so i could have sworn the stars and bars on the wings were both on the left side of the plane, but my decal instructions show the top one on the left side and the bottom on the right. normally I dont claim to know enough to try to correct my instructions but since these have been very vauge and a little off through the whole build I thought I would ask
Thats how Ive always seen it done. On the top its on the left…and looking at the bottom its “on the left”(right side of the plane) lol
But, is that correct? Im not sure…I would like to find out also since I have a P-51D in progress right now.
With a few exceptions, Stars & Bars have been applied to the upper left and lower right wings and both sides of the fuselage since the time they were introduced (late 1942 I believe). Two exceptions I have seen were a P-40 and an F4F in operational squadrons which simply added bars to the old 6 position insignia (above and below both wings and both sides of the fuselage). By the time the P-51D was introduced, the 4 position scheme was the only one excepted.
The asymetric wing insignia on US aircraft (ie not in 4 places on the wings) is always on the left from your viewing perspective if you are facing the nose of the plane. So if you are looking down from above, it’s on the left. If you are looking up from below, it’s on the left. Or if the plane rolls over on it’s back, it will appear on the left.
The insignia is actually on the top on one wing and on the bottom of the other.
The history of US Navy insignia: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq2-1.htm
Bill
The kit instructions are correct.
Regards, Rick
good to know, except now i know i screwed up on my last mustang. well at least I was kinda right, they are always on the left side of the aircraft, just depends on where you are looking from