"Cripes A' Mighty, Then and Now" - Released! (Payware)

[skyhawka4m]

My votes are for the F-51D, and TF-51H......I know my crys are getting old...lol....but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[RKinkor]

Thank you for these ideas! One of the things I want to focus on, however, is unique examples that would be far better off getting new models and textures, rather than those that could be just as easily and accurately reproduced through a repaint of one of the existing models from prior products. In the case of Bud Anderson's "Old Crow", I would personally just love to see a repaint of that aircraft applied to one of the "Little Friends I" aircraft (the Millie G model, to be exact), and I'd be willing to do it myself to help ensure quality. Regarding Glamorous Glenn, however, as suggested, it could be quite a can of worms - I don't even know if I would feel comfortable just making a repaint depicting that aircraft - it seems there has been a 'witch hunt' over the last several years, rumored to be led by Yeager's current wife, claiming that the use of the name and related artwork is copy-right protected (all to try and get more $).

There are some unique qualities like the Spitfire mirrors on "Cripes A' Mighty (IV)", as reproduced in this product, which meant that a repaint of a prior model just wouldn't cut it for me. There will definitely be a "Twilight Tear, Then and Now", a project that is also very exciting to me, as I was able to get some great access to the real aircraft (which I think is now one of the top two, if not the single-most, authentic P-51D restorations on the planet - it's really that incredible). There will also be a "Hardwick Mustangs" product, focusing attention of the restored "Marinell" and "Janie", which will be exact reproductions of the modern aircraft. These are all 'back-burner' projects, keeping me busy while working on other things, but they are also not that easy to produce in a reasonable amount of time. This latest product required several weeks of testing and revising after the product was already looking very solid/ready for release.

As mentioned elsewhere, I've gotten the impression that a post-war ANG and USAF F-51D would be highly desired. I would also love to cover a couple of the stripped-down stock Cleveland-racers of the late 40's. I don't know how well received it might be, but I would also like to re-issue some of the unique and individual Mustangs from both of the Restored Part 1 and Part 2 products, so that those who don't have those products, but would like to have one or two of the examples from either, could go ahead and just have those, without having to spend more for more Mustangs that one might otherwise not be interested in. These would be updated versions, and for those who already have the aircraft through owning either the Restored Part 1 or Part 2 products, will also get the updates free-of-charge - this idea, however, still needs to be worked out.

Thats what I was afraid of as far as the Yeager one goes. Looking forward to the Twilight Tear one of course. I do not know if this one should just be covered in a re-paint or not, but if you go with ANG aircraft maybe this oneAttachment 61333only pic I could find of her this quick, always the maroon paint and the gopher on the tail.

[Bomber_12th]

I do have a huge blown-up B&W framed photo hanging in my 'office', right next to the computer, of a Minnesota Air National Guard P-51D-25-NT 45-11489, taken in the 1950's, and it is finished in the same markings as that one currently on display at the MN ANG museum (this I acquired from an estate sale of a rather well-known Mustang enthusiest/photographer). The example in the photo I have, also has long-range drop tanks fitted, finished in a unique design using the same colors. So I have been eyeing something like that.

After WWII, and with the foundation of the USAF, all of the cockpits on P-51's servining, were painted completely black (like the jets of the period), where-ever interior green paint had been present before. There were also a number of avionics/radio-related changes that occured too, resulting in the back of the cockpit, behind the armor plate, looking quite different, and the replacement of some of the radio-related controls in the cockpit. The pilot-gear would also have to be changed to reflect the post-war USAF helmets and flight suits.

[skyhawka4m]

John if you did that Mustang with the larger tanks...you would make my day......or how about a VLR with P-38 style tanks attached?

[mohawk3]

I'd love too some P/F-51D and TF-51s.

[Barvan40]

Fantastic John, this is my favorite one yet! I like the Then and Now theme and want to see (and buy) more of them!

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you Barvan, and very sweet shot of the wartime "Cripes"!

[PRB]

This plane is fantastic. I especially like the "now" VC, although they are both great. Went up to 7000 feet and stalled the pony, just to see what would happen. It wasn't pretty, but I did manage to recover before I bent anything. Thanks John (and all WBS people)!

[rgatkinson]

John,

Just a thought, and apologies if you've already considered or mentioned this, but have you thought of any P-51B/C "Then and Now" subjects? I'm assuming that P-51B/C airframes are as rare as hen's teeth but a quick check on the Internet uncovered several restoration projects. One such is

http://www.mustangsmustangs.us/theha...p?topic=1177.0 check out the photo at the bottom of the page, what a coincidence

Regards,

Taff

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you, Paul, I'm glad to hear you are enjoying the restored-version!

[Bomber_12th]

Taff, I've got so many different projects running, but there has been an on-going effort to build, completely new, the P-51B/C, to the same standards as the P-51D's (as I've mentioned to others, there is about 3-years or more of additional learning and experience wrapped up with the P-51D's, since work was done on the Warbirdsim P-51B/C's). This is also the reason I have been reluctant to convert the FS9 Warbirdsim filleted-P-51B/C's, because I'd rather spend that time on completely better examples from the ground up. Although I'm still trying to get it fully jump-started, I am envisioning being able to run a P-51A/A-36/P-51B/C 'production run', using original NAA engineering drawings for modeling about 95-98% of the models - essentially having the true aircraft re-born in virtual form, taking the realm of accuracy to a whole new level. This of course remains a long-term project, having only recently finished studying and organizing all of the massive amounts of drawings for these aircraft, in preperation of laying the ground-work to get started. A little piece of this research of mine will be included in a new book on the A-36 Apache, which will be available soon.

So regarding your then and now idea for the P-51B/C's (or other early high-back variants), it has been noted! ; )

Above all else, the P-39 Airacobra is to remain the main focus project until it is completed. I also have some exclusive resources for reproducing a Japanese Tony (one of which is nearing flight status), which I also hope can be started sometime this year.

[rgatkinson]

John,

Thanks for that insight into some of your plans for the future. As always I am astounded by your work ethic and passion for detail. I, for one, look forward to whatever the future brings from Warbirdsim.

Taff.

[Bomber_12th]

Back to the topic of "Cripes A' Mighty", here are some excellent webpages devoted to the restored "Cripes A' Mighty", as well as Major George Preddy:

http://www.crazyhorseap.be/Mustangs/...hty/N151BW.htm

http://www.crazyhorseap.be/Mustangs/...rgePreddy1.htm

If you're as big of a fan of the Mustang as I am, you'll really enjoy looking at the rest that this website has to offer as well, with many photo-galleries (inside and out) devoted to examples that fly today.

[Bomber_12th]

Here's one of the more famous photos of Preddy and this particular aircraft. Note that great care was taken to reproduce each swastika kill-marking in all of the exact placements, as well as other details like the specific typography used on the canopy frame (though slightly enlarged, to maintain better quality), and the unique silver fuel cap with red handle. Also note the dual Spitfire mirrors.

[level 7]

i just purchased this today and the model and vc looks as great as everyone has described. having the EZCA profile for a mustang already also makes it much easier to use off the bat. i am having a tricky time taking off but then i haven't really read any of the manual either.

however the sound seems a bit tiny. i'm not exactly how to describe this, it was like they were not taken at the full sampling rate as the deeper tones seem to be cut off. there is no bass to the sounds. i switched back to the A2A spitfire and the sounds from that aircraft seemed much better. any comments on this?