THF166636

P-51 Mustang Model Airplane Kit, 1970-1980

THF166635

P-51 Mustang Model Airplane Kit, 1970-1980

Summary

Model airplanes have been a popular hobby since the 1920s. Early modelers built from scratch, but entrepreneurs soon saw the business possibilities in making and selling model kits. Balsa wood was a favorite building material due to its strength, light weight, and the ease with which it could be shaped.

Artifact

Model kit

Date Made

1970-1980

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2016.107.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Plastic
Cardboard
Wood (Plant material)

Color

Cream (Color)
Black (Color)
Yellow
Red

Dimensions

Height: 1.75 in (packaging)

Width: 20.25 in (packaging)

Length: 7.25 in (packaging)

Inscriptions

on top, upper left of packaging: A MULTI-PURPOSE MODEL / Designed to be flown rubber powered, 1/4A gas free flight, U-Control or with the new lightweight 1/4A radio control equipment. / WING SPAN 27 1/4" (70.48 cm) SCALE 3/4" =1'-0" / Balsa flies BETTER / NORTH AMERICAN P-51 MUSTANG / U.S. AIR FORCE WORLD WAR 2 FIGHTER / Modele Reduit on top, upper right of packaging: Kit Features...complete set of beautiful decals, scale WW-2 plastic wheels, light plastic nose cowls, spinners, gun troughs, exhausts and air scoops. Bubble canopies with window areas clearly defined, free wheeling plastic props, rubber motor, light Silkspan tissue, clean die-cut balsa parts, clay for balancing model, reinforced wire and plywood landing gear plus generous quantities of strip and sheet balsa stock. For GAS and U-CONTROL INSTALLATION: Plywood fire wall, tip guide, bellcrank base and control handle. Push rod wire, bellcrank, elevator horn, hinge material, Dacron flying lines and stock for all balsa elevators. / For ages 12 and up / Guillow's Authentic scale airplane FLYING MODEL KIT / MADE IN THE U.S.A. on front, right side of packaging: The North American P-51 Mustang was probably the best all-around single-seat piston-engined fighter to be used in World War 2. The first U.S.A.A.F. combat group arrived in Britain in November 1943 and from then until the end of the war, the P-51 earned an enviable reputation as a long-range fighter-escort for the B-17 and B-24 bombers raiding deep in the heart of the German homeland.