Like the title says… I got "inspired after reading some posts in Lawdog’s Chrome Tamiya P-51D kit, and all the work involved to “de-chrome” it… Well, I say, “NUTS!” to de-chromed kits, so I’m gonna show y’all how it’s done, and on a Classic Kit that requires a bit of Gizmology and Imagineering… (I hope…)
That’s the kit, a re-pop of the ca 1964 release of the chromed HAWK P-51D…
Two decal versions are in the box, “Old Crow”, flown by then CPT Bud Anderson (who still flies a Warbird P-51D painted as “Old Crow” today!), and “Miss Maralynn”, A P-51D from the 343 FS/55th FG (which was Dad’s unit in WW2)…
Good looking Mustangs, Hans. Didn’t Hawk make a chrome F-104 Starfighter, too? I remember one with Israeli markings back in the sixties, maybe I have the two confused with each other.
Cool Hans!! I scored one of these on ebay a while back and had some concerns about the chrome finish. I’ll be watching your progress, most definitely!!!
Really?
How coincidental!
I’ve been planning for a long time to make a diorama consisting out of 2 343 FS P-51D’s!
The only thing that kept me from this was the ‘lack of experience’ I still feel for a ‘big’ project like that.
Now I’m all excited to see what you’ll make of this!
Do you have, by any chance, pictures of the 343FS?
I would really like to make my dio’s from pictures, I haven’t found any till now that would make it into the Dio that I’m planning.
And as Borg said, It hasn’t been the same without you,
I hope you’ll post some more now!
With regards, Ninetalis.
Yupper, I’m back… Real life kept me away from the home airbase and working out of town for a few weeks. Thanks Borg… And yes, I’m keeping the chrome on…
Sti’s bang-on about the HAWK/Testor’s Chromed kits… I found several of the ones he mentioned on Ebay and bought them : 1/48 T-33, F8F, P-51D, P-47D,which can be built either as a “Razorback” or “Bubble-top” D-model, F-84, and the Lysander…
Still lacking the U-2, MiG-15, F-5, OV-10, and F-104. (All are 1/48 kitm BTW) Those’re running upwards of 60.00 at collector-prices, so I’m waiting… (The U-2 is bringing over 100.00 to kit-collectors, the bassiges) There’s also a chrome P-51D kit with Candian or Phillipine Air Force markings out there… Dunno about the Iraeli Air Force Ponies being “chrome”, but the “un-chromed” ones are out there… It’s decaled for USAAF or IAF…
I’ll see what I got, NT…
“Miss Velma” flown by CPT Frank Bertciel
This photo always intrigued me as a possible diorama idea…
Lt George Funk’s P-51D with a new “Gloss Black Nose Paint”… He blew a prop seal on the way back from a Ramrod (bomber escort) to Berlin, with the resultant oil-covered canopy and windscreen. He made the 3±hour return leg ok (minus most of his engine oil!), but had to land at Wormingford on instruments… Funk was a pilot with the 338th FS/55FG…
Above, the 343rd’s Ponies after the war, with all personal markings and group colors (except for nose and tail) removed, June, 1945…
Maj. Edward B Giller. C.O. of 343rd Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-14985 “The Millie G”. This was one of four Mustangs bearing the name of his wife Mildred, the other three being 44-15701, 44-63204 and 44-72123. Four P-38s, similarly named, preceeded the P-51s…
Millie’s seen here having her engine test-run by Sgt. James T Kay Jr. from the CY-Y crew… “Millie G’s” crew chief was S/Sgt. James T. Marine (known as the “Shiftless Skonk”) and missing from the photo…
Below, one of a series of shots taken for aircraft recognition purposes…
Original markings on early 55th FG P-51s - mostly D-5s. These are a carry-over from the P-38s that they replaced, i.e. 38FS - triangle; 338FS - circle; 343FS - square. The black nose colours are factory-applied although some were re-sprayed white, possibly for yellow-white checkers which in the event were used by the F-6Ds of the 12TRS ( 9thAF) with the 55th FG using yellow/green. Stencilled codes were typical for 55th FG especially 38th & 338th FSs. Squadron colour rudders were in use from October 1944 (338FS & 343FS) and March 1945 (38FS).
That’s me getting picked up by my driver after returning to Wormington with the “L-bird” and thus ending my time as an artillery observer… The K rauts on the ground picked on the L-Birds a LOT! Strafed a few German positions though… With my .45 out the window…
Back to the P-51 for me… Safer flying a Mustang over Berlin…
Not really the sort of pic’s that I was hoping for (I want something like a couple parked on some gras field or something) but thanks anyway.
Even though it wasn’t really what I was looking for there are still some nice pictures in there!
Still can’t wait for your progress on the bird!
With regards, Ninetalis.
Funk’s bird could easily be parked on the grass… The diorama story is in the oil-covered windscreen and other areas of the P-51, showing that he not only navigated blind for over three hours, but safely landed blind as well…
The others were to show the markings of the 55th, to include the jeep…
This looks like an interesting project. I appreciate keeping the kit chromed, but do you have plans to replicate the weathering or oxidation that occurs, and break up the overall uniform finish of the chrome (apologies if you mentioned that, I missed it in reading the thread).
Looking forward to watching the build. I just got a Testors chrome P-51D off ebay at a good price and hope to complete it with the chrome finish intact. My version comes with decals for “Moonbeam McSwine.”
Glad to see you back in the threads; you were missed by ‘the Crew!’
