P-51 Question

SuRrEaLNJ · Post by **SuRrEaLNJ** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 1:04 pm

The ejection ports for the guns on the underide of the wing on the BBI Mustang are "L" shaped. Is this an inaccuracy? i thought they were suposed to be rectangular. wich way is correct?

~Jay

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:09 pm

Good question. Out of my library, I only have one picture that shows the underside of the wing! It shows it as a regular rectangle shape.

-Ski

SuRrEaLNJ · Post by **SuRrEaLNJ** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:27 pm

all of the shots in the 2 books i have, "p-51 mustang in detail and scale vol. 2" and "walk around: p-51d" show them being rectangular. Im under the assumption that this is the way it should be, but thought maby there was a reason for BBI's shape. unless it was just to go with their odd pylon mount.

Also, anyone know the dimentions of the pitot tube? Is the one on he 21st mustang close to scale?
I need to fabricate one for my project, but dont have any size references on it.

~Jay

Post by **p51** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 1:01 am

Being around P-51Ds a lot, I can tell you that the 21st one is too big. I'd say more the spitfire size, though the spitfire's one is much different.

SuRrEaLNJ · Post by **SuRrEaLNJ** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 4:28 pm

i dont have a spitfire (unfortuneately), can i get an aproximate dimentions to what it should be? ive been putin alot of work into this and would like to be as acurate as possible.
Also, does anyone know about how big the landing light is suposed to be, im kind of only guestimating it so far.
thanks in advance.

~Jay

SuRrEaLNJ · Post by **SuRrEaLNJ** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 6:50 pm

got another one for you guys. In some of the shots ive found there is either one or 2 spitfire style rearview mirrors mounted on the canopy. I assume this is not factory, but a feild mod. anyone have information on the mirrors?

oh and incase anyone is wonderin y im askin so many questins, heres a sneak peak

~Jay

DocTodd · Post by **DocTodd** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 10:17 pm

I like the telescoping gear. Are you using styrene for the extension arm or metal tubing? Also your pivot pins, what material is that? It looks like brass wire. I have been wanting to make telescoping gear for some time now and have been working through some ideas but have not made an attempt yet. I appreciate any incite you would give.
Thanks,
Todd

mburduck · Post by **mburduck** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:18 pm

I asked about the rear-view mirror a while back, and essentially concluded that they were not standard on the bubble-tops. About a week or so ago, however, I was watching The History Channel and saw a show dealing with the P-51. Lo and behold, one of the birds in part of the footage (a P-51D) had a rear-view mirror. A field modification, I'd have to say.

Mike

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 7:30 pm

mburduck wrote:I asked about the rear-view mirror a while back, and essentially concluded that they were not standard on the bubble-tops. About a week or so ago, however, I was watching The History Channel and saw a show dealing with the P-51. Lo and behold, one of the birds in part of the footage (a P-51D) had a rear-view mirror. A field modification, I'd have to say.

Mike

Absolutely! The mirrors were initially installed on P-47s then P-51s of the 4th FG after the ex-RAF pilots missed them after changing over from Spitfires, where was standard equipment. The idea spread and you will see many different configurations of custom mirrors. I even saw a picture of a P-51 with 3 mirrors!

-Ski

SuRrEaLNJ · Post by **SuRrEaLNJ** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:40 pm

Thanks for the responces guys.

Ski, any idea how common was it to see the mirrors added?

Todd, The gear is styrene, a solid rod inside a tube. The scisors assembly was cut from sheet styrene. The pivot pins are actually just pins tha i bent over and trimmed.
The hardest part was making the scisors due to the small size of the parts involved.

~Jay

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 7:59 pm

It was extremely common on 8th and 9th Air Force planes in Europe. Just google search P-51 and you will find a good number of pictures showing examples:

Yeager had one:
http://www.edwards.af.mil/gallery/image ... -1_300.jpg

LOUIV had one:
http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/UR ... /p51-3.jpg

A couple more examples:

http://www.tullisart.com/4FG.jpg
http://www.fourthfightergroup.com/image ... isebee.jpg

McKennon had some of the most garrish mirrors:
http://www.fourthfightergroup.com/resou ... ennon.html

You can go through the pilot photos of the 4th FG here and you will see a mass of mirrored 4th FG P-51s in photos and profiles....
http://www.fourthfightergroup.com/resource/4th.html

Hope this helps!

-Ski

SuRrEaLNJ · Post by **SuRrEaLNJ** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:44 pm

Ski, thats actually a huge help. I had googled for it but hadnt come across that site nor any that really gave me a good idea of how many pilots might have used them. I think im gona have to try to fabricate a pair.

next question:
I found a site that explained the codes used on the side of the fuselage, but it went way above my head. Is it posible to give me a dummied down explanation to making up a designation?
thanks

~Jay

Bruzzer · Post by **Bruzzer** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 8:34 pm

Teamski thats a good site, thanks for the link. Have you seen this one -
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/

Jay this will probably help with your question about squadron codes and aircraft.

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 6:30 am

Great site, IF I can get it to load..... Still waiting........

-Ski