I would like to build a p-51A or p-51B that served in the CBI, however, it turns out I already have Accurate Miniatures A-36 Apache. As I understand it the A36 was the p-51A with dive brakes? Are there significant differences? Can I “easily” convert my A36 to a P-51A? Should I give up and just buy Tamiya’s P-51B? Your expertise will be much appreciated.
You could convert the A-36 into a P-51A, but if you want a B, go with the Tamiya kit. The P-51A differed from the A-36 in that it did not have the dive brakes on the upper & lower wings, it had revised ammunition hatches on the upper wings, & it had a single taxi light on the LH wing rather than the double light… It also had tubular rather than flared exhausts & a narrower air intake trunk on the front cowl.
Regards, Rick
You could do a P-51A pretty easily from the A-36 kit by removing the dive brakes and the MG’s in the nose. I think there was also some difference in the wing armament, plus the others Rick listed. However, a P-51B is a completely different animal. You’d have to remove the large air scoop on top of the nose, re-profile the radiator inlet on the underside and also do the modifications for the P-51A. And that’s just the start. There are plenty more detail changes.
If you want to do a B, go for Tamiya. If you want an A, you could have a go at modifying the A-36 kit. Hope this helps.
Thanks very much for the info, looks like the changes are all managable to change the A36 to a P-51A, except for the cowling., It think that may be a bit more than I want to handle for now. I guess I can always search around for the AM p-51A, I think I’ve seen it still around even though is Out of production. I’ve even seen a really inexpensive ICM p-51a that looks suspiciously like a copy of the AM kit.
AM just rereleased the P-51A you should be able to find it now. Not sure of the markings it carries OOB but at least the frame would work…
I bought the p-51A and it’s fantastic. the markings are for a plane called “Jackie” i think…
The Merlin necessitated a deepening of the fuselage of about six inches too. The bottom longerons were a greater dimension from the top longerons on the B through D models. That is why the Allison models have a cockpit floor that is the top of the wing, and there is a floorboard in the Merlin jobs.
Chris…
Thanks everyone for their input. So I’ll definitely will not be modifying the A36 to a P51b, but looks like the P51A is simple enough now - at least to the casual observer. If I do it, I’ll pass it you experts to see how well I’ve done. I’m just finishing the P-40E marked as Tex Hill’s for the flying tigers, and I was planning to do his next plane, a P51A “bull frog”, that was destroyed and replaced by a P-51B, also named bull frog.
It carries the China-Burma-India theater markings of “Jackie” as mentioned above.