-51D | P-51D · Push-fit bricks | Not stated | First Build | £13.46 | |
| Apostrophe Games P-51 Mustang | Mustang · Brick build | Not stated | Easy | £26.99 | |
| COBI 5846 Top Gun P-51D Mustang | P-51D · Film-themed brick build | 1:32 | Easy | £37.89 | |
| Tamiya 61042 P-51B Mustang | P-51B · Glued plastic | 1:48 | Intermediate | £24.01 | |
| Tamiya 61044 F-51D Korean War | F-51D · Glued plastic | 1:48 | Intermediate | £16.87 | |
| Airfix A05137 Mustang Mk.IV/P-51K | Mustang Mk.IV/P-51K · Glued plastic | 1:48 | Intermediate | £28.49 | |
| Airfix A05131A P-51D Mustang | P-51D · Glued plastic | 1:48 | Challenging | £26.87 | |
| Revell 03944 P-51D-5NA Mustang | Early P-51D-5NA · Glued plastic | 1:32 | Expert | £36.47 | |
| Oxford Diecast AC126 Mustang | P-51 · Finished diecast | 1:72 | Ready-built | £21.96 | |
| Enatuhter P-51B Mustang | P-51B · Finished diecast | 1:72 | Ready-built | £29.68 |
A short Mustang history and variant guide
The Mustang began as North American Aviation’s NA-73 project in 1940, developed to meet a British requirement. Early aircraft used Allison engines. The later adoption of a Packard-built Rolls-Royce Merlin helped the Mustang become an effective high-altitude fighter and long-range bomber escort. The P-51D became its most numerous version.
For a model collection, the most useful distinctions are the fuselage and canopy shape, the exact variant, and the markings in the box. The raised rear fuselage of a P-51B contrasts with the P-51D’s bubble canopy. After the war, the US designation changed from P-51 to F-51; Mustangs continued in service during the Korean War.
For historical background, see the US Air Force museum’s Mustang history. For kit-specific differences, Tamiya’s P-51B and F-51D Korean War descriptions explain the subjects represented.
| Variant / designation | What differs | Catalogue example |
|---|---|---|
| P-51B | Merlin-powered Mustang with a raised rear fuselage, often called a razorback. Its canopy profile differs from the later D. | Tamiya 61042 P-51B |
| P-51D | The familiar bubble-canopy version. Production blocks and kit options can differ, including the tail configuration. | Revell early P-51D-5NA · Tamiya P-51D |
| Mustang Mk.IV/P-51K | Check the complete designation, propeller and scheme in the specific boxing. Airfix A05137 provides RAF and RAAF subjects. | Airfix A05137 |
| F-51D | The post-war designation for the Mustang; choose the kit’s stated service and markings. Tamiya 61044 depicts Korean War aircraft. | Tamiya 61044 F-51D · Airfix A02047A F-51D |
| Top Gun: Maverick P-51D | A film-themed interpretation of the Mustang. COBI 5846 uses building blocks rather than conventional glued aircraft parts. | COBI 5846 |
Browse all P-51 Mustang models
Explore P-51 and F-51 Mustang kits and finished models, including British and Australian subjects. Browse by scale or construction difficulty, or compare the full range of plastic, brick-built, metal, balsa and diecast choices.
Revell 04148 P-51D Mustang 1:72 Model Kit
P-51 Mustang model FAQs
Which Mustang kit is suitable for a beginner?
The Airfix A55013 starter set is an Easy 1:72 kit with paints, glue and a brush. It still requires careful assembly and painted finishing. For a First Build option without glue or paint, consider Airfix QUICKBUILD J6016.
What is the difference between a P-51B and a P-51D?
Why do some Mustang kits say F-51D?
F-51D is the later designation for the Mustang after the US Air Force changed its naming system. Tamiya 61044 depicts Korean War aircraft, so its service setting and markings differ from a typical WW2 P-51D boxing.
Should I choose 1:72, 1:48 or 1:32?
For the same aircraft, 1:48 is 1.5 times the length and span of 1:72, while 1:32 is 2.25 times as large. Airfix’s 1:72 starter set suits a compact display; Tamiya’s 1:48 P-51B gives more room for detail. The 1:32 Tamiya P-51D needs roughly 35.4 cm of wingspan space.
Are all no-glue Mustang models the same scale?
No. COBI 5846 states 1:32, while QUICKBUILD J6016 and the Apostrophe Games set have no stated scale. Compare their dimensions and construction format rather than assuming they match.
Do ready-built Mustangs need painting or have a difficulty rating?
The Corgi Moonbeam McSWINE, Oxford AC126 and Enatuhter P-51B are finished diecast display models. They have no kit-construction difficulty rating. Check the aircraft version, markings and supplied display contents instead.
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