TideFlyer,
I'm in the process of doing a review of the Hanger 9 P-40, and I've had a chance to fly their P-51 also. As you've said, they are "Sport" scale warbirds. Neither of them fly like their full scale fathers do. Stick time on any number of the traditional second planes out there would help you prepare for these plane. The [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCHY3&P=0]Sig 4-star 60[/link] or [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXH756&P=0]the Tiger 60 [/link] would make excellent platforms to get you ready to fly the warbirds.

Hope this helps

Ken