Considered by many the most capable WWII fighters, the Mustang was also active in the Korean War, and this model creates one such F-51D. Renamed from the P-51D to the F-51D to go along with the creation of the US Air Force, the Mustang seemed set for gradual retirement as jet aircraft took centre stage. With the outbreak of hostilities on the Korean peninsula, however, that all changed. United Nations forces were hard pushed in the early stages of the war, and USAF P-80s were unable to land in areas where there were frequently no proper runways. The F-51D stepped in and performed admirably in a ground attack role as the United Nations forces pushed back.

• 1/32 scale plastic model assembly kit. Length: 308mm, wingspan: 354mm.
• The six wing machine guns feature individual parts for ammunition belts.
• Underbelly radiators have depictions of interior structure. Radiator and oil cooler flaps are moving parts.
• Choose whether to display the kit in flight or parked (can be changed after assembly), with dedicated landing gear parts included. The tail wheel is attached with a magnet.
• Moving ailerons, rudders and elevators use metal shafts and photo-etched parts. Flaps are also movable with the use of poly caps.
• Magnet-attached engine cowls are moulded in appropriately thin plastic.
• Features a 16-page full colour A5-size booklet packed with information, and a dedicated four-language cover story.
• What's New: Parts included for six 5-inch HVAR rockets.
• Wider paddle blade propeller is accurately recreated.
• Features a choice of SCR-522 transceiver with BC-453B receiver, and new AN/ARC-3 transceiver set. Each has dedicated cockpit parts.
• New parts depict slitted fuselage side radiator access panel.
• Seated and standing pilot figures. The former uses new head parts featuring the P-1A helmet used in the Korean War.
• Comes with three marking options (two U.S. and one Korean).

Paints recommended by Tamiya: AS-6 Olive Drab (USAAF), AS-12 Bare-Metal Silver, TS-8 Italian Red, TS-47 Chrome Yellow, X-2 Gloss White, X-4 Gloss Blue, X-7 Gloss Red, X-8 Gloss Green, X-10 Gloss Gun Metal, X-11 Gloss Chrome Silver, X-12 Gloss Gold Leaf, X-14 Gloss Sky Blue, X-18 Semi-Gloss Black, TS-29 Semi-Gloss Black, X-25 Gloss Clear Green, X-26 Gloss Clear Orange, X-27 Gloss Clear Red, X-31 Gloss Titanium Gold, X-32 Gloss Titanium Silver, XF-1 Flat Black, XF-3 Flat Yellow, XF-4 Flat Yellow Green, XF-5 Flat Green, XF-7 Flat Red, XF-10 Flat Brown, XF-15 Flat Flesh, XF-16 Flat Aluminium, XF-19 Flat Sky Grey, XF-49 Flat Khaki, XF-52 Flat Earth, XF-55 Flat Deck Tan, XF-56 Flat Metallic Grey, XF-57 Flat Buff, XF-59 Flat Desert Yellow, XF-62 Flat Olive Drab, XF-64 Flat Red Brown, XF-85 Flat Rubber Black.