TAF P 51D Mustangs

[alanw]

Hi all

I'm wondering if I might ask your assistance on some
technical matters.

I have now my 1/32 scale P 51 and decals from Ventura
to make a P 51D Auckland squadron.

Questions to ask

I know TAF mustangs have been covered in this forum previous,
so apologies if any of this covers ground already done


last month Shorty posted a picture of a RNZAF P 51 it appears
all natural metal except for the black anti glare panel.

1) Did RNZAF P 51's retain their gun ports (shorty's photo
has what appears to be red caps???)

2) Radios, were they kept in the US position (behind pilot),
or were they placed else where.

3) Other than the radio did any of the instruments change?

4) Pilots equipment such as seat harness, US or changed to
RAF type Sutton/Q harness

5 Stencils were they standard US or changed to RNZAF or both?

6 Shorty's photo shows the standard wing mounting for tanks
Bombs/bazooka pipe rockets, but has the stubs for rockets
also. I gather since the P 51 was to replace the F4U-1D/FG-1D
a requirement for rocket stubs was a must ?

7) Since these machines were low hours flight wise I imagine
they would be kept in a rather (or as close to) pristine
condition?




Thanks in advance for any assistance

Alan

[davidm]

Alan,
See your email box on this site.
David M

[allok]

Hi Guys.

I was curious about the Sutton Harnesses and gunsights too. Were these questions answered somewhere on the forum?

[alanw]

Jan 2, 2010 9:22:30 GMT 12 allok said:

Hi Guys.

I was curious about the Sutton Harnesses and gunsights too. Were these questions answered somewhere on the forum?

Hi Keith

David M sent me some info on this, and the RNZAF TAF
P 51D's maintained their US supplied harness and radio
equipment.

Hope that helps

Alan

[shorty]

The wings wouldn't have been natural metal, they were filled and painted (similar to the Vampires) as they were a laminar flow wing. Taking them back to natural metal cuts down on the speed (even if polished).

[allok]

Jan 2, 2010 9:56:14 GMT 12 alanw said:

Hi Keith

David M sent me some info on this, and the RNZAF TAF
P 51D's maintained their US supplied harness and radio
equipment.

Hope that helps

Alan

Cheers Alan. That answers all of my questions nicely.

I am stripping my Hasagawa kit back and intend to re-do it in Wellington colours (overall silver doped- Cheers Shorty). Figured I may as well fix a few other issues while I was at it... nothing major though.

How did your model turn out?

Keith.

[alanw]

Jan 2, 2010 12:19:50 GMT 12 allok said:

Jan 2, 2010 9:56:14 GMT 12 alanw said:

I am stripping my Hasagawa kit back and intend to re-do it in Wellington colours (overall silver doped- Cheers Shorty). Figured I

Keith the TAF P 51D's were painted in HSS (High Speed Silver)
not silver Dope.
HSS looks like this Vampire



It was a 50/50 ratio of Aluminum and Clear cellulose Dope paints.

The only Natural Metal was the immediate area around exhaust
and Spinner

I know you use Tamiya paints, so you could try a 50/50 ratio of
Tamiya Silver and a light Grey

Regards

Alan