Warbirdsim P-51D-5-NA Little Friends II OUT NOW! (Pay-ware)

[WarBert]

The P-51D Mustang Cadillac of the Skies Series - Little Friends II
Part 4 of our unique series of sets has been specially created for FSX P51-D Pilots who care about both detail and pure, riveting-accuracy! North American's Classic P-51D, features THE most accurate modeling and performance of this iconic aircraft ever made for simulation with this release of this, Little Friends II Project.

Little Friends II Variants

Reproducing these historic and unique examples of the P-51D-5-NA, as they were in World War II, was the focus of this product.
P-51D-5-NA (44-13317) "Donald Duck" 336th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF
P-51D-5-NA (44-13318) "Frenesi" 364th FS, 357th FG, 8th AF
P-51D-5-NA (44-13321) "Cripes A' Mighty 3rd" 487th FS, 352nd FG, 8th AF
P-51D-5-NA (44-13298) "Marie" 2nd FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF
P-51D-5-NA (44-13410) "Lou IV/Athelene" 375th FS, 361st FG, 8th AF
P-51D-5-NA (44-13471) "The Comet" 505th FS, 339th FG, 8th AF
P-51D-5-NA (44-13500) "Flying Dutchman" 308th FS, 31st FG, 15th AF
P-51D-5-NA (44-13760) "Glengary Guy/Jackie" 79th FS, 20th FG, 8th AF
P-51D-5-NA (44-13317) "Donald Duck"

Little Friends II Is the finest representation of the first of the 'D' Model Mustang Escort Fighters as they flew alongside bomber crews on raids, deep into Germany. Some of the most familiar of the colour schemes for the P-51D are featured on this the P-51D-5-NA version. Well known aces such as George Preddy, Flying his wonderfully-adorned 'Cripes a Mighty 3rd' quickly makes it obvious that this is a 'must-have' set for the avid, P-51D Mustang Collector. Experience what it was like to meet the P-51D for the first time, just as they were when introduced in the early summer of 1944, right in the thick of combat during the Allied invasion of Europe. The N-9 reflector gun sight. The P-51B-style instrument panel. The fabric elevators. Afficiados will note how close the attention-to-detail comes with the removal of the dorsal fin fillet; one of many differences that set the P-51D-5-NA apart from later models. Extensively researched, these Mustangs are presented as they were then. Reproduced from original blueprint drawings and manuals and from thousands of modern and archival photographs while we shared discussions with the P-51 historians, pilots, restorers, and maintainers who helped us make this dream a reality. Little Friends II. Undeniably the best P-51 to date.

As a follow-up to Warbirdsim’s first Little Friends product, Little Friends II provides much of the same features, including a fully modeled left gun-bay in complete authentic and very detailed form, removable exhaust shrouds, 75-gallon drop tanks that can be added/removed and released, removable exhaust shrouds, and a working automatic supercharger with engine damage effects (Acceleration only). A new feature included in Little Friends II, is a simulated collimated gun sight reticle, in conjunction with the new N-9 reflector gun sight, as installed on all early-model P-51D’s. This reticle also features unique materials that allow it to look as if it is really projected with light. Also featured within this product, is a “filleted P-51D-5-NA”, as all P-51D-5-NA’s were ordered to have a factory-produced dorsal fin fillet installed in the field, in August of 1944, thus all P-51D-5-NA’s still in operation after that point, were to have the fillets fitted. While most of the aircraft featured in this product are shown as they were before this time, one example does have this treatment, and you can literally feel the difference between flying an example with the dorsal fin fillet and those without.

Product page (http://www.warbirdsim.com/Store.do?state=ViewProduct&product=26&category=1)

[Bomber_12th]

The paintkit for this product is not quite finished yet (I'll be working feaverlishly tonight!), but if you purchase this product and have an interest in obtaining the paintkit, drop me a line via PM, with your request and e-mail address, and I'll be sending out copies as soon as possible!

[Bomber_12th]

I don't know if anyone will get more enjoyment out of these than I have, but I certainly hope they will be flown a lot! Here are a few screenshots I took yesterday evening, enjoing the colorful and historic 15th FG Mustangs, "Flying Dutchman" and "Marie", out and about over southern Italy.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image9-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image10-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image13-1.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image1-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image4-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image6-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/lf2_21.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Frenesi.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/lf2_25.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

The P-51D-5-NA "office", presented as it was, for the first time ever for Microsoft Flight Simulator platform.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image5.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image7.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image8.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image10.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image11.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

The N-9 gun sight in action, complete with a "collimated" reticle. The positioning of the level/slip ball on the N-9 is great, especially when flying the more yaw-instable D-5's without dorsal fin fillets, which demand more rudder attention throughout turns and maneuvers, allowing you to not have to look down into the cockpit to confirm that you are coordinated.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image12.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image13.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image14.jpg

[AussieMan]

Just placed my order. Waiting for the obligatory email with my download link.

Great work John.

Cheers
Pat

[Greenhouse357]

Awesome!

[JAllen]

John, it is beautiful. Been flying 'Cripes...' for an hour now. Very nice piece of work. The finish certainly looks different even from the screen shots. Much clearer to see the new metal effect. Turned the sound up and got that Merlin roaring.

Now back to flying.

Jim

[skyhawka4m]

wow....were the other packages this much? $49.00?? Looks like I am going to have to wait a bit for this one......ouch....darn it.!



DARN IT!!!!! I couldn't wait!!!! Done and downloading!!!

[Bomber_12th]

Jim, that is great to hear! I have received a couple of other similar comments, so I have a feeling it is a hard thing to capture in screenshots - perhaps a video might have to be planned in the immediate future. : )

As I have also told a couple of folks, I should be able to start sending out copies of the paintkit for the "D-5's" tomorrow afternoon. The base fillet-less D-5 templates are done, and I just need to finish up the dorsal-fin fillet version of the D-5 templates.

Thank you too, Pat, Bob, and John!

[jankees]

downloading as I type. Of course I'm travelling at this moment, let's see what my laptop thinks of this...

[Thunderbolt]

bought ! :applause:


I'm travelling

The same here, tour de germany :running:

[Barnes]

OK some one has to say this. Having bought the previous excellent, fantastic, wonderfully produced packages previously at full price im disappointed there is no loyalty discount. Yes - i can afford at this time but Im really going to hold off wait for a sale this time. (I think i can do it!! LOL)

[ZsoltB]

Great package!

Thank you!
Zsolt

[Tartuffe]

Done ! :salute:
Thanks !

[noddy]

Got it, now just have to wait to get home from work!

[jankees]

OK some one has to say this. Having bought the previous excellent, fantastic, wonderfully produced packages previously at full price im disappointed there is no loyalty discount. Yes - i can afford at this time but Im really going to hold off wait for a sale this time. (I think i can do it!! LOL)

I agree, though I couldn't wait..

[jim]

Agreed; but bought it today.

[Cleartheprop]

Ordered today! Teasing was effective! :applause:

[ZsoltB]

Hello MirageIII2009,

I look forward to the new video on this topic!
:icon_lol: :ernae:

Zsolt

[Barnes]

I am so weak willed! Im downloading now so im not left out :jump::jump:

[Cleartheprop]

Hello MirageIII2009,

I look forward to the new video on this topic!
:icon_lol: :ernae:

Zsolt
Hello Zsolt! I guess I will think about shooting this beauty as soon as I have free time! ;)

[Bomber_12th]

I have just completed the paintkit, and will start sending copies out to those who have contacted me thus-far, very soon. This is what you get with the paintkit, if you combine everything provided, as it comes. The subject is 44-13366, a factory-fresh example. You are provided both a paintkit for the standard fillet-less P-51D-5-NA models, as well as a separate paintkit for the P-51D-5-NA model fitted with an early dorsal fin fillet.

After I get the paintkits sent out to all of those who have asked for it thus far, I will be uploading these repaints below, one for each of the "D-5 standard" and "D-5 filleted" models, for anyone who might be interested in these factory-fresh examples.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Factory_1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Factory_2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Factory_3.jpg

Early dorsal fin fillet installed (slightly different construction/design than the more familiar fillet installed on later D-models).

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Factory_4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Factory_5.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Factory_6.jpg

[JAllen]

So very few of us ever get to experience a P-51 from anywhere but a bystander's POV. Those of us who dream of anything else have long been confined to books and airshows. Oh we have our generic Mustangs in FS and war games, but none attempt to show us what the actual warbird was like in a museum quality way. This work of art is going a long way toward doing just that. Giving us a peek into the aircraft actually delivered into the hands of young men to fly and fight.

Stood next to a P-51C-5-NT Tuskegee Airmen, painted for movie 'Redtails' I assumed, this past weekend. First I had ever seen anything earlier than a D. Looking into the tiny cockpit and having the C in FSX too, has changed my perspective.

Grateful, Jim

I would welcome similar treatment of any worthy warbird.

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you Jim! I am extremely thankful for all of the support I have gotten with these aircraft!

The P-51C you mention, actually lives just about 4-miles from where I do, owned/opperated by the Minnesota Wing of the Commemorative Air Force - the single biggest reason I ever came down with a passion for the P-51, and especially for the early high-back Mustangs. I don't remember a time in my life that I didn't know the difference between a P-51B and a P-51C, let alone a P-51B/C and a P-51D. : )

BTW, the "Tuskegee Airmen" paint scheme and name is how the aircraft has been purposely painted as since the completion of its first restoration a decade ago. The aircraft is actually now technically part of the newly-formed "Red Tail Squadron" of the CAF, but it is still the CAF Minnesota Wing guys that operate it and the same Minnesota Wing hangar that houses it (on the rare occasion it finds itself back home again). The aircraft has been travelling all over the U.S., along with a specially-designed semi-trailer, to tell the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, and by doing so, hopefully spark healthy motivation/inspiration amongst the youth, to grow to be successful and hard-working adults, not affraid to push beyond the boundaries they or our society may set upon them.

[Bomber_12th]

I just want to add that I just finished sending out paintkits to everyone who has contacted me requesting one (as well as to a couple of individuals who didn't ask for it : ) ), so be sure to check your e-mails, I hope you will all find it very useful!

[Tartuffe]

Waiting for the download link... :kilroy:

[DaveQ]

I am so weak willed! Im downloading now so im not left out :jump::jump:

Me too!!

Just pm'ed for the p/k.

Thanks a million Warbirdsim!

[Bomber_12th]

I just finished uploading both of the versions of 44-13366 together in one -zip file - you can install one or the other, or you can install both at the same time. The placards in the cockpit also feature the proper USAAF serial number, NAA serial number, and NAA construction number (as do all of the variants covered in the product). For repainters, by using the known USAAF serial number on the tail, you can use any of the construction numbers and NAA serial numbers scribed on any of the placards on the other variants included in the product, to calculate what those would be for whatever D-5-NA you are repainting. The date-entries on the placards were never filled out, so you don't have to concern yourself with those areas ont he placards - they were always left empty.

When available, this link should take you to the factory-fresh repaints:
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=3&linkid=4913

Oh, and Dave, e-mail sent!

[Cleartheprop]

Waiting for the download link... :kilroy:

moi aussi...:)

[Bomber_12th]

Here are some more random shots I have collected over the last few weeks.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image8-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image12-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Flying_Dutchman_6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/lf2_22.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image7-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/lf2_23.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

Waiting for the download link... :kilroy:

Just to clarify/be on the safe side, as a lot of different download-related items have been discussed, which download are you referring to specifically?

[Tartuffe]

For the plane ! :icon29:

[jankees]

and here's the first results of my trying the D-5 and paintkit:

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss52.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss57.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss59.jpg

please note that this was done on my laptop, so the overall quality is still lacking a bit, but I'll upgrade it once I get home again

[Tartuffe]

:jawdrop::jawdrop::jawdrop:

[Tartuffe]

For the plane ! :icon29:

Ok now !
Thanks John !

[AussieMan]

Not real sure if I stuffed up my purchase. Have the receipt from PayPal confirming my purchase but as yet still have no email with the download link. Maybe I should have waited to see if I was to be redirected back to the download area. Hard to find out as there is no place where I can log in to my account to find out.

Help would be appreciated.

Cheers
Pat

[c87]

The P-51C you mention, actually lives just about 4-miles from where I do, owned/opperated by the Minnesota Wing of the Commemorative Air Force -

Well then John, you must live only a few miles from me! Many times I hear the Flying Cloud-based T6 Texans growl over my house. BTW, very nice work with these WarbirdSim mustangs. I own the high-backs and am tempted by the D-models.

[AussieMan]

Thanks John, downloading the repaint kit as I type.

Cheers
Pat

[Barnes]

keep those paints coming guys - much apprechiated

[Bomber_12th]

Well then John, you must live only a few miles from me! Many times I hear the Flying Cloud-based T6 Texans growl over my house. BTW, very nice work with these WarbirdSim mustangs. I own the high-backs and am tempted by the D-models.

Thank you! Yes, the T-6 Thunder guys are great to see flying over every now and then! Unfortunately the B-25, T-6, and BT-13 sightings out of Fleming have died down considerably since summer came to an end - I'm sure most are entering their annuals about now - the B-25 served as my Saturday-morning alarm clock three times this summer! : )

[noddy]

Couple I played with.

52287 52288

[skyhawka4m]

I have just completed the paintkit, and will start sending copies out to those who have contacted me thus-far, very soon. This is what you get with the paintkit, if you combine everything provided, as it comes. The subject is 44-13366, a factory-fresh example. You are provided both a paintkit for the standard fillet-less P-51D-5-NA models, as well as a separate paintkit for the P-51D-5-NA model fitted with an early dorsal fin fillet.

After I get the paintkits sent out to all of those who have asked for it thus far, I will be uploading these repaints below, one for each of the "D-5 standard" and "D-5 filleted" models, for anyone who might be interested in these factory-fresh examples.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Factory_1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Factory_2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Factory_3.jpg

Early dorsal fin fillet installed (slightly different construction/design than the more familiar fillet installed on later D-models).

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Factory_4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Factory_5.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Factory_6.jpg


AWESOME!!! A man after my own heart......love'm naked like this!

[Barnes]

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/Untitled-1copy-7.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

Beautiful screenshots, Barnes and Noddy, thank you for posting them!

I should also add that you should expect to see a repaint of "Hurry Home Honey" released sometime next week. ; )

[skyhawka4m]

Beautiful screenshots, Barnes and Noddy, thank you for posting them!

I should also add that you should expect to see a repaint of "Hurry Home Honey" released sometime next week. ; )


NICE!!!!!! GOOD OLE C5*T.......another very cool scheme that is. I also noticed that you use 413366 as your clean aircraft....a nice shot of here in the Squadron Signal book....I'm sure you knew that though.......any xhance you'll put out CRIPES with full invasion stripes?

[Bomber_12th]

Regarding a fully-striped "Cripes", in-time, most definitely.; )

44-13366 was the subject of a photo-shoot in the summer of 1944 (before delivery), over California, with a number of photos of it published in a few magazines/publications that same year (in color and B&W). Once in England the aircraft ended up assigned to the 355th FG. Its pilot, Lt. Ward Douglass, named the aircraft "Baby Buggy" (I'll also plan on making a repaint of -366 as "Baby Buggy").

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/3050342021_f1abeba986_o.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/rawp-51d-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/yf-k.jpg

[Barnes]

Great photos.

Just had a quick play with photo shop.... "Jumped"

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/Untitled-1copy-8.jpg

[jankees]

ha, that's funny, I was thinking of painting 'Baby Buggy" too, yesterday!
But I'll leave you to it, John

[rgatkinson]

Hi,

Just wondered where you painters get the ideas, photos and reference material for your skins? Do you just trawl the internet, libraries and bookshops for info and inspiration or is there an online 'repository', 'skinners heaven' or 'Shangri-La' (P-51 pun intended) that I have yet to find?

Any and all guidance appreciated.

Taff

:jump:

PS congrats to all at Warbirdsim for producing such an exceptional product. I've already treated myself to an early Xmas pressie :icon_lol:

[jankees]

Hi,

Just wondered where you painters get the ideas, photos and reference material for your skins? Do you just trawl the internet, libraries and bookshops for info and inspiration or is there an online 'repository', 'skinners heaven' or 'Shangri-La' (P-51 pun intended) that I have yet to find?


I can't speak for the others, but I have about 3 meters of aviation books within arm's reach from my computer, several Gb of photos on two harddisks, and there is a HUGE amount of data available on the internet. Little Friends (http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/) is probably your best starting point for Mustangs and Thunderbolts.

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you, Taff!

Regarding paint choices - I usually go off of the paint schemes that have come into my knowledge over all of the years I have been interested in warbirds/Mustangs - through warbird magazines and journals I am subscribed to, internet foroums on WWII aviation/warbirds, forums and sites dedicated to the P-51, and books that I have bought. In trying to hunt down new, unique, and interesting Mustangs that I have not seen before, I have spent a considerable amount of hours trawling through this site (though it only covers the 8th AF Fighter Groups): http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/

Also, if you have a Fighter Group in mind, that holds particular interest with you, you can usually find a website dedicated to that particular group, with, in many cases, fantastic photo galleries, often submitted by veterans from that group.

Outside of the 8th AF (which usually gets the most coverage) there were some very interesting Mustangs in the 9th AF, 15th AF, 14th AF, 7th AF, etc., and you can find yourself on a tangent, looking up what fighter groups within these operated Mustangs, and then by looking up a particular fighter group, through say Google, will usually come up with some great photographic resources.

Like the USAAF Mustang groups, you just have to know what you are looking for when it comes to finding Mustangs outside of the USAAF (i.e. Canadian, British, Australian, New Zealand squadrons, and many more). Even just conducting a Google-image search of a particular squadron that opperated Mustangs, will usually provide a lot of useful returns.

For the P-51D-5-NA, in particular, their use was limited to the 8th, 9th, and 15th U.S. Army Air Forces (though there was at least one German-captured P-51D-5-NA (bare metal/yellow bottom/German insignias) and a Russian-interned 31st FG/15th AF P-51D-5-NA (named "Weary Willie"/red stars painted over U.S. stars) - both would make for some very nice repaints if anyone is interested in taking any of them on!), as other outfits did not receive D-models until after the D-5-NA production run was over. So if you are aiming to make a repaint of a P-51D-5-NA, you can limit your searching to certain Fighter Groups within the 8th, 9th, and 15th Air Forces (of which only certain fighter groups within those Air Forces got P-51D-5-NA's).

[Bomber_12th]

Of all of the projects thus far, I think this is the hardest one for me to pick any favorites amongst - I find myself flying them all, just about equally. Yesterday I got some time in on "Cripes", and took a few screenshots.

You can spot some unique details on all of the variants, that were picked up upon from the originals. In the case of "Cripes A' Mighty 3rd", just as can be seen in original photographs of the aircraft, the original production block stencil that was applied on the aircraft from the factory, was almost nearly completely removed from the aircraft at one point, likely from the ground crew cleaning the aircraft, though you could still see a trace of it left behind. A new production block stencil was then applied, a bit higher on the side of the fuselage above the position of the original stencil, but it wasn't done quite so nicely as the original production stencil application. Also, as the era of the aircraft depicted is after the invasion stripes had been removed from the top-surfaces of the aircraft, the stencils that were beneath have been almost completely or totally removed as well, leaving just a trace impression, if anything.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cripes_1-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cripes_2-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cripes_3-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cripes_4.jpg

[rgatkinson]

jankees, Bomber_12th

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated. I'm having lots of fun with this bird as well. When I get the paintkit I'm going to have a go at a P-51D-5-NA belonging to Capt. Harry Mace of the 357th FG 362nd FS named "Wee Willy"

Taff.

[AussieMan]

Unfortunately at the moment I have a paintkit but No "Little Friends II". Exchanged emails with Warbirdsim but still no joy.

Cheers
Pat

[Bomber_12th]

Pat, please see my recent PM. This should have been taken care of by now and with product in hand.

[AussieMan]

Pat, please see my recent PM. This should have been taken care of by now and with product in hand.

Thanks John, all is well now and downloading as I type. Will be at least another hour before I can fly them as I don't have the quickest internet at the moment. Lightning strike last week blew my modem and the ethernet bit of my motherboard. Now using a plugin ethernet card and it has slowed things down a bit.

Must emphasise that the emails I exchanged were very civil.

[Bomber_12th]

Great news Pat, thank you for being patient!

[Flame-Prop]

Absolutely stunning, I got Little friends I for the first time and I never In my life experienced such magic and freedom.....will be looking forward carrying on with the Little friends series No. 2 next.....question was it possible to pop open the gunbay in Little Friends I ?



Gabe

[Bomber_12th]

Gabe, yes it is! The gun bay is actually a detail carried over from "Little Friends" (I). I have the gun bay door animations assigned to the wing-fold key, so it prevents the ability to fly around with the gun bay doors open. ; )
If you find the main Warbirdsim folder within your root FSX folder, there is a user guide that provides information about all of the different features that you may not otherwise realize/be able to find right away, so if you haven't looked it over yet, I greatly encourage you to do so!

Although it took a month just to build, with it in focus, it was one of the biggest feelings of accomplishment when it was finally finished, and despite the amount of detail, still be incredibly performance friendly (in order to model it/texture it, I had a folder with about just as much photos of various P-51D gun bays and gun bay doors, from every angle, as I had of photos of Mustang cockpits for VC work). The coolest thing is that you can count the links of the ammunition chutes or compare all of the various animations associated with the gun bay, to the real thing, and it is all exact. You can also compare the primer finishes and inspection stamps to the originals (or authentic restorations), count the numbers of rivets, spot welds, or screws, and note their locations, or even count-off the up/down/up/down pattern of the forward gun bay door hinge, and it is all the same. There are nuts and bolts in there, such as those which attach the machine gun mounts to the wing structure, that I am not sure anyone else has seen but me.

If you haven't watched the animation first hand, the gun bay opens up in the exact way you would have to open it for real. The gun bay doors are designed in a way that the forward gun door is hinged, while the rear gun door is slotted to slide into postion, as is the large ammunition bay door. There are lips on both the forward edge of the rear gun bay door, as well as the side of the ammunition door, which tuck underneath the forward gun door, so when the forward gun door is latched down, it locks those edges of the other doors.

In order to get into the gun bay, first the locking arms, as mounted to the forward gun door, are pulled up, un-locking their clamps and freeing the forward gun door to be opened forward on its hinge. When the door is pushed fully forward, it allows for the support arm to be rotated upward, and then the forward gun door is brought back a little in order to seat on the top of the support arm. With the forward gun door set, then the rear gun door can simply be slid out, from where it is slotted into place at the tailing edge of the gun bay. The last remaining door is the large ammunition bay door, which is locked into place by a strip of bolts that slot into the base of the door along its trailing edge. By pulling up a lever, the strip of bolts shifts over, de-slotting with the door, and thus un-locking it. The door is then pulled up and slid backward, from where it is slotted along the leading edge of the gun bay, and removed.

Note the red paint applied to the ends of the ammunition chutes - this was done through following the same standard guidelines as wingtip lights, red on the left, and green on the right, so that you would know which gun bay the chutes were for (thus the chutes in the right gun bay had green paint applied to their ends).

Note also how the ammunition belts flow over and around the ammunition rollers, flooding into the next individual ammunition bay box, before climbing up and out into the next (like water in an ice tray), loaded exactly as the loading placard illustrates on the inside of the forward gun bay door. Also, each 5th bullet is a tracer round, as marked with a red tip, while the rest of the ammunition, marked with a grey/silver tip, is standard incendiary, as used most commonly amongst Fighter Groups.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image5-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image6-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends/Image4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image7-1.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

And a few photos of some real-life examples for comparison with the above.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/2730472626_d2a4b46496_b.jpg

Note the strip of bolts that lock the ammunition bay door down, when the lever is pushed down.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/P51_CripesAMighty_20070930_03.jpg

With the exception of the wires (I had to preserve performance some how), if you were to remove the guns, you would clearly be able to see all that is shown here in this photo (if you poke the viewpoint around enough, I'm sure you will be able to still, even with the guns fitted).

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Image11-6.jpg

[Flame-Prop]

All that delicious eye candy, I will need to go to the dentist one day and get my teeth fixed. Ahhh thanks for that tip, will get on in as as we speak. I just love how you guys have not cut any corners what so ever, Too bad I cannot jump into my monitor :icon29::jump:

[jankees]

here's the final version of "Martin's Gloria" (unless you eagle-eyes spot anything):

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13656.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13659.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13664.jpg

[rgatkinson]

Jankees,


Very nice indeed, will certainly be downloading that skin when it's available.

Thanks

Taff

[Flame-Prop]

Jankees,


Very nice indeed, will certainly be downloading that skin when it's available.

Thanks

Taff

Make that two :kilroy: Say, would anyone be able to create this texture for P-51 Little friends. It's called "The Galloping ghost" but with oil stains and heat stains from where the exhaust are? I always felt a connection with that one.

http://www.photoweeklyonline.com/photographs-may-help-solve-cause-of-nevada-air-show-crash/ :salute:

[skyhawka4m]

Have to love a factory fresh!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/skyhawkhunter/bare1-2.jpg

[jankees]

me, I like them dirty..

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13698.jpg

[RKinkor]

Wonderfull package though I have not purchased it (I seem to be one pack behind I just Little Friends pack one yesterday) many thanks. Now I need help I was always more of a P-38 fan as my aunt's handy man was a B-25 and P-38 mechanic, so I have 0 reference books on the Mustang. I was wondering if anybody could recomend a good reference and history book on the Mustang? I see a lot of picture books siutable for repaint and squadron histories but prefer some thing similar Warren M. Bodie's book on the P-38. Many Thanks in advance and again my thanks to warbirdsim for making these wonderfull planes.

[Bomber_12th]

Excellent work, Jan Kees, on both "Martin's Gloria" and the 20th FG scheme (especially nice to see all of the detail when you view your screenshots in full resolution)! It is really cool to see that particular 20th FG scheme, finally able to be applied to a model of mine - really looking forward to both of them!

RKinkor,

Unfortunately the majority of the books I have picked up for the P-51, are in large part picture books, for the purpose of photographic resources to use in the development of the products.

Although I don't have these, I believe they come quite highly recommended, for anyone who doesn't already have a book collection on Mustangs (or wouldn't already know a lot about the history/development of the P-51).

http://www.amazon.com/North-American-P-51-Mustang-Workshop/dp/184425870X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321637325&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Building-P-51-Mustang-Manufacturing-Americans/dp/1580071902/ref=sr_1_61?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321637957&sr=1-61 (http://www.amazon.com/North-American-P-51-Mustang-Workshop/dp/184425870X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321637325&sr=1-1http://www.amazon.com/Building-P-51-Mustang-Manufacturing-Americans/dp/1580071902/ref=sr_1_61?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321637957&sr=1-61)

Although mainly a picture book, filled with walk-around images (with something like 90 photos of just the inside and out of the restored "Happy Jack's Go Buggy" (one of three most authentically restored Mustangs flying today)), this book is the one I used the most throughout developing the P-51D's, from very early on, all the way up to the latest product. It includes a history of the P-51D/K development, as well as a small bit on the Commonwealth and Cavalier Mustangs, illustrations from the original P-51D/K manuals, period photos of both early model and late model P-51D's, including the different cockpit configurations, and a large number of profile illustrations, of all kinds of nationalities, at the back of the book.

http://www.amazon.com/NORTH-AMERICAN-P-51D-MUSTANG-MMP/dp/8389450607/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321637457&sr=1-12

Another excellent one, both for the information contained and the photos contained (it is quite a dimensionally large book).

http://www.amazon.com/Flypast-Book-P-51-Mustang/dp/0946219672/ref=sr_1_29?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321637744&sr=1-29

Some others I have picked up, either through the internet, air shows, or book stores, but are mostly picture/reference books.

http://www.amazon.com/Mustang-North-American-Living-History/dp/0943231752/ref=sr_1_53?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321637858&sr=1-53
http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Legends-John-M-Dibbs/dp/076031411X/ref=sr_1_54?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321637908&sr=1-54
(http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Legends-John-M-Dibbs/dp/076031411X/ref=sr_1_54?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321637908&sr=1-54)http://www.amazon.com/P-51D-Mustang-Walk-Around-No/dp/0897473604/ref=sr_1_58?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321637941&sr=1-58
(http://www.amazon.com/P-51D-Mustang-Walk-Around-No/dp/0897473604/ref=sr_1_58?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321637941&sr=1-58)
And another truly excellent book, by the late, great, Paul Coggan, that I enjoyed reading cover to cover, as well as using the photos contained for reference:

http://www.amazon.com/P-51-Mustang-Restored-Enthusiast-Color/dp/0879389915/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321638055&sr=1-1
(http://www.amazon.com/P-51-Mustang-Restored-Enthusiast-Color/dp/0879389915/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321638055&sr=1-1)
This is all also not including the original pilot manuals and maintenance manuals that can also be purchased off the internet.

[Bomber_12th]

Some great reading/viewing, if you haven't done so already. These are the kind of restorations and restoration companies that provide me so much inspiration for the kind of level of detail, accuracy, and authenticity that I strive for.

http://www.warbirds-eaa.org/featured/Featured Articles - Vol.32, No. 06- September 2009 Lessons Learned- Happy Jack's.pdf

http://www.midwestaero.com/articles/midwest_aero_flightpath.pdf

http://www.midwestaero.com/articles/wd_mustang_masters.pdf

http://midwestaero.com/articles/daddysgirl.pdf

Here is an excellent website dedictated to the P-51 and the pilots who flew them, including numerous period and modern photo galleries:

http://www.crazyhorseap.be/Home.htm
http://www.crazyhorseap.be/Mustangs/Mustangs/Survivors.htm

[Bomber_12th]

If you page through this photo gallery, everything you see should look quite familiar to you, after experiencing the Warbirdsim P-51D's (I actually haven't seen the majority of these photos until just today - in the galleries tab, there are other excellent photo galleries of the other award winning Midwest Aero warbird restorations).

(Note the way the gage dials glow, as reproduced in all of the Warbirdsim P-51D's as well. The photos I like the most are some of the last ones, with with Bud Anderson in the cockpit, who serves as one of the judges/award presenters at the Rolls-Royce Heritage Invitational, held at Reno every year, in which HJGB took home the top prize in 2008)

http://midwestaero.com/site/Photo_Gallery/Pages/Happy_Jacks_Go_Buggy.html

(Also note the videos link, where there is video compilation of the restoration of "Happy Jack's Go Buggy", including some video from early test flights following the completion of the restoration)

[RKinkor]

Thanks John for all the info John, looks like I have a lot of shopping to do. I may have hold off on Little Friends 2 for a while.:icon_lol:

[Bomber_12th]

Thanks John for all the info John, looks like I have a lot of shopping to do. I may have hold off on Little Friends 2 for a while.:icon_lol:

Now I've gone and done it!! : )

[Thunderbolt]

wow !

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x413/D-reg/S_355.jpg

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x413/D-reg/S_356.jpg

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x413/D-reg/S_357.jpg

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x413/D-reg/S_358.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you, Thunderbolt!

Excellent screenshots (as always)! I love those high-angle-to-ground images - just as it does in real life, it sort of makes the aircraft look like a scale-model.

[Bomber_12th]

This first shot really shows off the almost shark-like look of the fillet-less early models (it's that look, which is one of the reasons I have grown to like them so much).

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/p51d5_1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/p51d5_4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/p51d5_2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/p51d5_3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/p51d5_5.jpg

[RKinkor]

Now I've gone and done it!! : )It's ok, John in the past 2 weeks I have purchased the Restored pack 2 on sale at PC Aviator and Little Friends 1! I need to take a break for a bit pack 2 will be bought soon enough. Again many thanks.
Randy

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you Randy, I greatly appreciate your support!

[olderndirt]

Nobody likes a fly in the ointment, but I was under the impression that the 'Little Friends' package was the last word in D models. Now we have this 'rivets and fillets' series which is essentially saying that our 'Little Friends' series was not quite perfection. While I realize you guys need to make a buck, think about something new - don't let your Mustang become a 'one trick pony'.

[Bomber_12th]

There was never one word that was spoken about "Little Friends" being the last P-51D's that were going to be covered by Warbirdsim. With "Little Friends", it covers a selection of mid-model and late-model P-51D's, and a very late model K. In "Little Friends II", the focus is on the earliest production model P-51D, the P-51D-5-NA, which is immensley different throughout the cockpit, and throughout various exterior details, from those later models. "Little Friends II" was made so that the community could finally have the opportunity to experience in flight simulator form, an early-model P-51D - something that has never been provided before, just as "Little Friends" was made so that the community could experience for the first time, accurate and authentic mid and late model WWII-era P-51D's/K's.

Over time, just as anyone else out there, I continue to learn, and hopefully produce better work. In order to build up the very unique P-51D-5-NA interior and exterior models, it demanded several months of development work, over the course of which I was able to improve, at least in my mind, the exterior textures. I've been actually working on updating all of the exterior textures now for "Little Friends", on my own time, without any necessary reason to do so, other than to improve all of our experiences with the product. The updated textures will be openly available for all "Little Friends" owners when completed. Besides making all of the incredible number of changes to make the P-51D-5-NA variants, as exactly as they were, the only actual improvement over "Little Friends" were the exterior textures, nothing else. They are different in many ways, because the sub-types were different in many ways (in most cases, in hundreds of ways), from the P-51D-5-NA or NT, to P-51D-10-NA or NT, to P-51D-15-NA or NT, to P-51D-20-NA or NT, to P-51D-25-NA or NT, to P-51D-30-NA or NT. Through all of the different P-51D sub-types that Warbirdsim has already covered, there has actually been only a few that have been done in focus, of all of those there were.

Most Importantly -

"Little Friends II" is meant to, and has always been meant to, coincide with "Little Friends " - it is not meant to replace it at all, but is meant to add more unique/different examples to ones collection. Historically speaking, the paint schemes you see applied to the models covered in "Little Friends II" can not be applied accurately to the models covered in "Little Friends", and the same goes for the paint schemes in "Little Friends " not being correct for the models in "Little Friends II". Both of them are meant to be together, in order to tell the complete story of the P-51D in WWII, from the earliest models, to the mid models, to the latest models that came out during the war years. There was never a single "cookie cutter" mold P-51D, as other companies and other productions have unfortunately led many people to believe. Such changes cannot be reproduced with just a repaint.

I can possibly leave you at least a bit satisfied, to say that I am moving onto something very different now! ; )

[skyhawka4m]

Well John.....you amdI both know you could have done more variants, but I am for one, a very happy mustang owner and glad to have as many variants as I can get. Should you ever want to do a model with a DF loop.....please feel free!!! I'll buy it!

[Bomber_12th]

I'll try to just illustrate in pictures, why two different products had to be developed in order to tell the greater story of the P-51D in WWII, from early summer 1944 until late summer 1945, through litterally hundreds, if not thousands of changes that were made from the P-51D-5-NA, to the P-51D-30-NA/P-51K-15-NT.

If you may, please compare the corresponding images below, between each of the two variants, and note all of the changes you can find, part by part, component by component, from the armor plate and seat, to the instrument panel and gun sight, and all that is in between. I encourage you to just slice out one region of one cockpit, and slice out the same region of the other, and compare them side by side. (Notice how there were even changes to certain stencils - these aren't improvements between one product or the other, they are simply the reproduced differences that occured due to changes during the long development of the P-51D/K, from the earliest model to the last model. The same goes for why maybe one cockpit has something, and another doesn't - it is because that is how it was with those particular variants (save for the oxygen hose - I decided to throw that in there while doing all of the other work on the P-51D-5-NA cockpit. : ))

This first set of images is taken from just the "Little Friends II" product, featuring the P-51D-5-NA, the first production model of the P-51D in WWII.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little Friends II/Image5.jpg

Now this set of images is taken from the cockpit of the P-51K-15-NT, equivelant to a P-51D-30-NA, as included in "Little Friends", which is one of the very last P-51D/K types produced in WWII. (This happens to be a factory fresh example, before the paint was scratched, and before the non-slide paint on the floor was worn through to the wood and rivets beneath)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/p51k_raf7.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/p51k_raf6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/compa_2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/compa_3.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

If that wasn't enough, there are other cockpit variations included in "Little Friends", not seen anywhere else, least of all "Little Friends II" (as they wouldn't belong with the variants in that product), or in any other product or production, despite them being some of the most abundant cockpit-configurations seen in Mustangs during the war years. If you see cockpits on any other P-51D production, that claims to represent the aircraft during WWII, and it isn't configured anything like any of these different variants shown, you should definitely start to question it!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/compa_5.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/cockpit_img9.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/cockpit_img14.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/cockpit_img4.jpg

[olderndirt]

John - you're preaching to the choir with that selection of shots. My share of your Mustang family look very similar so playing devil's advocate is not a criticism so much as a suggestion you change 'horses' - so to speak. I, for one, am certainly looking forward to your 'something very different'.

[AussieMan]

The next project wouldn't have 2 engines and a tricycle undercarriage would it?

[Creepy847]

I have to say something in defense about the different variants that warbirdsim has provided this community... First and formost be glad that someone has taken as much time as they have to provide a series of P51s that noone can match or will match in the future for such a price.. Also the fact that there are many packs to choose from gives many buyers the option of buying the models they enjoy flying. I for one prefer the later models of the P51s as opposed to the very early models... The amount of work and study that must have been involved with these projects is above me... I for one could never pull off such a task and Im glad that John and warbirdsim has had the balls and motivation to go for it..

Some of you people and your rude comments about the same old thing can pretty much piss off.. Noone is asking your two cents worth about one project or the next.. If you dont like something then dont buy it... You have no reason to complain if you havent bought the product in the first place... I can understand if you have been misled or bought something that didnt work correctly but thats not the case here..

Seeing John trying to explain why they have done what theyve done and then see Olderndirt response its a wonder they even bother doing it at all...

Its obivous that John and warbirdsim have a deep passion for the P51 as it shows in theyre work. Everyone who enjoys FSX should be happy that we have such dedicated design teams working day and night to provide us virtual pilots quality ac so we can sit in our chairs in the comfort of our homes and do something that 20 years ago was a pipe dream...

All of us have our favorite birds that we want to see added to our hangers.... That doesnt mean Im going to go around and try to tell someone whos spent years researching and developing a passion to please move on to something else... You would think someone who calls himself olderndirt might have been brought up to respect someones passion and hardwork... You should change your name to Entitled... That fits you better...

For you dummies out there Im gonna share a secret with you.. Listen close..... Its nice to have options... Remember that...

R/S

Creeps..

[jp]

Hey,
Just wanted to say I purchased this today, and it is awesome. I especially love 'Cripes A'mighty! You guys did a good job!

Jp

[jp]

Just read the above posts.... I for one appreciate the variation Warbirdsim has provided. I want my birds to be accurate. I have looked forward to this variant for a while. If Warbirdsim hadn't made this product, I doubt that anyone else would have. You don't like this variant, fine, but don't bash people because of it. I agree fully with Creepy.
jp

[skyhawka4m]

I just want to put this out there.....I am working on SEBASTIAN JR from the 357th......:salute:

[Barnes]

Hi Jankees

Just found this repaint of yours of the Warbirdsim B model - fantastic

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/Untitled-1copy-9.jpg

[Thunderbolt]

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x413/D-reg/S_359.jpg

[Barnes]

Im working on this one

John - Thanks for the paintkit

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/wip-180.jpg

[ZsoltB]

Im working on this one

John - Thanks for the paintkit

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/wip-180.jpg

Nice camou repaint!
Thank you!
Zsolt

[jankees]

I see some interesting challenges ahead...nice job!
Don't forget to lose the rego on the rudder, btw

[Barnes]

Thanks Jankees for the reminder

Almost done...

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/wip-181.jpg

[Barnes]

Please download from here...
http://www.mediafire.com/?dh4d43fwda44r2l


http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/wip-185.jpg

[tommieboy]

Thanks for taking the time to address the fillet-less P-51D models.....:salute:

I always felt that these were the "pure" P-51D's; the way the original designers intended / wanted the P-51D to look like.

Tommy



This first shot really shows off the almost shark-like look of the fillet-less early models (it's that look, which is one of the reasons I have grown to like them so much).

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/p51d5_1.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

I agree Tommy, and for the same token, I've always had a soft spot for the earliest, "shark-tail" B-17s, over the later models.

It's almost unortunate that the dorsal fin fillet had to be added as a mandatory "technical order" requirement, as all of the airframe-related T.O.'s that were issued for the P-51D, up to the post-war USAF years, have to be implemented on any P-51D, in order for it to be certified for flight, and one of those T.O.'s is the fitting of the dorsal fin fillet. So it would be impossible, even if you have a P-51D-5-NA airframe, to get an airworthiness certificate, or legally fly it, without a dorsal fin fillet installed. (Interestingly, even though a same T.O. was handed down to all P-51B/C's, at the same time it was issued for the D's, the fitting of a dorsal fin fillet is not a requirement for an airworthiness certificate for these aircraft today)

[Bomber_12th]

Barnes, that is a beautiful repaint! I just finished downloading it, and I look forward to getting a flight in the aircraft this evening yet. Thank you very much!

[Barnes]

Barnes, that is a beautiful repaint! I just finished downloading it, and I look forward to getting a flight in the aircraft this evening yet. Thank you very much!

John, you have not only provided one of the best products but also one of the best repaint kits - well done sir :salute:

[Creepy847]

Barnes,

thats a sweet repaint and I think you might have just sold me on buying this latest pack... Im stuck on the later models, but with repaints like that and Cripes O mighty I might have to break down and do it...

Creeps..

[JAllen]

I get so eager to enjoy these birds in the air that I hit Ctrl+e and off I go. They just look so good flying it is ruining me. Maybe soon I will slow down and explore them a bit more. But then you are going to change all the others! Doomed, i am doomed.

Love flying the factory fresh paint, er... non-paint. Any chance of a factory fresh cockpit to match? Seems like there ought to be one.

Clear the flightline, I want to fly all the beautiful paints being done. Got to catch up on the B/C models too.

Jim

[jankees]

a bit off topic, but I know you'll like it anyway:

QJRlqk0jKjo

[JAllen]

Very nice looking lady. The girl isn't bad either. Looks like it was done in my neighborhood too.

:applause:

Jim

[Bomber_12th]

Love flying the factory fresh paint, er... non-paint. Any chance of a factory fresh cockpit to match? Seems like there ought to be one.

Jim, I'll see what I can put together - as I was thinking the same thing. ; )

Jan Kees, thank you for posting that video! The P-51D used in the advertisement is the Planes of Fame Museum's "Spam Can" - it got a lot of TLC before that shoot, with the exterior completely stripped and polished, with basic markings re-applied (it used to have a rather neat-looking, rather roughed-up finish). It costs enough to 'hire' a P-51 to fly for any type of filming, let alone the cost of re-finishing the aircraft, so Breitling must have really invested quite a bit of cash in order to make this advertisement. (For those that may ask, it is still uncertain at this time, at least since the last time I checked, what new markings the aircraft might carry in the future - it would be nice to see it go back into an Iwo Jima inspired scheme)

Before (a P-51D-5-NA scheme (the serial number is wrong for the scheme - the serial painted on the tail is actually that of the actual airframe's)): http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwm1049/4740104328/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - Compare the look of the aircraft in this photo to some of the screenshots I have shown of "Donald Duck" ; )

Now: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulh1344/6236138805/sizes/l/in/photostream/

(It is almost unbelievable that these are the same aircraft!)

[Bomber_12th]

The POF Mustang, before its recent make-over, was painted in the markings of Maj. James Goodson's 4th FG P-51D-5-NA, pictured here (would make for a great companion with "Donald Duck"):

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk85/rdriscoll_album/Goodson.jpg

I have seen some reproductions of this scheme with just a standard silver-painted rudder, while I have also seen it with a blue rudder. Personally, I don't know why the rudder would have been blue - other Mustangs from the same squadron, at the same time, didn't have blue rudders. I think the silver-painted rudder just happened to look rather dark in this particular photo.

Another fine choice would be Don Blakeslee's P-51D-5-NA, 44-13779. Blakeslee, one of the greatest fighter pilots and leaders of WWII (no matter what Fighter Group you were assigned to in England, you knew of him and respected him greatly), didn't believe in 'showing off' or being 'flashy', so he never had his kills recorded on the sides of his aircraft, nor did he have nose art applied.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/p51s.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Print20GM-10420-20US20P-51D-5-NA2044-1377920Don20Blakeslee204th20FG201944.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/ColDonBlakesleeCO4thFG19442-3-1.jpg

[JAllen]

A just arrived in theater cockpit with maybe a dusty/muddy footprint or two?

[Barnes]

Another RAF Camo

Please download from here....

http://www.mediafire.com/?lz7o9kb0ovndndd

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/wip-186.jpg

[Barnes]

Working on this one but not sure how much it should shine.

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/wip-187.jpg

[jankees]

to be honest, a bit more than this I would say..

[AussieMan]

After a lot of frustration I have finally been able to work with layered paint kits and here is my first attempt. Still a long way to go as I now have to master creating the Alpha channels and other bits and pieces. I still need help with the Alphas.

This is the WarbirdSim P-51D from the Little Friends II production.

This is VH-AUB (A68-107) as it appeared when owned when owned by Aubery 'Titus' Oates back in the 60s and 70s before it came into the hands of the late Col Pay who had it repainted to its present colours in the 1980s.

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/Shot1.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/Shot2.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/Shot3.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/Shot4.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/Shot5.jpg

Should have my learning all sorted out next week and get it finished.


EDIT: OOPS stupid me forgot to copy the texture.cfg file into the folder. Will post some amended photos after I have some finner.

[Barnes]

Keep going

I have never really understood alphas :isadizzy:

I just cant get much shine - even placing The comet's spec alpha file into the file it still remains flat - am i doing something really wrong?

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/wip-189.jpg

[AussieMan]

Here are some updated photos. Stupid me forgot to copy over the texture.cfg file. All good now.

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/Shot9.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/Shot8.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/Shot7.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/Shot6.jpg

Enjoy

[jankees]

did you use tha alpha that came with the paintkit and did you use the spec as well?
I believe that in the last version, John toned down the alpha a bit, but used the spec more to control the reflectivity.

This is what I get using both 'standard' alpha and spec files, of course with my paint applied to them:

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13756.jpg
Looks like metal, doesn't it? (and yes I know, I'll try and upload soon, it's just that there are so many little details to get right.)

Have a look at his alpha/spec files in the paintkit, there is usually a layer called "paint" in there. Copy your paint just below that one, and convert your colors to the same John uses in the paint layer. With a bit of luck, things should work out then.

Ozman: that is one bright bird! No rego?

[AussieMan]

Ozman: that is one bright bird! No rego?

Rego is VH-AUB (same as the present A68-107 owned by the Pay family) in huge letters on each side and below the port wing and above the starboard wing. Also in some shots there is an Australian flag on the vertical stabiliser.

Also in some shots the rego had shading. Trying to decide which will be the best.

The rego is my next step. Will post pics when I make some progress now that I have finally worked out how to paint different layers.

[DaveQ]

My mother knew many American airmen during the war and claimed that at least a C-47 that went to Arnhem carried her name. I found this on Peter Randall's 'Little Friends' website some years ago and at last I can portray her as she most probably looked. Although only a remote possibility, this P-51D-5-NA, 44-13351, may have also carried her name which was Dorothy Q. From the 338th FS, 55th FG at Wormingford in the summer of 1944, here is Lt William J. Ingram's 'Dottie "Q"'. Because there is only the one photo by Frank Bertciel, I've had to make an educated guess as to how she looked in August 1944.

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq136/DaveQ-photos/P-51DDottie5.jpg

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq136/DaveQ-photos/P-51DDottie2.jpg

Still a WIP, still to decide on Invasion stripes, on kill marks and to dirty up.

As much a homage to John's remarkable work as to my Mum, sadly no longer with us.

DaveQ

[DaveQ]

Keep going

I have never really understood alphas :isadizzy:

I just cant get much shine - even placing The comet's spec alpha file into the file it still remains flat - am i doing something really wrong?

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/wip-189.jpg


You'll need to create your own alpha, spec and spec_alpha when you're 110% happy with the basic paint scheme on the P-51D_2_T file. Use John's .psd files from the paint kit as your basis and copy in your layers from P-51D_2_T. Then follow John's colours to get the shine and reflection you want. Lots of work but worth it!!

DaveQ

[skyhawka4m]

VERY cool!!! Will you be sharing this one?



My mother knew many American airmen during the war and claimed that at least a C-47 that went to Arnhem carried her name. I found this on Peter Randall's 'Little Friends' website some years ago and at last I can portray her as she most probably looked. Although only a remote possibility, this P-51D-5-NA, 44-13351, may have also carried her name which was Dorothy Q. From the 338th FS, 55th FG at Wormingford in the summer of 1944, here is Lt William J. Ingram's 'Dottie "Q"'. Because there is only the one photo by Frank Bertciel, I've had to make an educated guess as to how she looked in August 1944.

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq136/DaveQ-photos/P-51DDottie5.jpg

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq136/DaveQ-photos/P-51DDottie2.jpg

Still a WIP, still to decide on Invasion stripes, on kill marks and to dirty up.

As much a homage to John's remarkable work as to my Mum, sadly no longer with us.

DaveQ

[DaveQ]

Thanks very much Skyhawka4m. Yes I will post but a lot to do and lots of RW stuff also.

DaveQ

BTW did you get 'Yardbird'?

[skyhawka4m]

yes I did and thank you!

[VCN-1]

I may never purchase the Warbirdsim P-51 packages simply because of price.

But I can tell you have read every post that has been made.
The information that has been provided about the different variants has been a real learning experience.

I am amazed about the research and knowledge of the developers.

That alone is worth a salute.:salute:

VCN-1

[jankees]

these two are now on OZx, hope you like them...

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13663-1.jpg

Martin's Gloria (http://aussiex.org/forum/index.php?/files/file/2113-warbirdsim-p-51d-5-wr-j-martins-gloria/)

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13756-1.jpg

the Flying Dutchman (http://aussiex.org/forum/index.php?/files/file/2111-warbirdsim-p-51d-5-ki-n-the-flying-dutchman/)

[skyhawka4m]

Thank you sir for the repaints.....always a great addition!

[Creepy847]

Jankees,

thanks for the Flying Dutchman.. Im using it on a later variant but it looks great..

Thanks,

Creeps..

[Barnes]

You'll need to create your own alpha, spec and spec_alpha when you're 110% happy with the basic paint scheme on the P-51D_2_T file. Use John's .psd files from the paint kit as your basis and copy in your layers from P-51D_2_T. Then follow John's colours to get the shine and reflection you want. Lots of work but worth it!!

DaveQ

Thanks for the advice Dave but after a few hours of trying i have given up on this one. I just cant be bleeped.

I can only say i admire all the real expert painter who really have the know how, talent and patience :applause:
:applause::applause:
:applause::applause::applause::applause:

[rgatkinson]

Hi, Just thought I'd post a WIP screenshot of a repaint I'm working on. It's "MISS Ruth" of the 4th FS 52nd FG. Still a bit to do and not up to the standards of the expert painters but what the heck I'm enjoying myself and welcome the opportunity to give something back to this fantastic community of ours. While I'm at it I'd appreciate any info or additional reference material in relation to this particular aircraft that anyone can supply. I'm working from a single starboard side photo. Strangely enough I've found a port side photo of the same aircraft on the web but it bears the name "PENDAJA." I'm not sure if the photos are from the same period and relate to the same aircraft/pilot (i.e. with different names on each side of the plane) or if the plane changed hands and was renamed. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks PS it's be said many times already but I'll say it again "Thank you Warbirdsim for such a great aircraft" :applause:

[jankees]

I'll be able to help you on friday, but I fear I'm on the road again at the moment...

[rgatkinson]

Thanks Jan.


I'll be able to help you on friday, but I fear I'm on the road again at the moment...

[AussieMan]

G'day John,

I have a couple of questions for you.

1. I am doing a repaint of the P-51D VH-AUB in an all red schem it carried in the 60s and 70s. At various time it carried either the 108 Gallon or 70 Gallon drop tanks. The paintkit contains both of these tanks. I would like to have the aircraft cfg file to show it in either clean, 108 gallon tanks or the 70 gallon tanks. The only problem is that it needs to be entered into the "Little Friends" Fillet folder but there is only the one model to choose from. Is there another folder with the filleted aircraft that models the drop tanks?

2. Can you please tell me the RGB combinations you use to get the metal or aluminium finish. Also the combinations for the other colours would help also. I do have copies of colour swatches from the Simmers Paint Shop Forum but they dont seem to work for me. I would appreciate the formular so my paints will blend in with your original work.

Answers will be much appreciated.

EDIT: Took me forever to work out how to get the large rego letters on the sides of the fuselage and the wings but finally got it with much perserverance.

[Bomber_12th]

G'day John,

I have a couple of questions for you.

1. I am doing a repaint of the P-51D VH-AUB in an all red schem it carried in the 60s and 70s. At various time it carried either the 108 Gallon or 70 Gallon drop tanks. The paintkit contains both of these tanks. I would like to have the aircraft cfg file to show it in either clean, 108 gallon tanks or the 70 gallon tanks. The only problem is that it needs to be entered into the "Little Friends" Fillet folder but there is only the one model to choose from. Is there another folder with the filleted aircraft that models the drop tanks?

2. Can you please tell me the RGB combinations you use to get the metal or aluminium finish. Also the combinations for the other colours would help also. I do have copies of colour swatches from the Simmers Paint Shop Forum but they dont seem to work for me. I would appreciate the formular so my paints will blend in with your original work.

Answers will be much appreciated.

EDIT: Took me forever to work out how to get the large rego letters on the sides of the fuselage and the wings but finally got it with much perserverance.

Pat,

The only paintkit that has both 108-gallon paper tanks and 75-gallon metal tanks, is the one for "Little Friends I". The "Little Friends II" product only has 75-gallon metal tanks (the earliest of the two) on all of the variants included. So if you are making a repaint with the "Little Friends I" paintkit, it needs to be applied to a model in the "Little Friends I" product (and just the same for the the "Little Friends II" paintkit only being applicable for the "Little Friends II" models). There are other problems that will occur as well, if you try using the "Little Friends I" paintkit for the "Little Friends II" product, or the "Little Friends II" paintkit for the "Little Friends I" product. For instance, even the ports in the wings, for where the drop tanks are plumbed into, are different, because they changed over the development of the P-51D, and thus those are different as well as the plumbing itself (so by using the wrong template, the plumbing won't look to be going into the proper ports in the wings). This is not to mention different panel lines, rivets and fastener layouts, etc., depending on which paintkit-to-model combination you select.

When making a repaint for the "Little Friends I" product, there is a folder for all models with 108-gallon drop tanks, and there is another folder for only models with 75-gallon drop tanks. The Aircraft configuration files are set up differently to match, one with 108-gallon external tank entries, and the other with 75-gallon external tank entries.

(BTW, you may be thinking of a different 108-gallon drop tank type than those that were modeled for the "Little Friends I" product, as the 108-gallon paper tanks were extremely temporary. Within 5-7 hours of putting gas in them, the laminants in the paper would break-down, and the tanks would turn into mush - so they were of one-time use only, and not something you would want to invest in, unless in time of war. I seem to recall that they were limited to English-based Fighter Groups as well, being manufactured in England, so they never found their way out of the UK, and they were never sold surplus after the war, but most all of them were destroyed in the immediate years following the war. The mass-destruction of them came after some English children had begun taking them and cutting them in half, and using them as canoes. Because of the paper laminant, they would start to break-down within several hours of use, and a few kids ended up drowning because of this. Today, it is extremely rare to find any of these still around, with perhaps as many as 4-5 known originals in the world today. There were 110 gallon metal tanks, as depicted on the Iwo Jima model, and there might have been 108-gallon metal tanks after the war, but they weren't anything like the 108-gal paper tanks modeled as per the original WWII-types).

Also, all of the models display cleanly, without drop tanks, from the get-go, though they each have them (either 75-gallon metal, 108-gallon paper, or 110-gallon metal, depending on which variant(s)). You need to look over the user guide that comes with each of the "Little Friends" products, which shows how to add/remove the drop tanks from within the cockpit, by using a couple of switches that were used originally to start the arming process for the drop tanks. By using the other arming switch, or switches, depending on which model of P-51D you're flying, you can then release the tanks using the manual release levers, or the button on top of the control stick.

On the last part, I would suggest for you to use all of the various alpha channel, specular map, and specular map alpha channels to guide you toward using the RGB color values, for instance taking the color finder/dropper, and identifying the color values that way, for the metal and the markings, which are all within the ballpark of what I used on each paint scheme in the recently released "Little Friends II", and the soon to be released revised textures for "Little Friends I".

[AussieMan]

Thank you for that information John. The reason I asked this question because during the period between the 50s and late 70s several Australian Mustangs were used as target tugs for the Royal Australian Navy. In this role they were fitted with external fuel tanks. Looking at the size of the tanks they probably were 110 gallon metal tanks.

Now to be able to get my hands on a book about Aussie 'stangs in private hands from the 50s onwards. I used to own such a book until I loaned it to a workmate who got sacked and left town before I had a chance to get it back. It contained numerous colour photos of various aircraft in different paint schemes. Some have been through as many as 4 sets of hands each obtaining a different colour schems. Some aircraft have been sold overseas while some have met a sad end when they argued with the terrain. One I am extremely interested is the one painted in the Castrol Oils colours. It crashed near Athens while on its way to London to take part in an England - Australia air race in the early 70s.

As I am making good progress on VH-AUB I now have the bug and if anyone has photos (colour) could they please post them so I can use them as a guide.

[jankees]

coming back to "Miss Ruth", I am assuming you based your paint on that nice color pic of three Mustangs, with "miss Ruth " in front?
52859
According to my information ("Spitfires and Yellow tail Mustangs" by Tom Ivie and Paul Ludwig), 44-13287 WD-M was the aircraft assigned to lt. William Parent, and it has several pictures of the right side to show that it carried his name just below and in front of the cockpit, and the name "Pendaja" just below and behind the exhaust. It seems it was used in the rescue of Lt. Wilson, who was shot down on september 1 1944, and consequently picked up under enemy fire by Major Exum, flying 287. It has pictures of the two pilots squeezed in the cockpit of Pendaja. So, it carried both names. But did it do so at the same time?
The pic showing "Miss Ruth" s a color pic, the pics in the book are b/w, so they could have been taken at different times. But I also found this pic:
52858

another air-to-air shot in color! And no fillet either, so this was taken somewhere around the same time as your pic, after the application of the yellow tails, but before the installment of the fillets. This could very well have been taken during the same photosession the other pic was taken, so my suggestion would be that it carried two different names on either side of the aircraft. Am I certain? No. But it seems logical to assume that it did, especially since I have found no evidence that another pilot flew this aircraft.
Another point in favor: one side shows just the pilots name, the other side the names of the crew chief and armorer. It quite often happened that the crew chief would name the aircraft as well, but on the other side. So my suggestion would be: paint names on both sides! More fun too.
btw, do you notice that the 'WD' consists of stencilled letters, and that the white outline is not an true outline, but more a displaced background? It would be nice if you can incorporate that too. Also, the letters look more like black to me, rather than red.

Hope this helps?

[rgatkinson]

Jan,

Thanks for the feedback and guidance, much appreciated. The two pictures are the same as I've been using. I had done some digging for myself whilst waiting for your reply and had, pretty much, come to the same conclusion. However, it's nice to have it verified by such an established repaint artist.

I realise that the WD lettering is not quite correct. I've been trying to find a suitable font but haven't, as yet, found and exact match. I also realise that the white is more of a shadow than an outline but rest assured I'm working on it. I live and learn :icon_lol:

Best regards,

Richard.



coming back to "Miss Ruth", I am assuming you based your paint on that nice color pic of three Mustangs, with "miss Ruth " in front?
52859
According to my information ("Spitfires and Yellow tail Mustangs" by Tom Ivie and Paul Ludwig), 44-13287 WD-M was the aircraft assigned to lt. William Parent, and it has several pictures of the right side to show that it carried his name just below and in front of the cockpit, and the name "Pendaja" just below and behind the exhaust. It seems it was used in the rescue of Lt. Wilson, who was shot down on september 1 1944, and consequently picked up under enemy fire by Major Exum, flying 287. It has pictures of the two pilots squeezed in the cockpit of Pendaja. So, it carried both names. But did it do so at the same time?
The pic showing "Miss Ruth" s a color pic, the pics in the book are b/w, so they could have been taken at different times. But I also found this pic:
52858

another air-to-air shot in color! And no fillet either, so this was taken somewhere around the same time as your pic, after the application of the yellow tails, but before the installment of the fillets. This could very well have been taken during the same photosession the other pic was taken, so my suggestion would be that it carried two different names on either side of the aircraft. Am I certain? No. But it seems logical to assume that it did, especially since I have found no evidence that another pilot flew this aircraft.
Another point in favor: one side shows just the pilots name, the other side the names of the crew chief and armorer. It quite often happened that the crew chief would name the aircraft as well, but on the other side. So my suggestion would be: paint names on both sides! More fun too.
btw, do you notice that the 'WD' consists of stencilled letters, and that the white outline is not an true outline, but more a displaced background? It would be nice if you can incorporate that too. Also, the letters look more like black to me, rather than red.

Hope this helps?

[jankees]

you can always draw the letters by hand, shouldn't be too difficult. I don't think you'll find a suitable font, though you never know

[jankees]

here's a couple of wip shots of my next paint project: Still with the 20th FG, but now in the late war nose markings, for the 79th FG, and for the D-5 with fillet.
Fuselage is nearly done, and then it's on to the wings...

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13910.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13916.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13917.jpg

44-13873 was the assigned aircraft of Lt Thomas 'Tom' M. Gardner of Atlanta, Georgia. He flew with the 79th between 7 july 1944 and 15 jan 1945, when his tour was complete.
The aircraft crashed and was destroyed during a training flight on 6 march 1945, unfortunately killing its pilot, Lt. Mark F. Smith.

[rgatkinson]

Just a quick update on progress thus far. Hope to have it completed this weekend, work and personal commitments permitting :icon_lol:

Taff

52939

[jankees]

another update on Georgia Boy:

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13925.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13928.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13932.jpg

[jankees]

not sure anybody cares, but I think these were my last modifications on this paint, I hope to upload soonish..

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13979.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13986.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX13987.jpg

[Barnes]

The master is at work again! :salute:

[AussieMan]

Thanks to the help I have been given by both John and Jan here and Aussiecop on the OZx forums I believe I have mastered the art of layered painting. Real life has interfered with my painting over the last few days but hopefully tomorrow night I will have some WIP screenshots to show here. The hardest bit has been the Alpha channels but seem to have that worked out now.

[jankees]

formation fun:

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14051.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14035.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14009.jpg

[jankees]

I don't think I showed you "Sneebo" yet?

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14003.jpg

[huub vink]

Nice work in these "piano keys". Great weathering on "Georgia Boy" and I don't think I saw Sheebo before......

Cheers,
Huub

[AussieMan]

Most of the repaints I want to do are former RAAF Mustangs that have been restored. Most of those in private hands have had the gunsight removed so I am wondering whick paintkit and model I can use. Also can I please have some information on how to add the 108 or 110 gallon drop tanks and how to get them to show in the cfg.

Thanks.

[AussieMan]

No worries I have the answer to the drop tank issue now. Found it in the Redux thread.

[fliger747]

Pat:

Like the photo, hope you are doing well!

Best wishes mate! Tom

[AussieMan]

G'day Tom,

Thanks for the compliment on the screenshot. Is my first major attempt at a repaint. Took a bit working out how to use layers but all ok now. Helathwise I am never better. Retired a month ago and things like my Blood Sugar levels fropped from 25 to around the 4 to 7 level and blood pressure is way down as well.

Got more time to devote to Flight Sim now as well. Give me a yell if ever you are heading back towards Sydney so we maybe can meet up for coffee.

[jankees]

I just finsihed uploading those last 20th FG repaints on OZx, enjoy them!

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14071.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you Jan Kees!!

[DaveQ]

Err.....? Bell Aircraft, John?? Airacobra??!!

Anyway just uploading this pair from the 55th FG

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq136/DaveQ-photos/P-51DDottie1.jpg


http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq136/DaveQ-photos/P-51DDaQuake1.jpg


DaveQ

[Bomber_12th]

Awesome work, Dave, these will definitely be going into my 'hangar'!

[rgatkinson]

Have just uploaded repaint to the FSX skins library. Now, which one shall I attempt next?

:icon_lol:

Cheers

Taff.

PS my regards to all the other re-painters out there e.g. Jan Kees and DaveQ etc. I have always marveled at your skill and expertise and after working on this repaint I am even more impressed with what you and others are able to achieve. :applause:

[AussieMan]

After many false starts I finally feel that I am almost ready to post my first WarbirdSim repaint. However I need some advice from either Jan of John or any other repainter. Here are some screenshots that I have highlighted my little problems on.

These three screenshots show the problem I am stuck with at the moment:

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-002.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-003.jpg

In this shot I would like to know how to change the stencilling to reflect an Australian built P-51D. CAC Australia built 200 Mustangs and Australia purchased nearly 300 from the U.S.

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-005.jpg

Advice greatly appreciated.

[AussieMan]

Some more showing WIP.

Think I have the shine just about right.

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-004.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-2-011.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-010.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-009.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-007.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-012.jpg

Hope to have some shots of this bird taking flight later today.

[skyhawka4m]

JanKess!?!? Have you ever posted your "red tail" D model paint you did?

[ZsoltB]

Great Little Red!

[jankees]

aussieman: the stencils are on the 'stencils' layer, just select this part of the layer and delete it, and then replace it with a CAC datablock

The other bits and pieces I don't know, just keep making layers invisible until they disappear.

Meanwhile I'm working on another Iwo Mustang:

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14136.jpg

The red tail I never uploaded, nobody seemed interested in that paint.

[skyhawka4m]

PLEASE UPLOAD?!?! That will save me a repaint as I was going to do one myself.......please do!

[AussieMan]

Thanks Jan Kees ..... wasn't aware you could just delete a small area of the Stencils layer.

[jankees]

aussieman: those layers are just bitmaps, you can delete any individual pixel if you want

skyhawk: this one you mean, right?

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14157.jpg

and meanwhile I continue to populate Iwo, not all of the aircraft there had fancy names or beautiful girls adorning their sides..

Lt. Anderstrom ot the 458th FS flew this Mustang:

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14164.jpg

[AussieMan]

Thanks for your help mate. Here is a shot of the result:

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-018.jpg

With the information I have from Stewart Wilson's great book "Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian Service" I was able to make the appropriate changes.

It now reads:

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
CAC MK21 P-51D NA
SERIAL No 1332 A-68-107 (The 1332 was the CAC builder's number)

A few final checks and I think I will upload it.

[jim]

Jankees; ANY Mustang from you is OK. Post them all.

[skyhawka4m]

yes sir!



aussieman: those layers are just bitmaps, you can delete any individual pixel if you want

skyhawk: this one you mean, right?

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14157.jpg

and meanwhile I continue to populate Iwo, not all of the aircraft there had fancy names or beautiful girls adorning their sides..

Lt. Anderstrom ot the 458th FS flew this Mustang:

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14164.jpg

[Barnes]

Good work Jankees

[DaveQ]

Some more showing WIP.

Think I have the shine just about right.

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-004.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-2-011.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-010.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-009.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-007.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51 Repaints/PATCOX-PC-2011-dec-3-012.jpg

Hope to have some shots of this bird taking flight later today.

Pat

Try hiding all the weathering layers, dirt and smoke, and the acid etching. I wouldn't imagine it would be seen on a sparkly red-painted civilian bird (dunno, may be wrong). Will look great when done I'm sure and different to what most of us do - which is really interesting and refreshing!

The patch for the gun camera in the left wing root is in the black rectangle with the red rectangle in the centre at the top of P-51D_2_t. It works from the alpha channel which carries the lettering in white. I've never messed with it personally but that's where the answer lies to getting rid of it. Suggest you try putting some red where the gun camera stencil is in the normal channel and black out the lettering in the alpha.

Best wishes

DaveQ

PS Great paints Jan Kees and Taff!

[AussieMan]

Thanks for that Dave, I have noticed it there and wondered where it fitted into the scheme of things. I am enjoying this adventure and learn something different every day.

I have considered leaving off all the oil leaks but leaving the fuel leaks there on the wings as most of the restored Aussie 'stangs had the internal fuel tank removed and in some cases a seat put in there for a passenger. A calssic example of this are A68-39 (VH-BOY) and A68-199 (VH-BOZ) were owned by the Illawarra Flying School in the 60s and 70s and used as target tugs for the RAN. This necessitated a winch operator sitting behind the pilot. Both aircraft had 110 gallon metal drop tanks fitted. Not sure if it is part of the model or not. Hence the question as how to create a repaint of these aircraft with these tanks fitted. Would appreciate some advice as how to write a cfg for such a set up.

[AussieMan]

Can anyone tell me if any of the models in the Little Friends NA II or the restored and Restored 2 have modelling for an aircraft to have drop tanks please. Several of the RAAF and Restored RAAF 'stangs in private hands were contracted to the Navy as target tugs and had either the 75 gallon or 110 gallon tanks for this purpose. Also because of the long distances some have to fly to attend air shows they also use drop tanks.

The planes I plan to repaint all had drop tanks at one time and would be nice to include them with a choice of cfg files for installation.



EDIT: Problem solved thanks to Dave Q. Ii do ask some of the dumbest questions :) :)

[AussieMan]

After many false starts I think these are ready for upload later tonight.

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51D Flights/-2011-dec-7-002.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51D Flights/-2011-dec-7-003.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51D Flights/-2011-dec-7-004.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51D Flights/-2011-dec-7-007.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51D Flights/-2011-dec-7-013.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51D Flights/-2011-dec-7-019.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51D Flights/-2011-dec-7-015.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51D Flights/-2011-dec-7-018.jpg

When uploaded if anyone finds any mistakes let me know and I will do an upgrade.

[jankees]

The red one is nice, but the silver one has a few bugs I think:
I'd have another look at the roundels on the fuselage of the silver one, they don't look right to me.
Also, it should have the registration (VH-AUB) below the wings
Finally, the font of the serial should be different, and the anti-glare panel looks like black to me..

http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/2/4/4/3/12274_1081048344.jpg

[DaveQ]

I like the red one Pat!!

Here's what I've been playing with. I've often tried to get a shot of the 'Bottisham Four' but until now there was no way of getting a fillet-free D-5. So far Formation Set-up will only let me load two and the Warbirdsim B just gallops away from the D's, thus I can get Sky Bouncer and Suzy G in shot but not E2-S.

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq136/DaveQ-photos/BottishamSGSB.jpg

Anybody got any better ideas?

DaveQ

[jankees]

FS recorder maybe?

Look what I'm working on:

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14225.jpg

talk about coincidence..

[jankees]

oh, and the original:

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/44-13926-2-1024x776.jpg

mine's still wip, mind you..

[Thunderbolt]

nice work :salute:

[AussieMan]

Thanks for the feedback JK. I took the measurements for the roundels from John's A68-1. The colours came from a swatch I found at Simmers Paint Shop. The roundels and flash are actually slightly deeper in colour than shown there.

That is the first photo I have seen of AUB showing under the wing. As for the font I was never 100% satisfied and am searching for a better font. I will be working on an update over the next few days and hope to fix everything that is wrong with this one.

I pretty much left the glare panel as is because of the text on the cowlings. If someone could show me some photos of the text on the filler flaps then I can replace it with white text which would allow me to make it black. Will keep looking.

Overall for a first up effort I think I went pretty well. But then that's my opinion :)

[DaveQ]

FS recorder maybe?

Look what I'm working on:

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14225.jpg

talk about coincidence..

You can say that again.....!!

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq136/DaveQ-photos/BottishamE2-S.jpg


:ernae:

DaveQ

[DaveQ]

Overall for a first up effort I think I went pretty well. But then that's my opinion :)

Too right Pat! Keep up the good work!

DaveQ

[Naki]

Good stuff Pat...one day hoefully I wil have time to learn the art of repainting. I swear I saw you on the TV news the other day in a chopper while flying over some floods in Aussie?

[AussieMan]

Too right Pat! Keep up the good work!

DaveQ

Thanks Dave. I have done an update of the file I uploaded last night. Being a retired gentleman I was able to make the following changes today.

I adjusted the size of the roundels on the fuselage, changed the font on the serial, changed the glare panel to black, added VH-AUB under the port wing and reduced the shine a little more.

[AussieMan]

Good stuff Pat...one day hoefully I wil have time to learn the art of repainting. I swear I saw you on the TV news the other day in a chopper while flying over some floods in Aussie?

Don't think it was me. The only floods I have been to and flown in a helicopter was March/April 2010 when I was sent to Walgett as an Air Radio Operator for the Rural Fire Service.

[jankees]

You can say that again.....!!

DaveQ

indeed!

OK, yours seems finished, I'll throw mine away and go on to other things then..

Pat, you can just copy the stencils on the anti glare panel in the stencils layer and make them white, real simple.

[AussieMan]

Thanks Jan ..... worked that one out. Looks good too.


The updated version is up at OZx. Now working on a wartime RAAF P-51 which will be a bit dirtier that the first two.

[rgatkinson]

Jan, Dave, Pat,

Very nice indeed, keep 'em coming. :applause:

Richard aka Taff

[AussieMan]

John, reading the book "Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian Service" I have noticed a few RAAF Mustangs had a camera port on the port side of the fuselage behing the internal fuel tank and was wondering how I can replicate this in a repaint. I have thought about putting a black mark in the position of the camera port but feel it wouldn't look good.

Any ideas?

[Barnes]

Hi Aussieman

Forgive me if you already know this but the first issue of the Warbirdsim P-51 series has this verision. Is that what you meant?

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/Untitled-1copy-12.jpg

[AussieMan]

Hi Aussieman

Forgive me if you already know this but the first issue of the Warbirdsim P-51 series has this verision. Is that what you meant?

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/Untitled-1copy-12.jpg

Missed that one some how. Not exactly the one I was looking at but for a PR model I want to do it will suffice. When I was in the model train hobby there was such a thing as 'modeller's licence' so I suppose that can apply to repaints here as well :)

[Barnes]

If you can copy the cameras from a good photo you could drop them on. The exhaust on this is just from a spit photo

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/WIP-179.jpg

[Barnes]

Hi fellow painters.

At last i have found out what i was doing wrong with the alphas - not saving the dds correctly.

I now have this with shine but can you tell me where i can find the ghost shape for the US marking?

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq119/GAJIT/wip-194.jpg

[jankees]

four possibilities: the alpha, the spec or the spec alpha, unless it is the slightly transparant layer in the main texture file??

[Barnes]

Thanks Jankees - i will explore :salute:

[AussieMan]

I had a similar problem and found if I opened the P-51D_2_T_Alpha paint and disabled the Paint and paint upper layers that got rid of the problem. Then create a new layer with your markings eg glare panel and roundels and serials. Also you will bave to do it with the P-51D_2_T file as well. Works for me. But then you may have to do the same with the Spec and Spec Alpha as well. All this is done before you save it as a DDS file. Don't about anyone else but I save mine as DXT3.


Also found this photo of an RAAF Mustang with the camera. As you will see it is slightly different to the one you showed me.

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/Aussie Mustangs/A68-90-1.jpg

[rgatkinson]

Hi,

Just thought I'd post a screenshot of my latest WIP. Please bear in mind that it's using standard "factory fresh" alpha and specular bitmaps at the mo. These will be corrected!

I have a few questions that the re-painters/community might be able to answer. I've based my repaint on a couple of B&W photos and a few colour profiles that I've found of the port side of the aircraft. I believe the aircraft wore a blue nose and blue lettering for the aircraft name. My questions are:

1. Did the aircraft name appear on the starboard side of the nose?
2. Was the aircraft name painted in blue or black? (I've seen both on the colour profiles I've found.)
3. Was the aircraft code "A=*=9A" or "A=*=A9" on the starboard side of the fuselage? I think it was most likely "A=*=A9"

Any info/feedback gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

Taff.

[jankees]

1: i have no idea
2: your call. My guess is black, but who knows?
3: squadron code to the front, so A*A9

I would make the nose and name darker blue I think, a bit like the blue of the roundel, but again, I'm not sure

[rgatkinson]

Thanks Jan,

Thoughts noted. It does look better that way :icon_lol:

Richard.

[jankees]

Looks better I think!
Don't forget to paint overpainted D-day stripes on the top of the wings too..

[rgatkinson]

Looks better I think!
Don't forget to paint overpainted D-day stripes on the top of the wings too..

Jan,

Not sure the stripes were painted over the top of the wings. On the picture I have it doesn't look like they are, they're not shown on the lowered flaps either. Mind you, it looks well worn and rather dirty so they could be hidden under all the muck! :icon_lol:

Taff

[DaveQ]

Jan,

Not sure the stripes were painted over the top of the wings. On the picture I have it doesn't look like they are, they're not shown on the lowered flaps either. Mind you, it looks well worn and rather dirty so they could be hidden under all the muck! :icon_lol:

Taff

At a glance I think Jan's right Taff. You can make out the impression of the black stripes at least from the photo, and they look overpainted. Nice job btw!

[rgatkinson]

At a glance I think Jan's right Taff. You can make out the impression of the black stripes at least from the photo, and they look overpainted. Nice job btw!

Jan, Dave,

Thanks, an extra pair of eyes certainly helps. I'm still not sure (about the above wing stripes) myself but my eyes certainly aren't what they used to be :icon_lol:. Anyway, the stripes are there now!

Right, time for bed it's 0135 and I've had enough for today.

Regards

Taff.

[AussieMan]

Got these shots while I was waiting for the paint to dry.

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/2011-12-12_18-47-36-611.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/2011-12-12_18-48-49-588.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/2011-12-12_18-49-20-330.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/2011-12-12_18-48-57-206.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/2011-12-12_18-49-36-380.jpg

[jankees]

Taff, you misunderstood me I think. Since A9*A has the stripes overpainted on the top of the fuselage, I assume it has them overpainted on the top of the wings too, probably covered with OD. You see this more often. Sometimes the overpainted the entire wing, like with E2-S, sometimes only the stripes, like with Sky Bouncer and Suzy G. Not sure Dave painted them like that, I can't really see on his pics.
On the original photo, you can still see traces of white, that seem to shine through a thin coat of paint? Looking at the wing tip, I don't think they painted the entire wings, so probably just the stripes.
Also, it still had the black stripes on the elevators, and a trace of where the black stripe was on the fin.

Pat: looking good mate! But if I might make another remark?
http://www.ozatwar.com/lj20.jpg
if I look at this pic, I think the registrations, both on the nose and behind the roundel, need a different font. Maybe one of the British fonts on this page (http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/dlcat-military-fonts-19/) come closer? Also, there seem to be stripes on the propcone?
And if you're up for more detail, look at this pic:
http://www.ozatwar.com/lj21.jpg
it looks as if the overpainted or etched away the old US serial on the tail. I don't think this is a CAC Mustang, but 44-12512, a P-51K.
Finally, are you sure about the size and position of the roundels on the wings. They look to be a bit more outboard and larger on these pics, or am I mistaken?

[AussieMan]

You are right Jan, it is a K model. The CAC Mustangs had the serials A68-1 to A68-200. Any models above -200 were North American. As for the roundels on the wings I wasn't sure until I looked at it in the sim. As I say it is still a WIP and things still need adjusting, even the fonts.

[DaveQ]

From the Simmers Paintshop site that Jan's pointed you to, RAF 45D 851ATH looks about right Pat, except that the 5 needs alteration. The font on the others in the flight looks very different though.

Taff/Jan - I must say I could have sworn the upper surfaces of the wings on all these 361st birds were initially painted a shade of olive drab/green before the invasion stripes were applied, and that subsequently the stripes were crudely overpainted with green paint. It certainly looks that way on the 'Bottisham Four' images. But on closer examination, it may well be that the overpaint only went from the wing root panelling to the outboard edge of the stripes on Sky Bouncer and Suzy G. Not sure. 'Ferocious Frankie' certainly had just the stripes overpainted though - I have a b/w photo in an old book showing the wings very clearly.

54140

Anyone else any thoughts?

DaveQ

[jankees]

here you go:

Suzy G: just the stripes I think, and bare metal tips, and a white/silver outline to the 'H':
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FB_Daydreams_9.jpg

E2-S: the whole wing, with a shiny outline to the roundel:
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FB_Daydreams_6.jpg

Sky Bouncer: just the stripes and bare metal/silver painted wing tips:
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/e2-a2.jpg

[rgatkinson]

Jan/Dave,

Thanks for the feedback/guidance, I think I'll go with just the stripes being over-painted in OD. Jan, rest assured the stripes on the tailplane and hint of such on the rudder will be there when finished :icon_lol:

Taff


here you go:

Suzy G: just the stripes I think, and bare metal tips, and a white/silver outline to the 'H':
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FB_Daydreams_9.jpg

E2-S: the whole wing, with a shiny outline to the roundel:
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FB_Daydreams_6.jpg

Sky Bouncer: just the stripes and bare metal/silver painted wing tips:
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/e2-a2.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

I had plans at one time to reproduce this scheme, so I have done a bit of research on it already. The nose color and color of the nose art typography, was very likely to have simply been flat black. The reason being, is that at the time, the noses of all Mustangs were painted black (at the same time the black bands were added to the wings and tails - which was at depot level, where the aircraft received their final servicing and checks before being flown to their assigned units), for quick identification purposes. Once assigned to and stationed with a group, the nose was over-painted with the color(s) of the individual group, by the group itself. When the black paint was applied to the nose (at depot-level, before individual assignment), there was also a strict procedure that was adhered to, in which the stencils that were over-painted, were re-applied in white (and differing in wording from the original factory stencils). Once the individual group colors were applied, these stencils too were over-painted/lost. This other photo of "Fool's Paradise IV" that exists, clearly shows those very stencils, applied at depot level, still remaining, clearly illustrating that the paint on the nose still remains the same black-identification paint applied from depot-level. Depictions of other aircraft within the 363rd FG, from the same time period, also show the noses simply remaining black.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/363rdfg.jpg

The 20th FG ("Glengary Guy" for example) utilized the black-painted nose from the depot for the basis of the nose-markings/paint on their aircraft as well, with those white stencils, applied at depot level, remaining too (as can be seen on the depiction of "Glengary Guy" within Little Friends II).

Regarding invasions stripes - you have to understand that just a few weeks after June 6th, there was actually an order (thus it had to be adhered to), that required the invasion stripes to be removed from the top surfaces of all aircraft that had them fully applied. There were only to be stripes as seen if looking up at the aircraft from the ground (these no longer being 'invasion stripes'). Some worked with paint-remover to get rid of the stripes from the upper-surfaces, but this didn't bode well for the finish on the wings (which had layers of putty and paint already, from the factory - there was actually a very stringent outline for how to properly repair the finish of the wings, if paint-remover was used on the wings, as provided by North American Aviation). The easiest thing was just to paint over them, with whatever paint could be found, which was usually either USAAF Olive Drab, or RAF Dark Green (the thinking being, that these were still considered to be the typical upper-surface colors of the time, despite all Mustangs coming off the assembly line in silver/bare-finish). Based on the best photo-view of the aircraft, it clearly had a coat of some form of "camouflage green" carefully applied over the invasion stripes on the fuselage. With the tonal-differences as seen on the wing fillets and flap, I would also venture to say that the same paint was used to paint over the invasion stripes on the tops of the wings, from just in-board of the out-board side of the flaps (furthest edge of the invasion stripes) all the way to, and onto, the wing-to-fuselage fillets. There was likely only one quick coating applied, as the invasion stripes can still be seen through the OD/Green paint.

[jankees]

ah, I did not know that pic, but your right John, those stencils point to black.
I wonder how long they continued with these black noses?
Don't you just love this kind of research?

[Bomber_12th]

It's like a big game of 'connect the dots'. ; )

[rgatkinson]

John, Jan, Dave etc.

Thanks for the info. Shame I didn't read it until I came to post some updated screenshots - doh! Shouldn't be hard to implement the changes you've identified. Anyway, here are the latest screenshots. Please bear in mind it's still very much a WIP but it's getting there, slowly but surely :icon_lol:

Regards

Taff

[Greenhouse357]

Hi everyone. I uploaded 'Angels' last night and 'Man O' War' is coming soon. Thanks.

[rgatkinson]

Hi everyone. I uploaded 'Angels' last night and 'Man O' War' is coming soon. Thanks.

Very nice work indeed. I have already downloaded "Angels Playmate" and I'm looking forward to "Man O War"

Taff

Latest WIP on Fool's Paradise IV - off to bed now, feel sleepy :sleep:

[AussieMan]

From the Simmers Paintshop site that Jan's pointed you to, RAF 45D 851ATH looks about right Pat, except that the 5 needs alteration. The font on the others in the flight looks very different though.

DaveQ

Dave, I got that font but for some reason the zip file would not open. Downloaded it again yesterday and it worked fine. During WWII the RAAF had a lot of hand painted numbers and codes as a lot of the time they were painted on in the field. The font you reccomended looks pretty close so for the sake of my aging eyes and sanity I am going to choose to use a little 'painter's licence' here as when you look at other photos the fonts seem different. I don't know what others think but I feel the difference is so small it is better left alone as I am not skilled enough to go changing fonts at the moment.

Also thanks to some help from my son I have managed to locate a very rare book called "Mustangs of the RAAF and RNZAF". I oringinally had a copy of this book when I was living in Sydney 35 years ago and when I moved to Lithgow 30 years ago I discovered the removalists had left a box of book behind containing a lot of my aviation books. I rushed back to get the box but you guessed it, it had disappeared and the real estate agent denied any knowledge of it.

[DaveQ]

Thanks to everyone - I will now hurry away and revise a couple of paints...!:kilroy:

DaveQ

[jankees]

..and I noticed that a few of my paints had disappeared in the server move on OZx, but they have been re-uploaded.

[AussieMan]

I thought the download links seemed familiar. Started downloading them but paused each one to keep my pooter up to speed as my d/l is only about 80KB a second. Now that I know this mate I can cancel them.

[skyhawka4m]

54210

[dougal]

I have the original WBS P51B (Fighter Leader) and really like it, so thinking about the 'D'.

I really don't like the 'pristine' panel though. Are there any other worn textures for the later releases?

[Bomber_12th]

Dougal, how much specific dislike do you have in the current wear of the panel? I ask just for the purpose of exactly how un-happy/how un-impressed you may be with the current state of the panel weathering? As much as a few people wanted me to really tear into the instrument panel, there is not a single photo of a period or modern Mustang cockpit, with an instrument panel any more weathered than I have it (despite the rest of the cockpit being weathered to the same degree as I have depicted). There seems to exist, in some, a sub-conscious feeling that the instrument panel should be covered in paint chips, all around the gages, etc., where as that simply wouldn't be the case. It is something that is starting to be criticized in the plastic modeling forums too, for the fact that many plastic modelers tend to want to weather the instrument panels (and other aspects of the aircraft), and have continued to, far beyond what they ever really were. Whether it be for "Little Friends" or "Little Friends II", the following assortment of photos (of numerous different production models of the P-51D - and P-51B), all taken during and just within a year following WWII, or of preserved/un-touched examples, were amongst just some of the ones used as guides to weather the cockpits appropriately, with the idea being that no weathering would be depicted that wasn't actually present. In comparison with many other "big name FS warbird productions", I am quite proud of just how much, and how accurate, the weathering is in the cockpits of the "Little Friends" and "Little Friends II" productions, with all of the same original wear-patterns, and none of it simply imagined.

These show some one-off in-field mods to the panels:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/199599_172706972781932_120987634620533_423014_7655 683_n.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/InsideDadShip3.jpg

This photo was actually taken on Iwo Jima, from within one of the VLR Mustangs based on the island.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/P51DPlt7thAF-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/J-2002cockpit_a-2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/J-2065Cockpit_a.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/P-51B43-24876LtHodgesMIA-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/P-51D44-14340Cockpit.jpg

A wonderful look at a preserved example in the Netherlands, which was assigned to the 78th FG at the end of the war, before being sent to the RNAF just after the end of WWII (photo credit: Huub Vink)
All original finishes and period wear intact.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Panel_full-size-1.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

Many times, Ebay can be your friend too. Just for one example, here are a couple of sets of original, un-restored floor-panels from Commonwealth P-51D's - showing the non-slide black painted plywood panels, riveted to the metal floor panels, with original wear (note the two different finishes between the left and right floorboards, in each set, despite the fact that each pair is from a same Mustang).

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/P-51_Cockpit_Floor_01.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/P51Floor002.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

Now, for comparison with the above, here are screenshots again, of some of the various cockpits in "Little Friends" and "Little Friends II".

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image11.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends/Image7.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/compa_1.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

I know some probably might actually prefer even if the cockpit were to look something like this (we all know of a few warbird products that do sort of strive for this look), though this aircraft has been sitting outside, open to the elements, for the last 40+ years. P-51D's, the earliest of which enterred service in very late May/early June of 1944, would only ever have as much as 'several months' of time on them, at most. I'm not realling aiming this post, or a lot of the ones above, at Dougal's post, but aiming at just in-general, the various thoughts/feelings that may exist on the subject of cockpit weathering as a whole, and to illustrate some of the research that was undertaken, in order to arrive at what was produced.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/P-51D-25Unrestored.jpg

[dougal]

I know some probably might actually prefer even if the cockpit were to look something like this (we all know of a few warbird products that do sort of strive for this look), though this aircraft has been sitting outside, open to the elements, for the last 40+ years. P-51D's, the earliest of which enterred service in very late May/early June of 1944, would only ever have as much as 'several months' of time on them, at most. I'm not realling aiming this post, or a lot of the ones above, at Dougal's post, but aiming at just in-general, the various thoughts/feelings that may exist on the subject of cockpit weathering as a whole, and to illustrate some of the research that was undertaken, in order to arrive at what was produced.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/P-51D-25Unrestored.jpg


LOL... :applause:

I very much appreciate the detailed and informative post John, but I think perhaps either you misunderstood my question, or I just wasn't clear enough...

I don't have 'Little Friends' at all. I only have the P51B - the Fighter Leader release. I was comparing to that. As shown below, this appears to look like it's just rolled of the production line.

However, by posting what you have, you've fully answered my question. I know I could've probably looked at pics on your sales website, but those often don't show exactly what appears when 'in motion' within FSX.

Keep your eyes on the 'Screenshot' thread:icon_lol:

Off to the WBS website:running:54224

[dougal]

Having just visited the Warbirdsim site, I've come back here a little confused (yeh, yeh, I know, nothin new eh?) :wiggle:

Why are there soooooo many 'Ds' ??

Can I just purchase the latest and greatest and, if so, what am I missing without the earlier releases?

[JAllen]

So very right John. Any P-51 was not very old at the end of the war. My belief is that pilots took aircraft to be their own and looked after them more often than not. They didn't leave them out in dust and dirt with canopy open. Weathering would be light to medium character in "famous" aircraft especially. Modern jets might show more wear and tear but after a decade of use and abuse from avionics techs. Plastic world seems to feel more weathering is more realistic in everything...my truck is 10 yrs old and its panel is not weathered! LOL

But John, the factory fresh Mustang has too much weathering. You heard that before, I know. Curious thought, in 1944, how many Mustangs still had that new airplane smell?
:icon_lol: Jim

[AussieMan]

You now have me intrigued John as to why there is more wear and scuff marks under the pilot's right foot and less under the left foot.

[rgatkinson]

You now have me intrigued John as to why there is more wear and scuff marks under the pilot's right foot and less under the left foot.


My guess. and it is a guess is that it's something to do with having to compensate for the torque of the engine.

Taff

[Bomber_12th]

You now have me intrigued John as to why there is more wear and scuff marks under the pilot's right foot and less under the left foot.

One always enters the cockpit from the left side (at least 99.9% of the time), so the first foot into the cockpit is always the right foot (not really something I studied, but the wear patterns always back this up).

[Bomber_12th]

Having just visited the Warbirdsim site, I've come back here a little confused (yeh, yeh, I know, nothin new eh?) :wiggle:Why are there soooooo many 'Ds' ??Can I just purchase the latest and greatest and, if so, what am I missing without the earlier releases?

Dougal, you could be in for nights of reading each product page, to discover why there are four different D-model products. ; )

At the risk of sounding like a broken record -
The basic thing you have to understand, is that there wasn't just one "P-51D". Changes continued to be made, right on the production floor, throughout P-51D production. Every time a significant number of changes were to be incorporated, the production model changed. That is why it really does mean something, when you say P-51D-5-NA, P-51D-10-NA, P-51D-15-NA, etc... There are long lists, as originally written by North American Aviation, as I have in copied form, that document all of the changes between each of these production blocks. There were even numerous changes right during the middle of production block, making for 'early' and 'late' examples of one specific production model of the 'D'. (Just for one example, heading into P-51D-20-NA production, the P-51D had the N-9 reflector gun sight, no support for rocket mounts on the wings, and no tail warning radar, which meant that the cockpit electrical panels were of a type that reflected this. Part-way through P-51D-20-NA production, the K-14A gun sight was fitted, the wing was modified for the support of rocket launcher stubs on the wings, and a tail warning radar set was installed, requiring rather significant changes and additions to the cockpit, to provide rocket-firing capability, and the warning equipment for the tail radar.) Many don't know or realize, but the P-51D-5-NA to the P-51D-30-NA, is very much like the Spitfire Mk.1 to the Spitfire Mk.V - in both cases, there are several hundred changes, both minor and significant, between them. I can understand why it can be so hard to see this, as for years, every P-51D production that has come about (no matter it be the plastic-model industry, or flight simulator), ends up being very 'generalized' version of what someone might want to call a "P-51D", because the company did not want to, or maybe did not know better, to try and reproduce specific production block variants of the P-51D. For instance, producing a P-51D-5-NA, how many times has a company just gone about it, by taking a generalized P-51D-25-NA or D-30-NA (which are models of the P-51D, so late, that very, very few ever saw combat in WWII - but are the most predominant examples surviving today), and just knocked the dorsal fin fillet off. I'm sure that is fine to some I suppose, but it doesn't come close to making it a P-51D-5-NA (if you care about the details). Of course, today, with various restored Mustangs flying throughout the world, there are even more changes and unique differences from one example to the next, besides the differences that are traced to the aircraft's specific production model.

Starting with the Restored P-51D products, I wanted to reproduce examples, exactly as they are today, not just by creating one P-51D model, and changing the paint on them to match, but actually modeling and texturing each, inside and out, to match each example portrayed. This means that really, in just the "Restored Part 1" product alone, there are seven uniquely different aircraft (rather than one, with repaints). Each cockpit is different, matching the look and layout of the cockpit on the real-world example (as close as what could be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time).

In "Restored Part 2" of the P-51D's, the same was done as with on "Restored Part 1", but 8 more restored examples were selected, to be reproduced in the same manner.

With "Little Friends", this was the first product focused on WWII examples of the P-51D/K, featuring mid-model and very late model examples, with original WWII-era configurations and weathering to match the original examples depicted.

"Little Friends II", created as a continuation to "Little Friends", focused on just reproducing the P-51D-5-NA, to bring this, the earliest model of the production series of the P-51D, to FSX form (and by far the truest reproduction of the type for any simulator - which can be also said about all of the various P-51D-models produced by Warbirdsim). The amount of work required to do this, necessitated it being a dedicated product by itself.

As I have mentioned before, as time goes along, through added learning and experience each product is bound to get better, leaving the most recent better than the past. "Little Friends II" is the latest production released, but "Little Friends" is at the same level as it, especially if you download and install the "Little Friends Redux" pack that I produced a few weeks back, and for which you can find here at SOH. The "Restored" packs are showing their age a bit, in comparison, but I'll be working on fixing that over the next month or so (of course the results of which will be free to customers of the Restored products).

[AussieMan]

Snapped a couple of Kodaks while the paint was drying this afternoon.

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/A68-565/2011-12-15_16-25-17-636.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/A68-565/2011-12-15_16-22-36-802.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/A68-565/2011-12-15_16-24-59-482.jpg

And when the paint was dry:

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/A68-565/2011-12-15_16-39-15-47.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/A68-565/2011-12-15_16-39-44-710.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/A68-565/2011-12-15_16-40-39-778.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/A68-565/2011-12-15_16-41-3-889.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy163/Aussieman15/P-51%20Repaints/A68-565/2011-12-15_16-41-15-723.jpg

Hopefully will be up tonight.

[AussieMan]

A68-565 is now available from the OZx download site.

[dougal]

Dougal, you could be in for nights of reading each product page, to discover why there are four different D-model products. ; )

At the risk of sounding like a broken record -
The basic thing you have to understand, is that there wasn't just one "P-51D". Changes continued to be made, right on the production floor, throughout P-51D production. Every time a significant number of changes were to be incorporated, the production model changed. That is why it really does mean something, when you say P-51D-5-NA, P-51D-10-NA, P-51D-15-NA, etc... There are long lists, as originally written by North American Aviation, as I have in copied form, that document all of the changes between each of these production blocks. There were even numerous changes right during the middle of production block, making for 'early' and 'late' examples of one specific production model of the 'D'. (Just for one example, heading into P-51D-20-NA production, the P-51D had the N-9 reflector gun sight, no support for rocket mounts on the wings, and no tail warning radar, which meant that the cockpit electrical panels were of a type that reflected this. Part-way through P-51D-20-NA production, the K-14A gun sight was fitted, the wing was modified for the support of rocket launcher stubs on the wings, and a tail warning radar set was installed, requiring rather significant changes and additions to the cockpit, to provide rocket-firing capability, and the warning equipment for the tail radar.) Many don't know or realize, but the P-51D-5-NA to the P-51D-30-NA, is very much like the Spitfire Mk.1 to the Spitfire Mk.V - in both cases, there are several hundred changes, both minor and significant, between them. I can understand why it can be so hard to see this, as for years, every P-51D production that has come about (no matter it be the plastic-model industry, or flight simulator), ends up being very 'generalized' version of what someone might want to call a "P-51D", because the company did not want to, or maybe did not know better, to try and reproduce specific production block variants of the P-51D. For instance, producing a P-51D-5-NA, how many times has a company just gone about it, by taking a generalized P-51D-25-NA or D-30-NA (which are models of the P-51D, so late, that very, very few ever saw combat in WWII - but are the most predominant examples surviving today), and just knocked the dorsal fin fillet off. I'm sure that is fine to some I suppose, but it doesn't come close to making it a P-51D-5-NA (if you care about the details). Of course, today, with various restored Mustangs flying throughout the world, there are even more changes and unique differences from one example to the next, besides the differences that are traced to the aircraft's specific production model.

Starting with the Restored P-51D products, I wanted to reproduce examples, exactly as they are today, not just by creating one P-51D model, and changing the paint on them to match, but actually modeling and texturing each, inside and out, to match each example portrayed. This means that really, in just the "Restored Part 1" product alone, there are seven uniquely different aircraft (rather than one, with repaints). Each cockpit is different, matching the look and layout of the cockpit on the real-world example (as close as what could be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time).

In "Restored Part 2" of the P-51D's, the same was done as with on "Restored Part 1", but 8 more restored examples were selected, to be reproduced in the same manner.

With "Little Friends", this was the first product focused on WWII examples of the P-51D/K, featuring mid-model and very late model examples, with original WWII-era configurations and weathering to match the original examples depicted.

"Little Friends II", created as a continuation to "Little Friends", focused on just reproducing the P-51D-5-NA, to bring this, the earliest model of the production series of the P-51D, to FSX form (and by far the truest reproduction of the type for any simulator - which can be also said about all of the various P-51D-models produced by Warbirdsim). The amount of work required to do this, necessitated it being a dedicated product by itself.

As I have mentioned before, as time goes along, through added learning and experience each product is bound to get better, leaving the most recent better than the past. "Little Friends II" is the latest production released, but "Little Friends" is at the same level as it, especially if you download and install the "Little Friends Redux" pack that I produced a few weeks back, and for which you can find here at SOH. The "Restored" packs are showing their age a bit, in comparison, but I'll be working on fixing that over the next month or so (of course the results of which will be free to customers of the Restored products).

Thanks for all that.

I went ahead and bought LF2 last night. Without doubt, you and your coders have come a long way from the 'Fighter Leader' release.

Like you say, I obviously have a lot of reading and study ahead of me, in order to learn about the P51 generally. Oddly I'm sure, I actually much prefer the shape and look of the P51B over the P51D. I love the visibilty that bubble provides though. No doubt it also saved a few lives in it's time too.

I guess there's an engine change from the B to the D too is there? The sounds are VERY different. Again, oddly enough, I like the B sounds best - a much deeper rumble.

While on the sound subject, I'm intregued about that P51 'whistle' at speed. What cases it? Is it simply the aerodynamics?

Another question....? All you guys doing those ammazing repaints - how do I determine which variant they are for?

EDIT: Where are all these wonderful paints hiding? So far I've only found Pat's new RAAF above, in here.

[jankees]

Another question....? All you guys doing those ammazing repaints - how do I determine which variant they are for?

EDIT: Where are all these wonderful paints hiding? So far I've only found Pat's new RAAF above, in here.

If all is well, the variant are noted in the readme file with each paint. When I did my first paints, there was only the first package, so when noting is noted, it's for the first (restored) package.
My paints are all on OZX (http://aussiex.org/forum/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=user_activity&search_app=downloads&mid=750)

[dougal]

If all is well, the variant are noted in the readme file with each paint. When I did my first paints, there was only the first package, so when noting is noted, it's for the first (restored) package.
My paints are all on OZX (http://aussiex.org/forum/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=user_activity&search_app=downloads&mid=750)

Okay, thanks.

I guess that means I have to download every repaint before I know if I can use it for Little Friends II then?

[Bomber_12th]

Thanks for all that.

I went ahead and bought LF2 last night. Without doubt, you and your coders have come a long way from the 'Fighter Leader' release.

Like you say, I obviously have a lot of reading and study ahead of me, in order to learn about the P51 generally. Oddly I'm sure, I actually much prefer the shape and look of the P51B over the P51D. I love the visibilty that bubble provides though. No doubt it also saved a few lives in it's time too.

I guess there's an engine change from the B to the D too is there? The sounds are VERY different. Again, oddly enough, I like the B sounds best - a much deeper rumble.

While on the sound subject, I'm intregued about that P51 'whistle' at speed. What cases it? Is it simply the aerodynamics?

Another question....? All you guys doing those ammazing repaints - how do I determine which variant they are for?

EDIT: Where are all these wonderful paints hiding? So far I've only found Pat's new RAAF above, in here.


Dougal,

First of all, I'm quite flattered about the statement regarding "me and my coders"...as if it were that big of an operation! ; ) Each production has just been the work of mine and WarBert's (Albert Patrick). I handle every bit of the modeling, texturing, animation, coding, effects, etc., with Albert producing the flight dynamics and the sound work. Between the original release of the "Fighter Leader" product, and the latest "Little Friends II", there was about 3+ years of time in-between, along with a tremendously larger amount of resources that were utilized (including original factory-produced drawings), so it easy to see why there may be such a big difference in quality and complexity between them.

Regarding the sounds, we had some sources to record for the Merlin engine, which were okay, when working on the B/C's, but by the time we were working on the D-models, we were able to secure better sources, actually recording the sounds from an airworthy example, the P-51D "Jumpin Jacques" in the UK (for which we worked very closely with the owner). The sounds featured with the D-model productions, were recorded outside of this aircraft, during high-power break-in runs, and from within the cockpit during an entire flight. The 'whistle' is only present on D-models, and not any of the earlier models (despite the B/C's having the same engine as the D's). The reason, is because it is the gun ports on the D-models that causes the whistle (the gun ports on the A's and B's are of course very different, and don't create the same effect). Every now and then, there are still some 'armchair experts' that will claim, without a doubt, that the whistle is from the intakes, or from the 'supercharger', etc., but it has actually been proven, by more than one Mustang owner/pilot, that it is the gun ports on the D-models that causes the whistle, as putting tape over the guns/gun ports, prevents the whistle effect. Depending on the specific angle of the guns as mounted (they are adjustable), some Mustangs have more pronounced 'whistles' than others. As has been mentioned before, if you don't care to keep the whistle, it can be easily hash-marked out, or simply removed from the soun.cfg file.

You probably already are realising it by now, but the D-model products, with the thinking behind them, were done in such a way, so as to provide accuracy and authenticity that had never been provided before. If you are already well-read on the Mustang, it is easier to understand this, but if not, it provides for a lot of learning.

I'm very thankful for your purchase of "Little Friends II", and I hope you enjoy it and can learn a lot from it! It, along with the other Warbirdsim P-51D-themed products, are meant to finally show what they really did look like during WWII, and also how they appear today. With a mindset for accuracy and attention to detail, I hope a lot of people can appreciate the fact that just simple things, like the canopy framing and instrument panel shroud design, is accurate to a 'T', meaning that when you are seated in the cockpit, the canopy framing and shaping of the instrument panel shroud, over the top of the instrument panel, has all of the same lines and proportions as that of the real thing, so the views that you get, looking forward, is not distorted or false, but is as it would be if you were to go out and sit in a P-51D today, or back in 1944. The same of course goes for any part/assembly around the cockpit, so no matter where you look, it provides you this same level of depth and authenticity. The same can also be said about the exterior, with the ability to match screenshots to photos, and have all of the details and contours line up.

[Bomber_12th]

I know I've shown it before, but I can't think of a much clearer illustration as to how different one "D-model" can be from the next. Notice the various changes in electrical panel configurations, instrument panel configurations, various differences in finishes, different gun sights, sometimes different gages, etc.

P-51D-5-NA Mustang, as would be seen in the summer of 1944, as featured in "Little Friends II"

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image1.jpg


P-51K-15-NT/P-51D-30-NA Mustang, as would be seen rolling off the assembly line in the summer of 1945 (too late for action in WWII), as featured in "Little Friends".

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/p51k_raf7.jpg


Restored late-model P-51D-20-NA "Upupa Epops" as featured in "Restored Part 1"

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Image6-5.jpg


Restored F-6D Mustang "Lil' Margaret" as featured in "Restored Part 1".

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Image14-5.jpg


P-51D-25-NT "NACA 127" as featured in "Restored Part 1".

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Image5-7.jpg


Restored P-51D-20-NA "Moose" as featured in "Restored Part 2".

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Moose_13.jpg


Through the restored products, you also get several examples, as most D-models are today, with the aft-section of the cockpit modified, with the removal of the original fuselage fuel tank, radio rack, radios, battery, armor plate, and seat, and the addition of a rear seat and a modified pilot's seat that 'tilts' forward, to allow access to the back.

Stock configuration:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Image10-4.jpg


Rear-seat modified:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Image7-6.jpg

[jankees]

Okay, thanks.

I guess that means I have to download every repaint before I know if I can use it for Little Friends II then?

No, these are the recent ones, and it is marked on the page (P-51D-5).
In short, for LF2 package there are MC-U, MC-T, KI-S, KI-N and WR-J. the others are all for the other packages. They may fit the fillet model of LF2, but I'm not sure, you'd have to try for yourself.

[dougal]

No, these are the recent ones, and it is marked on the page (P-51D-5).
In short, for LF2 package there are MC-U, MC-T, KI-S, KI-N and WR-J. the others are all for the other packages. They may fit the fillet model of LF2, but I'm not sure, you'd have to try for yourself.

Thanks for the info. Offskie now to download some then...:running:

...and ANOTHER big thanks to john for yet more detailed info on this baby. I most certainly AM NOT up on information for any of the P51s, so all your data is great.

[dougal]

YeeeeeeHaaaaaa! Just racked up my 1st strike with this baby!

5429854299

[AussieMan]

Dougal, the repaints I have uploaded to OZx are for the Restored Pt2 model but in the cfg file you may be able to change the Model to suit one from Little Friends II. Some of my future repaints will include Little Friends II.

[rgatkinson]

Just applying the finishing touches to this repaint. Should be available this coming weekend all being well. :icon_lol:

John, whilst testing this repaint I appear to have activated a 'secret' version of the Mustang (see screenshot) that is weird to say the least. The NA engineers must have been enjoying a few beers when this one got off the drawing board! :icon_lol:

Taff

[Barvan40]

Just applying the finishing touches to this repaint. Should be available this coming weekend all being well. :icon_lol:

John, whilst testing this repaint I appear to have activated a 'secret' version of the Mustang (see screenshot) that is weird to say the least. The NA engineers must have been enjoying a few beers when this one got off the drawing board! :icon_lol:

Taff

It is looking great Taff, but I would urge you to look at the squadron codes a little closer. Check the shape of the font, especially the thickness of the A's and the shape of the 9. Also notice they have an outline where they enter the o.d. green area of the overpainted invasion stripes.

[Naki]

Just applying the finishing touches to this repaint. Should be available this coming weekend all being well. :icon_lol:

John, whilst testing this repaint I appear to have activated a 'secret' version of the Mustang (see screenshot) that is weird to say the least. The NA engineers must have been enjoying a few beers when this one got off the drawing board! :icon_lol:

Taff

The previously unheard of Goodyear Mustang?

[rgatkinson]

It is looking great Taff, but I would urge you to look at the squadron codes a little closer. Check the shape of the font, especially the thickness of the A's and the shape of the 9. Also notice they have an outline where they enter the o.d. green area of the overpainted invasion stripes.

Hi Barry,

Don't worry. I'm on to it ;)

Taff

[Wings of Gold]

I have been searching for Bomber_12's "Little Friends Redux" here at SOH (without success). Can anyone please point me in the correct direction. Aircraft? repaints?

Thanks,

Bill

[Barvan40]

I have been searching for Bomber_12's "Little Friends Redux" here at SOH (without success). Can anyone please point me in the correct direction. Aircraft? repaints?

Thanks,

Bill

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links_search.php?action=show&userid=65&sort=d

[rgatkinson]

Finally got it finished and have uploaded it to the library.

54625

Regards,

Taff.

[jankees]

Looks good!

Here's a friend for your paint:

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14537.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14536.jpg

I somehow forgot the spinner, but that will be done as well, no worries!

[skyhawka4m]

jankess...no red tail yet? Still looking for that one! Great work as always!

[jankees]

ooops, I forgot (the red tail), so sorry. With the next batch I upload, I promise!

meanwhile, now with black spinner:

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14540.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14556.jpg

[rgatkinson]

Hi Jan,

Very nice indeed. Looking forward to downloading it and taking it for a spin!

Regards,

Taff

[jankees]

and another one for the 363rd FG:

James Brink's C3-P "Roscoe II"

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14566.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14584.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/FX14588.jpg