I’m looking for a source on getting the old flight manuals and TOs (not sure they called them TOs back then) for the Mustang. Schematics of the wiring and rigging of hydraulic and fuel lines. that sort of stuff. I’d like to do some open panels and super details. BTW, this is for that 1:32 DML Mustang I got during the Greatmodels sale and the full Big Ed detail set.
Trying to pick a subject to do I started thinking about the oh so often done “Big Beautiful Doll” but not the well known 78th FG checkerboard but the less seen A/C of the 55th FG or 357th before Landers moved to the 78th. I am surprised to see there is no Wiki entry on Col. John D. Landers. I’ll make the assumption there are decals available for these earlier A/C. I know I need to check these S/Ns to see what is needed to faithfully replicate the A/C, e.i the rudder fillet. Here’s the question on this part. Other than the rudder fillet what other differences were their between the early and late “D” that would be readily noticeable?
No differences that would be obvious that I know of. Maybe, big maybe, a Dallas canopy but to be honest I can’t see a difference between the standard canopy and the Dallas on any model I’ve seen yet. The main wheels may be different. Well, the tires anyway. But even this is open to interpretation since all treads were found all over the war by 1945. Something that may require dilligent research would be the control surfaces. Some late a/c had metal controls while the early models up to and including early D models had fabric.
IN a nut shell I’d say figure out if you need the fillet or not, build it that way and enjoy. You’ll be a long way from having anyone argue with you.
I’ve seen the Dallas canopy mention many times, but like you I can’t see a great deal of difference, think there’s a bit more hight towards the rear before it tapers down, that’s about it.
As far as the control surfaces, if someone bust me on metal surfaces instead of fabric I’ll bust them for not giving me a heads up here and now. [swg] Like I told my Father-in-Law who came bay to inspect the doghouse I built. “If you wanted it squared you should have been here when I was hammering”. Same goes for this, if you knew this thing has fabric covered surfaces speak now!
I said that there should be decals for the earlier version but as of yet, I have not found them, searching Sqaudron, Greatmodels, Sprue Bro. If anyone can help with this I’ll be indebted …
I’ve got the Pilot’s Operating Handbook for the F-51D/K, circa 1948 and although the diagrams for the hydraulics are in it, they’re pretty basic drawings with no photos… You’ll be wanting the maintence handbook, rather the pilot’s…
For paint, I’m partial to the 55th FG, since that was me Pappy’s group, and that’s the paint on Gunfighter, our P-51 in the GPW of the CAF, lol…
Looking through the handbook, it appears the the main differences on the early D’s were in the cockpit throttle quadrant, flare gun port, and the afore-mentioned tail fillet. There was a prop change between the D and K as well (The “K” was simply a Dallas-built “D”), and some late D’s (tail numbers staring with “5”) had the K’s prop-types (Aeroproducts hollow prop with square tips) installed,…
As for the “Dallas Canopy”, IIRC, it was blown a bit “higher” in profile aft of the frame, and was over a bigger canopy and it “bulged” out a bit farther on the sides… I think Squadron makes a Dallas vac-form of it…
Thanks Hans, I like that scheme as well, thought the pictures I’ve seen of BBD in the 55th stable does not have the green tail. I suppose that was a later scheme. Seems as though the flashy schemes didn’t come along till late in the war where low visiblity was not that high priority, just guessing.
Note the gun flares and throttle as possible issues. Thanks for the heads up.
Gunfighter’s painted as a 343rd FS bird, so I can’t tell ya about BBD in the 338th or 357th FS. I think the green fuse & tail were 343rd only, but I can’t say that’s gospel… The 343rd didn’t always have the green either… The photos I have aren’t in color, so I don’t know if its nose checkers are 357th’s red & yellow or 55th FG’s green & yellow in the first one:
This one is obviously a 55th bird, from the 338th FS “CG”, but I don’t have a shot of Landers’ entire plane, so the last code letter and S/N is a mystery for me…
Side Note: As far as I know, all of Landers’ personal mounts were named, “Big Beautiful Doll”, including his P-40 and P-38. I don’t know if Landers kept the same Pony with him from one squadron to another either… Guess it’s possible when one is a Full Bull Colonel…
I have 2 differnt A/C numbers for different birds he flew.One was shot down but he was not at the controls.
| 44-13923 |
P-51D |
38 |
CG-O |
Landers |
Col. John D |
Big Beautiful Doll |
|
| 44-13923 |
P-51D |
363 |
B6-O |
Landers |
Col. John D |
Big Beautiful Doll |
Lost 24 Dec 44 - Lt. Wendell T Helwig KIA |
| 44-72218 |
P-51D |
84 |
WZ-I |
Landers |
Col. John D |
Big Beautiful Doll |
Serial given incorrectly as 44-72258 in MA |
| 44-72218 |
P-51D |
375 |
E2-I |
Landers |
Col. John D |
Big Beautiful Doll |
|
not sure how this table will line up.
. I’ve done no research on the P40 or P38, maybe future projects.
I’ve seen these pictures before, notice on the first one you posted the "BIG is not painted over the squadron colors but the second one is, that would be enough difference between the two birds for me to guess that is 44-13923 that was shot down. It may be the A/C I do.
Yeah, Recall that Landers came to the ETO already an Ace after being in the Pacific as well as an instructor for a stint stateside. Sort answer is, yes, he did take 44-72218 with him when he transfer, rank has it’s privileges.
Found a couple more pics of CG*O… Didn’t know that BBD was on both sides…
And a color shot, but I can’t quite make out the Ser.No. on the data plaque… 44-13923 perhaps?
(Nathan Howland photos)
Hi Moon.
Although its not definitive… in regards to a tail fillet for CG-O, 44-13923, I have not been able to find a pic that shows the tail fillet. However, a few pics of serial numbers VERY close are available on the www.littlefriends.co.uk website. 44-13937 (only 14 away) definitely has a fillet. Good luck with your research. 
Thanks Mike, I’ve been all over Littlefriends site. Bookmarked. Great resource, that’s where the list of serial numbers came from. I’m thinking somewhere there is a list of serial numbers and what block number they were to tell if it had the fillet or not. This is great help guys, thanks.
That serial number looks like 13523