Hobby Master 1:48 Air Power Series Diecast Model

North American P-51D Mustang - “Margaret IV”, Maj. James Tapp, 78th FS, 15th FG, USAAF, Iwo Jima, April 1945

1:48 Scale.  Length: 8".  Wingspan: 9.25"

In November 1944, the 15th Fighter Group began receiving their P-51D-20/25 Mustangs. One of three squadrons within the 15th Fighter Group was the 78th Fighter Squadron. They were called the “Bushmasters”, after a poisonous snake from Central America. On April 7 1945 the 15th FG and 21st FG departed from Iwo Jima on their first VLR (very long range) mission escorting B-29 bombers to and from Tokyo, Japan.

The P-51’s were equipped with two 110-gallon drop tanks that would give them the required fuel for the round trip mission. There were slightly more than 100 Mustangs escorting approximately the same number of B-29’s when they encountered Japanese aircraft. Out of approximately 110 to 125 enemy aircraft sent to intercept the bombers the USAAF pilots had 71 confirmed kills as well as 44 damaged with 30 of these probably destroyed.

Major James Tapp flying his P-51 Mustang “Margaret IV”, named after his wife, had 3 confirmed kills. On April 12, 1944, Tapp scored again making him the first USAAF pilot to become an ace while flying over Japan. Major Tapp’s final tally was 8 confirmed with 2 damaged. Six of his kills came while flying the P-51D “Margaret IV”.

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was a single-seat World War II fighter aircraft. First flown on October 26, 1940, the P-51 was designed and built in just 117 days. It flew most of its missions as a bomber escort in raids over Germany, helping ensure Allied air superiority from 1944. As well as being economical to produce, the Mustang was a fast and durable aircraft.


Hobby Master offers a wide selection of quality, pre-assembled, diecast model airplanes. Each model is crafted to a high level of accuracy using specifications of the original aircraft. They are constructed with precision-made diecast metal and some plastic components.

This high quality model of a P-51 Mustang features: