Why does the BBI P-51 have a big hole behind the radiator flap?

[aferguson]

It's a square hole, in front of the tail wheel and behind the radiator flap on the underside. There is a panel covering it on the real plane but not on BBI's model. Anyone know why?

[Axis Nightmare]

Hmmm... I'll look at ours tomorrow and see if I can find out what it's supposed to be representing. There are far more egregious things on other 1/18 models like the landing gear of the 21st Century P-38 not even being in the correct place on the model and gears struts molded into the gear covers on several 21st Century models.

[aferguson]

there's supposed to be a small square panel there; I've seen it in several pics. I'm wondering if they were commonly removed during the war for some reason. It's an odd error....it took more effort and expense to make the hole than to have just made it a flush panel.

[Axis Nightmare]

Our P-51D has a panel and our example has a small modern avionics blade antenna there. Odd, the BBi Mustang hanging at the Museum doesn't have a hole there.