Completed restored old rc P-51D for hanging museum display

[Guest]

Hi All: I am new to this forum, very impressed with the exquisite models and talented modelers. I'm not sure if this is the proper forum for this project I am just completing, but in many ways it is just an overgrown model project (1/4 scale) that used to be a flying rc model many years ago. I took possession of the plane and redid it in the colors of my friend Bill Getz, who flew this plane with the 2nd Air Division Scouting Forces in WWII, based out of Steeple Morden, England.

This plane is now slated to be hung from the ceiling of a local museum in Denver, CO USA in September.

I'll post a few pics for comment.

Thanks,

Davegee

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[Guest]

Looks excellent and the exhaust stacks look real ,most impressive!

[Guest]

thanks, the plane was in just horrific shape when I took it on for a project. The underneath nose area was totally gone, and I had to pull the engine and other rc parts out to get it going. On top of that, this kit has some very serious scale flaws, some of which were just too difficult to fix, so I had to leave them as is.

The exhaust stacks were airbrushed a steel color, and then accented with exhaust and smoke colors. I then added some chalk colors and rubbed them on various parts of the stacks. The exhaust itself from these and an oil breather port on the lower right cowl follow an arcing curved pattern on the fuselage, when looking at photos of the real planes. This is due, I think, to the pattern of airflow over the plane as it streaks through the air.

davegee

[yak face]

Hi dave ,welcome to the forum. Thats a mighty fine looking mustang, youve done a great job of converting it to a static model. p.s. nice s2000 in the garage too! cheers tony

[Guest]

thanks, Yakface. Although there are much better P-51s out there, I think this one will be suitable as a tribute to Col. Getz and the Scouts of WWII.

I don't get to drive the S2000 much, my wife always seems to have the keys! But I can do her one better, my ride goes 600mph! (747-400)

Cheers,

Davegee

[spanner570]

Very nice restoration Davegee.

It's obvious you have put a lot of hard work into the build.

The finished aircraft is a credit to you.

Well done,

Ron

[Centurion3RTR]

A beautiful rebuild of a beautiful aircraft bud, can't add to whats already been said but i thought she was real.

Have fun, John

[Guest]

Thanks, guys. There is just one more thing to do, and that is attach special scale 110 gal. paper tanks like those used to allow these planes to make it all the way to Germany, and back. Those are still under construction, a friend of mine is doing them for me in Phoenix, AZ. He will ship them up to me by the end of August, and I'll figure a way to attach them (thinking using magnets, so far) to the pylons, and also two connecting tubes to the underneath area of the forward wing leading edges. I'll send some pics of the entire plane when I get those finished, as this is how the plane will be displayed.

Bill tells me that since the Scouting Force's mission wasn't "officially" to attack the enemy (although they did get some aces doing this work), unless attacked themselves, they tried to return home with the empty tanks, if possible, since they were in short supply. My understanding is that these were manufactured in England during the war.

Attached is a pic my friend sent me of one of the unfinished tanks. They are balsa covering over a lasercut framework, and then will be covered with silver material and plastic fittings for the filler ports and other things.

My wife and daughter get a lot of the credit for the "grunt" work of stripping, sanding, priming, etc., as my work schedule has me totally busy, these days. I probably won't take on one of these "basket cases" again. It would be a lot less work to start with a regular kit, and make it a free-standing display aircraft!

Cheers,

davegee

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[Guest]

Saucy Shirley completed!

Hi All: Saucy Shirley was finally completed in early September. The investiture was done on September 24, 2011 with Bill Getz in attendance. It will be hung from the ceiling within the next few weeks for permanent display. Included are a few pics as it now looks.

davegee

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[papa 695]

You have done a great job there Davegee a cracking build/restoration i do like the P51