"FF-902"

[Bomber_12th]

A repaint for "Little Friends I", I've been working on this one for quite some time, but I finally have it nearly finished - just a few more details to touch on.

This is not an "F-51D", but rather a P-51D, caught between the USAAF and the USAF. The aircraft is the subject of a rather stunning color image from 1947. Note the "old stars" still on the wings, and the "new stars" on the fuselage, as well as the non-standard style of the numbers on the tail - all accurate to this particular aircraft. Also, the filler and silver paint finish began to come off, quite bad, and so the entire wing was stripped clean to bare metal, and stencils re-applied.

I'll try to have this finished up, complete with accurate cockpit placards, and uploaded tomorrow morning. It really has been a fun one to do. One of the reasons it took as long as it did, was because with all of the past variants having filled and silver painted wings, I had to re-make a lot of the wing textures, in order to show them as bare metal, with all of the panel and rivet detail as there is with the filler removed.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/902_1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/902_2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/902_3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/902_4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/902_5.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/902_6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/902_7.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/902_8.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/902_9.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/902_10.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/902_11.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/902_12.jpg

[Milton Shupe]

Now That is beautiful! :applause: :medals:

[fsxar177]

Wow, that is nice... And very unique.. A must have! What might be some of the history behind this 'stang?

Joseph

[Sundog]

I'll definitely be looking forward to this. Nice job.

[skyhawka4m]

Tank you John for this repaint. I keep putting off my attempts at F-51 paints and this may just get me going. As you know I want to redo my KY ANG paint, and I also am trying to find more info on PA ANG birds. did you happen to catch the article on the CA ANg F-51's? kinda interesting also.....

[Thunderbolt]

wow !

nice scenery, nice paint, nice screenshots. :applause:

[DaveQ]

What a beautiful paint job! The metalling is fabulous as always - thanks a million John. Any chance we could see the original photo? And (as others ask) what's the story of this aircraft?

DaveQ

[VCN-1]

Looks fantastic!

VCN-1

[DaveWG]

Lovely job John :applause:

Slightly OT, but is there a paint kit available for the "Little Friends I" package?

[huub vink]

Beautiful paintwork and extremely accurate as always.

Cheers,
Huub

[stovall]

Fantastic work John, I am leaving tomorrow for a trip but will hopefully bag this one before I leave. Much appreciated. :medals:

[Bomber_12th]

Until it is uploaded and becomes available in the file libraries, here is a temporary download link: http://www.mediafire.com/?zydb0bxee4oonnr

Unfortunately I don't know much at all about this one, other than I loved it at first sight. The P-51D that Connie Edwards still owns is claimed to be 44-74902.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/ff902.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/ff902_2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/ff902_3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/ff902_4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/ff902_5.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/ff902_6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/ff902_7.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/ff902_8.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/ff902_11.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

And here's the photo I worked from. This morning, while revising other things, I "mucked-up" the anti glare shield to try and match the staining seen in the photo.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/5573001486_f114406af1_b.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

Slightly OT, but is there a paint kit available for the "Little Friends I" package?

Dave, yes there is! If you can send a PM to me with your e-mail address, I'll get it to you straight away. ; )

[fsxar177]

I love this skin!!
Any chance that you'll do the incredibly ugly "FAG-315" scheme, as it wore?

http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/wbslf25-1.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/wbslf24-1.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/wbslf23-1.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/wbslf22-1.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/wbslf21-1.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/wbslf20-1.jpg


Joseph

[fsxar177]

And, a little playing around in the photoshop...
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/wbslf26.jpg

Joseph

[Thunderbolt]

Thanks John, I take it :applause:

[c87]

Just beautiful John.

[1970LT1]

John,

Uploaded here yet?

Regards,

LT1

[Bomber_12th]

Hi LT1, I did get it uploaded here this afternoon, and I have also uploaded it to Flightsim.com as well.

[skyhawka4m]

Thanks john!! Awesome scheme! Now all we need is a true F-151D with the long fuel tanks and minnesota markings!! hint hint!


66482

[Bomber_12th]

John, it's in the works. ; ) And I know of those articles you mention, they are great!

The expansiveness of the Warbirdsim 1948-1953 F-51D project is quite something, more so perhaps than anything I've done before, with a large assortment of all different variants of the period, in different configurations and finishes, and available in all sorts of authentic load-outs, covering ANG units, USAF units, SAAF units, and ROKAF units. "FF-902" is sort of a prelude. : )

[Bomber_12th]

Joseph, regarding the Guatemalan scheme, it's not currently in the plans, but it would be very cool!

And to everyone, thank you for your very kind comments and feedback!

[fsxar177]

John, it's in the works. ; ) And I know of those articles you mention, they are great!

The expansiveness of the Warbirdsim 1948-1953 F-51D project is quite something, more so perhaps than anything I've done before, with a large assortment of all different variants of the period, in different configurations and finishes, and available in all sorts of authentic load-outs, covering ANG units, USAF units, SAAF units, and ROKAF units. "FF-902" is sort of a prelude. : )

John,
Please continue plans for a cleaned up -10,-15,and-20 Cleveland era mustangs!!!


If I get a chance, I may work on that Guatemalan scheme...hmmm

Joseph

[skyhawka4m]

66496

[fsxar177]

66496


Details....?

[Bomber_12th]

John, that looks fantastic!! Is it available?

[skyhawka4m]

The repaint was done by our own ZSOLTQUACK and I don't think he evver posted it anywhere. I sent him a PM for it. Maybe with some proding he would post it for download??

[Mach3DS]

66637666386663966640

[Mach3DS]

Mean to throw this one in there the other day as well...

66809

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you for posting those, Rick! Very beautiful!

Here are some more screenshots I took around the weekend:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/dwn_low2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/dwn_low1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/dwn_low3.jpg

[Mach3DS]

This has become my favorite skin at this point. I really love it.

[skyhawka4m]

I love this paint! but I'm so much waiting for the Minnesota ANG aircraft.....this has always been one of my altime favoraite ANG P-51 aircraft...especially with those largte fuel tanks.

John has there been any thought of putting P-38 style fuel tanks on the VLR?

[Bomber_12th]

John, that would be very cool, but no it hasn't really been considered. The use of the P-38 drop tanks (165-gal) on the Iwo Jima based Mustangs was quite limited, for select (non-VLR) missions, allowing the Mustangs to loiter over targets for longer periods of time (usually equipped with six 5" HVAR rockets).

Speaking of drop tanks, it is rather startling to see some recent depictions of Iwo Jima based Mustangs carrying 108-gallon paper tanks. Those tanks were manufactured in the UK, and only ever used on Mustangs based in the UK. (There were also 110-gallon versions of the paper tanks, looking very much like the 108-gal type, but those too were limited to the UK). All other out-side operations used either the 75-gallon metal tanks, or the 110-gallon metal tanks. Also the Iwo Jima based VLR Mustangs never used 75-gallon metal tanks - it was very specific to 110-gallon metal tanks.

For those interested/curious, here is but a small supply of photos of VLR Mustangs and their 110-gallon tanks (note the wooden sway braces, special angle brackets fixed to the wings, and tension straps):

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/342-FH-3A-42523-64871AC_47th_fs.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/342-FH-3A-42151-64852AC_506th_fg.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/342-FH-3A-42526-67949AC_506th_fg.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/457thFS506thFG_3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/342-FH-3A-42130-56907AC_506th_fg.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/P-51D-Tiny-Gay-Baba-01.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/NASM_DSCN0712_45th.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

Recreated:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Image7-9.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Image8-4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Image10-9.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

BTW, there are only a select few surviving 108-gallon paper drop tanks from the war (less than 5, that I know of), despite there being a tremendous surplus of those tanks in England after the war. The reason is centered on their construction. The tanks, made up of layers of essentially laminated paper, over light-wire frames, would turn to mush after being exposed to liquids for more than 6-7 hours. When the tanks were used in combat, they were only filled right before the mission, otherwise the tanks would have been susceptible to de-lamination while in use. The sad part about this, and the reason why so few remain today out of such an enormous surplus, was because following the war, some children began stealing some of them, and cutting them in half to form canoes. After hours in the water the tanks would fall apart, and this resulted in, if I recall correctly, at least a couple of drownings. As a result, a push was made to destroy all of the tanks and get rid of them. The P-51 on display at the USAF Museum has original 110-gallon paper drop tanks fitted. Bob Baker, owner of "Sweet and Lovely" and "Little Rebel", has an original wartime 108-gallon paper drop tank (still complete in original finish and stencils), that he purchased from a collector in the UK a number of years ago (if I recall correctly). He (along with Midwest Aero and Jack Roush) had fiberglass copies of that particular tank made, complete with all of the original imperfections, and the finish and stencils reproduced. The result is that you can't tell the fiberglass copies apart from the original, and they can be used without the problem of having them turning to mush like the originals. There are at least a couple more I am aware of, including one on display in a museum somewhere in mainland Europe. These replica tanks have been seen on select restorations, when displayed at some select air shows, limited to Bob Baker's "Sweet and Lovely" and "Little Rebel", Bruce Winter's "Happy Jack's Go Buggy", and Jack Roush's P-51B restored as "Old Crow" (which tends to mix it up, from one show to the next, between replica 75-gal tanks, or replica 500-lbs. bombs).

And speaking of replica parts, some of the Mustangs you might see on display at an air show that appear to have the armor plate and authentic radios/battery fitted, in some cases, actually don't. I believe it was Jack Roush's company that manufactured the fiberglass replica 108-gallon paper drop tanks, and they also manufacture a replica fiberglass "assemblage" for owners of P-51D's that have a second seat installed (and thus don't have a fixed, original armor plate or WWII radio/battery). This one-piece fiberglass unit, which fits and fastens right within the D-model's rear cockpit, will make it seem, from the out-side observer, that the aircraft has the armor plate and authentic radios/battery in the back, finished to look authentic/original, as seen below. When it comes to giving rides, all they have to do is release and remove the canopy (quite a simple operation, but requires a few guys to do it all at once), then take out the few fasteners, remove the part, secure the canopy back in-place, and they are good to go. It was quite something the first time I saw one of these, at Oshkosh a few years back, when I went over to see Jack Roush's D-model after it had arrived, and they were removing this from the aircraft, canopy off at the time, so that it could go up again with a passenger in back.

Before:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/Rear20Seat_lrg.jpg

After:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20I/Replica20Plate20unscrew20bolts_lrg.jpg

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

[Mach3DS]

Fantastic work John! Always impressed...a preview of something to come?