Hi Folks–Trying this in a different category of Forum–: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! I’m running out of ideas to locate photos (if there are any) of the P-51b that N.A.A. cut-down & recontoured the back of the fuselage- added the ‘bubble’ canopy etc. There are four photos of this aircraft in flight that I’ve seen-- but that’s all. I’ve got my new JLC razor-saw ready to --hold on to your hats-- whack two Tamiya kits- P-51b & P-51d-- but also need to get an idea of what was being modified in the cockpit. Best I can tell from the 4-in-flight photos-- the radio deck looks -51d to me–but don’t know if they added the fuel tank there? -if they changed anything or lots on the cockpit walls?? --or if it was left decidedly -51b inside?? And–I’m pretty well loaded up with DeHavilland Mosquito information as that is my first love to read about and model-- would be happy to share. Best regards-- Dean - Lee’s Summit, MO. ‘Deanomosquito’
Hey Dean,
As far as cockpit modifications are concerned I can’t help you a whole lot but I can tell you that it did not have the fuselage fuel tank installed. Sorry I couldn’t be much more help but that should help a little…
Have a Happy New Year.
This is all I can contribute:
A company called Loon make a very high quality resin replacement fuselage for the Tamiya P-51D without the fin fillet for early ‘D’ models. I think Ultracast also make a conversion - a plug in replacement resin tail - for the same thing. Either might make your conversion easier to do.
Antoni–
Thanks!!-- the second photo is the ONLY one I’ve seen of this particular aircraft NOT in-flight!!
Do you have the ‘source’ information of these photos?? Book title, or if these are copies of photos purchased etc??
I really appreciate your effort and contribution.
Regards and Happy New Year!
Deano
Hi must58554–
NO apologies-- and thanks-- knowing that fuel tank was not down in there is great to know. It’s been a puzzle- as you’d expect to see the “+” stencil on the side of the fuselage when that tank is in place- but-- this was a modification/prototype - and you can see the absense of various stencils- as well as some quick paint application near the ‘aerodynaic fairings’ - esp.on the top of left wing.
Thanks again- and have a safe and Happy New Year-
Deano
Mr. Mosquito,
To help you in your quest, I went into my favorite game, IL-2 Stumovik (with all the bells and whistles), which is regaurded as one of the most accurate flight sims of all time. I have included cockpit shots of both the B and the D. I’ll give you some advice on which I think would be correct for the b*stardized mustang you’re trying to build. First, let me say hat’s off to you for attempting this. Sounds like a lot of work, but if you take your time you should have a model to be proud of! Here’s the pics:
P-51B
P-51D
As you can see, the B had a much squarer instrument panel and coaming, while the D was more angular. In the sidewall department, the two birds are ALMOST identical. The only two things I could spot on a quick glance were with the D on the left you get an armrest (YES!) and on the left the D is lacking some sort of power box/hydrolic line. As for deciding which panel to use, I would look at the shapes of P-51Bs and P-51Ds and decide from those. My recommendation would be the squarer panel of the B. Also, for a prototype, there may not be an arm rest[:P]. Did the Bs and Ds carry the same wings? You may want to check into that, also. Good luck, and be sure to show your progress!!!
The photos came from AJ Press’s Monografie Lotnicze 55, now out of print. Copies can still be found but it is all Polish text. Origin is Mike Jerrum via Roger Wallsgrove.
However, the photo you are most interested in is also on page four of Detail in Scale vol 51. There the true origin of the photo is given - North American Aviation. I would very surpriesed if NA hadn’t taken any photos of it. There must be others. You need to find out where the NA archive is. Could be that they donated it to a museum by now.
Mwanwhile you should be able to view the full size versions of the photos here:
03 Jan-
My hat is off to you guys again–in thanks for the good info–
RadMax8-- just a note of coincidence- my dad, brothers and I have been collecting older military firearms for quite some time- 1) I have one of the late-war US M-8 Pyrotechnic pistols that has 4-locking lugs – to fit and lock into the flare-pistol port-- as seen on the left-hand cockpit wall in 2nd picture from your flight-sim-- has the 4-springs to dampen the recoil when shooting the pyrotechnic cartridge---- this M-8 is quite hefty!!
And-- thanks yet again to Antoni-- I have to say ‘duh’ to myself-- I’ve got D&S #50-- but haven’t gotten #51 yet--------appreciate the AJ Press info.
So as I’m working/researching this P-51b-to-D – I’m using a 500-watt ‘work lamp’ to encourage the cosmoline to seep out of the wood stock of a Russian M44 carbine I bought “new in the grease” – we’ve shot the thing-- it’s an ANIMAL!!-- short barrel, same 7.62 X 54R cartridge that the Russians used as the US used the 30-06— anyway-- it works for that-- and NOT for rapid-drying models-- ala Kevin Kuster did with his Fokker Dr.1 – and we see the droopy results in the Feb.2007 FSM–
Take care-- Deanomosquito.
There is a long discussion on this subject with photos in this forum:
Seem to be the place the P-51 experts hang out.