Where do I get the building plans?

Plans are purchased separately from Nick Ziroli at ziroligiantscaleplans.com (copyrighted). Kit Cutters supplies the laser-cut wood; Ziroli supplies the plans and most model-specific accessories.

Does the Mustang use retracts or fixed gear?

Either. Ziroli's plan illustrates both Robart retracts and a fixed wire-gear option. Decide before you build, since the wing mounts differ. Most builders fly this warbird with retracts for scale appearance.

Kit Cutters Completion Guide

Nick Ziroli Giant-Scale Short Kit

96" P-51D Mustang

America's iconic long-range fighter in giant scale — with a complete, honest list of everything else you'll need to finish it.

Buy the Kit — $444.00 See Everything You Need

Wingspan

96 in

Length

83 in

Scale

~1/4.6

Weight (AUW)

28–36 lb

Power

62–85cc gas

Wing

One-piece

Skill

Advanced

A Legend, Faithfully Cut

The North American P-51D Mustang was the premier long-range escort fighter of WWII — its blend of speed, range, and firepower made it the protector of Allied bombers over Europe. Nick Ziroli's giant-scale design captures that classic line with the structural integrity to fly it well.

Kit Cutters supplies the precision laser-cut wood. This guide covers the rest: the honest, model-specific list of what you'll buy to complete it, with real sources for every part.

96-inch Ziroli P-51D Mustang balsa RC warbird in flight

What's in the Box?

Included in the Short Kit

Precision laser-cut wood parts only — ribs, formers, shaped parts
One-piece wing rib set
Lite-ply and aircraft-ply reinforcement parts

⬇ Download Pack List (PDF)

Required Separately

Plans / building instructions (buy from Ziroli — copyright)
Spars, sheeting, and stick balsa
Engine, cowl, canopy, landing gear, covering, finishing, electronics
Spinner, fuel tank, prop, servos, hardware

Everything Else You Need to Complete This Kit

Model-specific, with real sources. Where Ziroli sells a part directly, that's noted; where there's a choice (like gas vs. electric power), both paths are laid out.

Power System

This kit was designed in the gas era — Ziroli's plan shows a Zenoah G-62. Below is the original gas specification, plus a researched, builder-validated electric option for those who prefer it.

GAS — designer spec

Engine	62–85cc gas (Zenoah G-62 shown on plan). DA-50R, DA-60, DA-70 also suit the 26–36 lb weight.	Desert Aircraft
Fuel tank	Dubro or B&B Specialties tank, sized to engine (both stocked by Ziroli)	Ziroli
Spinner	6" aluminum spinner (P-51 D/B), 6061-T6 machined backplate	Ziroli
Engine offset	Per plan	Per plan

ELECTRIC — researched alternative

Motor	~50cc-class outrunner, 190–230 KV (e.g. Great Planes RimFire 50cc). Proven on 28–37 lb giant-scale warbirds.	AMain Hobbies / HobbyTown
Battery	12S LiPo (2× 6S in series). Two high-capacity packs ~5000 mAh+, high C-rating.	Specialty RC retailer
ESC	150–160A with generous margin	Specialty RC retailer
Prop	22"–24" (3- or 4-blade); ~3000 W on 12S is typical	Falcon

Heads up — Builders run this class at roughly 3000 W on 12S. The Mustang's long nose and belly-scoop radiator give better cooling routing than a tight cowl — but still plan deliberate inlet and outlet airflow. Confirm your full setup in eCalc before buying.

Cowl

Designer sells

P-51 D/B fiberglass cowl	Multi-layer fiberglass cloth and resin layup	Ziroli
Fiberglass belly scoop	10.5" long · 3.5" deep · 7" wide; houses the scale radiator duct	Ziroli

Canopy

Designer sells

P-51D Mustang canopy	Vac-formed .040" PET-G, frames molded in; specify D or B	Ziroli
Canopy rail set (warbirds)		Ziroli

Landing Gear

Retracts or fixed

Main retracts	Sierra Giant Scale P-51 main gear (Geartech replacement for Robart)	Ziroli
Tailwheel retract	Sierra Giant Scale P-47/P-40/P-51 tailwheel retract (#TW3)	Ziroli
Retract / door valve	Ultra Precision UP-2 retract & door valve	Ziroli
Secondary control valve	Ultra Precision UP-4 (optional, for sequenced doors)	Ziroli
Fixed gear option	Fixed wire gear is also detailed on the plan	Per plan

Ziroli's plan illustrates both retracts and fixed wire gear — decide before construction so the wing mounts are set correctly.

Servos

6+ channels

Flaps	2× 120+ oz-in, metal gear, ball bearing	Builder preference
Ailerons	2× 90+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Elevators	2× 90+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Rudder	1× 120+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Gear / Throttle	1× 50 oz-in each (throttle BB)	Builder preference

Covering & Finishing

Airframe	1 oz fiberglass cloth + ZAP Z-poxy finishing resin (Ziroli's recommendation)	Chief Aircraft / specialty
Elevator & rudder	Iron-on cloth (Solartex)	Specialty RC retailer
Vinyl graphics	Multiple P-51 schemes — Glamorous Gal, Gunfighter, Detroit Miss, Hurry Home Honey, and more	Ziroli

Scale Accessories

All from Ziroli

Machine gun ports	3D-printed scale wing gun detail (JP Warbird)	Ziroli
Exhaust stacks	3D-printed Merlin exhaust stacks (JP Warbird)	Ziroli
Exhaust shrouds	3D-printed exhaust shrouds (used with the stacks)	Ziroli
Instrument panel	Ready-made scale P-51D cockpit panel	Ziroli
Drop tank	Fiberglass wing drop tank	Ziroli
Pilot figure	4 options — WWII American USAAF, British RAF, WWI American/British, WWI German	Ziroli

Hardware

Wing mounting	One-piece wing — bolts to the fuselage per plan (no wing tube)	Per plan
Control horns & linkages	Sized per plan	Specialty RC retailer
Hinges	Flat hinges or Robart hinge points	Robart / specialty

Detailed Specifications

Wingspan	96 in
Fuselage length	83 in
Scale	~1/4.6
Weight (AUW)	28–36 lb
Power	62–85cc gas
Wing	One-piece, with flaps and retracts
Gear	Robart retracts (shown on plan); fixed wire gear also detailed
Min. radio channels	6+

Specs follow Ziroli's plan set. Note: Ziroli's plan title block describes the design at 1/4.6 scale; Kit Cutters lists this kit at a 96" wingspan. Confirm the exact span you need against your plan set.

Nick Ziroli

Pioneer of giant-scale RC aviation, known for meticulous scale accuracy and structural integrity. Ziroli sells nearly every model-specific accessory for this kit directly, including a full line of P-51 scale detail parts.

(631) 467-4765 · Plans must be purchased separately from Ziroli (copyright).

Get Ziroli Plans

The Build Journey

Build time for a giant-scale warbird varies enormously with a builder's experience, how much scale detail they add, and how much shop time they get. The figures below are ranges drawn from builder reports, not a fixed estimate — treat them as a rough sense of scope, not a promise.

Where a short kit saves you time

Ziroli's plans include full-size templates so you can cut every wood part by hand before construction even begins. That tracing-and-cutting stage is precisely what a Kit Cutters short kit removes: your parts arrive precision laser-cut and ready to build. Builders consistently describe parts-cutting as one of the most tedious and error-prone stages of a scratch build — the place a short kit pays for itself.

Plans only (hand-cut)

You trace and cut every rib, former, and shaped part from raw sheet stock using the plan templates, then build.

more time, lower part cost

Short kit (laser-cut)

Parts arrive cut and labeled. You skip straight to assembly — and avoid cutting errors that can compound later.

less time, cleaner fit

The four stages of assembly

Stage 1: Fuselage Assembly

Building the aircraft's main body from the cut parts.

Align and pin main formers
Install keel / crutch system
Plank the fuselage curves
Fit the engine box / motor mount

Stage 2: Wing Assembly

The one-piece wing — build straight and true, with flap and retract mounts.

Build the main spar box
Install wing ribs
Fit retract or fixed-gear mounts
Sheet and cap the wing

Stage 3: Tail Assembly

Vertical and horizontal tail components.

Build the horizontal stab
Build elevator surfaces
Assemble fin and rudder
Final-shape tail surfaces

Stage 4: Systems & Final Assembly

Putting it together and prepping for flight.

Install gear & linkages
Final engine/motor fitment
Radio gear installation
Verify CG / balance

Frequently Asked Questions

The short kit is laser-cut wood parts only. To complete it you'll also need the Ziroli plans, spars and sheeting, an engine or electric power system, cowl, canopy, landing gear, servos, covering, and finishing supplies. The "Everything Else You Need" section above lists each item with a source.

Yes. The design is originally gas (62–85cc), but builders fly this class on a large ~50cc-equivalent outrunner around 190–230 KV on 12S LiPo, drawing roughly 3000 watts with a 22–24" prop. The Mustang's long nose actually helps cooling. See the Power System section for a researched setup.

Plans are purchased separately from Nick Ziroli at ziroligiantscaleplans.com (they're copyrighted, so Kit Cutters can't include them). Kit Cutters supplies the laser-cut wood; Ziroli supplies the plans and most of the model-specific accessories like the cowl, canopy, and scale details.

A short kit removes the entire parts-cutting stage. Ziroli's plans include full-size templates to trace and cut every rib and former from raw stock — tedious, error-prone work. With a short kit those parts arrive precision laser-cut and labeled, so you start at assembly with a cleaner, more accurate fit.

Either. Ziroli's plan illustrates both Robart retracts and a fixed wire-gear option, so you can choose. Decide before you build, since the wing mounts differ. Most builders fly this warbird with retracts for scale appearance.

Ziroli specifies 62–85cc gas, with a Zenoah G-62 shown on the plan. Engines like the Desert Aircraft DA-50R, DA-60, or DA-70 also suit the 28–36 lb finished weight. Match the engine to your weight and confirm cowl clearance before finalizing the mount.

No. The short kit is wood parts only. The fiberglass cowl, belly scoop, and canopy are sold separately by Ziroli and are listed with links in the accessory section above. Specify the D or B version when ordering the cowl and canopy.

Kit Cutters lists it at a 96" wingspan with an 83" length and a typical all-up weight of 28–36 lb. Ziroli's plan describes the design at roughly 1/4.6 scale. Confirm the exact span against your plan set when ordering.

Ready to Build Your P-51D Mustang?

Buy the 96" Mustang Kit — $444.00

Prices and availability are subject to change — verify on each vendor's site before ordering. Kit Cutters supplies laser-cut wood parts only; plans and accessories are sold by their respective vendors.

Premium laser-cut short kits for large-scale and giant-scale radio-controlled aircraft builders. USA-based quality craftsmanship for serious hobbyists.