RC Warbird Guide: WW2 Scale Planes That Are In Stock

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A foam Mustang with working retracts, flaps and a four-blade prop is one of the better ways to spend a Saturday at the field. It is also one of the better ways to spend a Sunday gluing foam. The category rewards a plan, and the plan starts with knowing which models you can actually buy.

This page is built from manufacturer specs, product listings and documentation, checked in October 2026. It is not based on our own flying, so the handling notes here come from what the makers publish, such as skill levels, wing loading and gear type. Flight times are the makers' claims. Anything that could not be confirmed from a maker or distributor is flagged or left out.

The big finding is about stock. Horizon lists nearly every FMS warbird, plus E-flite's Spitfire, FW 190A and the 1.5m P-51D, as discontinued. The E-flite 1.2m P-51D and F4U-4 Corsair, and Dynam's own range, are where the in-stock choices are.

Warbirds Are Second or Third Airplanes

Horizon rates its current 1.2m E-flite warbirds at skill Level 3, and Dynam rates its models Intermediate. Those are makers' labels, but they line up with the layout: taildragger gear on most WW2 fighters, retracts, flaps and high wing loading.

The FAA's flying handbook explains the ground-handling side for full-scale tailwheel airplanes, and the geometry applies by analogy. With the main gear ahead of the center of gravity, the airplane is inherently unstable on the ground, and a swerve that goes uncorrected for too long can become a ground loop. The landing gear guide covers that in detail.

If you have not flown a high-wing trainer yet, start with the best RC trainer planes. The crash repair guide is also worth bookmarking, because warbirds are not forgiving of rushed takeoffs.

Reading the Completion Level

Dynam sells most models in several versions, including PNP, BNF and RTF variants. Their store lists a GAVIN transmitter and MSR66A receiver with an iStone 6-axis gyro as the required radio gear. The ARF, RTF and PNP guide explains the trade-offs, and the transmitter and receiver guide covers compatibility.

Quick Picks

E-flite Warbirds

P-51D Mustang 1.2m "Cripes A'Mighty 3rd"

Horizon describes the current 1.2m Mustang as the easiest-to-fly full-house Mustang model yet, capable of scale-like, sport, high-speed and aerobatic flying. The earlier 1.2m listings and the 1.2m PNP are discontinued, so the "Cripes A'Mighty 3rd" BNF Basic is the one to look for.

It also has functional flaps, six factory-installed servos and a no-glue assembly. The radio needs six or seven channels, per Horizon.

Search for the E-flite P-51D Mustang 1.2m on Amazon

F4U-4 Corsair 1.2m

The 1.2m Corsair BNF Basic and PNP are both in stock. Wingspan is 48.03 in (1220 mm), length 38.19 in (970 mm) and weight 52 oz (1475 g) without a battery. It runs on 3S or 4S, includes retracts and flaps, uses the AR631 receiver with optional SAFE Select, and ships with a factory paint finish and a decal sheet for MARINES, NAVY and other markings. Horizon lists Level 3.

Search for the E-flite F4U-4 Corsair 1.2m on Amazon

P-47 Razorback 1.2m

The Razorback is the Thunderbolt of the group: a 47.24 in (1200 mm) span, a four-blade 10.5 x 8 prop, retracts and flaps, and a 70-amp Avian Smart Lite ESC. Horizon lists a weight of 62.72 oz (1778 g) with the recommended battery, a 14.8V 2200mAh 4S pack, plus options for drop tank, bombs and rocket launchers. It is rated Level 3, not the Level 2 that some older write-ups claim. The BNF Basic and PNP are on backorder at the time of this check, and the older listings are discontinued.

Search for the E-flite P-47 Razorback 1.2m on Amazon

Discontinued or pre-order E-flite warbirds

The 1.5m FW 190A was a 59.5 in model on 6S 5000mAh power with retracts, rated Level 3. If one shows up used, those are the specs to compare.

Micro warbirds

The UMX P-51D "Detroit Miss" BNF Basic is a 19.4 in (493 mm) model that weighs 3.2 oz (92 g) without a battery and 3.95 oz (112 g) with a 3S 300mAh pack. It runs on 2S or 3S, has optional-use fixed landing gear with a steerable tailwheel, and carries AS3X with optional SAFE Select. Horizon rates it Level 3 and lists it on backorder. A Micro P-47 Thunderbolt at 24.6 in (625 mm), with retracts and flaps, is on pre-order.

Search for the E-flite UMX P-51D on Amazon

Dynam Warbirds

Dynam sells through its own official store, where every model below showed in stock. All of them use EPO foam, electric retracts and flaps, and Dynam rates them Intermediate with an assembly time of about an hour. Flight times are Dynam's approximate figures.

What the numbers say

• Wing loading. Dynam publishes wing loading: 40.5 g/dm² for the Spitfire V3, 50 g/dm² for the Bf-109, 53.7 g/dm² for the FW-190, 55 g/dm² for the P-47D and 56 g/dm² for the Hurricane. A lower figure generally means slower, gentler flight, so the Spitfire is the lightest-loaded of the group.
• Spitfire V3. Dynam's changes from the V2 include a four-blade prop in place of the three-blade, a more realistic paint scheme, new ESCs and an optimized retract circuit and structure. The CG is 80-85 mm from the leading edge at the root.
• Bf-109 and FW-190. Both list a 3.6 mm main gear, at 75 degrees on the Bf-109 and 90 degrees on the FW-190. Dynam rates both Intermediate.
• P-47D and Corsair. The Thunderbolt's four-blade 1364 prop and 1220 mm span make it a solid middle option, while the Corsair is the heaviest single-engine model in the table at 1670 g.
• Required gear. Dynam names the GAVIN-8C transmitter (GAVIN-6C for the P-47D and Hellcat), an MSR66A receiver with the iStone 6-axis gyro stabilizer, and an XT60-equipped battery.

Search for the Dynam Spitfire V3 on Amazon

Search for the Dynam Bf-109 V2 on Amazon

Dynam twins

Twins add a second motor and ESC, which means more wiring and a bigger battery.

The Bf-110 is the lightest of the three, with a wing loading of 54.5 g/dm², compared with 74.8 g/dm² for the B-26 and 72 g/dm² for the P-61. Dynam rates the P-61's assembly at about two hours.

Search for the Dynam B-26 Marauder on Amazon

Dynam float Spitfire

The Spitfire MK.VB float plane is a 1200 mm model with floats instead of landing gear, a 1590 g flying weight and 4S 2200mAh power. It is a different proposition from the wheeled Spitfire V3 and needs water.

FMS Warbirds: Check the Maker

FMS built much of the foam warbird category. At Horizon, however, 43 of the 46 FMS warbird SKUs checked are listed as discontinued, including the B-25 Mitchell 1470mm, the F4U Corsair 1400mm, the A6M3 Zero 1400mm, the P-47 Razorback 1500mm, the P-40B and the T-28D 1400mm. Only the P-51D Mustang Voodoo 1100mm and the F4U Corsair V3 1700mm are on backorder, and the P-51D Red Tail V8 1450mm shows as out of stock.

That status is Horizon's listing, and it may reflect Horizon's distribution of the range rather than FMS's own catalog. FMS's site did not respond to automated requests, so check it directly. Two models stand out in the Horizon data:

• FMS F4U Corsair V3 1700mm: 66.92 in (1700 mm), 11.4 lbs (5200 g), 6S 5000-6000mAh, retracts and flaps, Level 4.
• FMS P-51D Mustang Voodoo 1100mm: 42.1 in (1069 mm), 4S 2600mAh, a 3948-900Kv motor, retracts, Level 4.

The old FMS B-25 Mitchell 1470mm (57.9 in) was a twin on two 40A ESCs with retracts and eight 9g servos, listed at about 6 minutes of flight time. It is discontinued at Horizon.

FlightLine and Freewing

Earlier versions of this article covered FlightLine's FW-190, B-25J and P-38L, and Freewing's Mosquito. Their maker pages could not be reached for this check, and the retailer listing found for the P-38L describes counter-rotating motors and props as an optional upgrade set rather than standard equipment, so the claim in older articles is not reliable. The Mosquito is listed as discontinued by a retailer. If one of these is on your list, verify specs and stock with the seller before deciding.

Stabilization: What It Does and Does Not Do

Every E-flite BNF warbird above carries Spektrum's AS3X, which smooths the effects of wind and turbulence, and optional SAFE Select, which adds pitch and bank angle limits and automatic self-leveling. Dynam's models use a different approach: its MSR66A receiver includes the iStone 6-axis gyro stabilizer. Neither replaces ground-handling skill. A stabilization system works in the air, and the roll-out on a narrow-gear taildragger is a different problem. For a deeper look at how receivers and flight controllers differ, see the flight controller guide.

Batteries

Battery guidance is on the maker's page, and the numbers differ:

Match connectors, as Dynam specifies XT60 and E-flite lists EC3 or IC3 connectors, and read the LiPo battery guide for charging and storage. Check the CG with the battery installed and the ESC not armed, as Horizon's manuals instruct.

Which Warbird for Which Pilot

FAQ