Warbird Information Exchange

Hi all,


Most P-51 fans know about 43-12102, the first P-51 to fly with a bubble canopy, basically a D fuselage with a B wing





but, how about a Mustang with a B fuselage and a D wing...





Beside the modified 43-12102, NAA had subsequently taken two other P-51Bs from production lines, 42-106539 and 42-106540. They were supposedly brought to P-51D standarts, and labelled P-51D-1-NA. To my knowledge, no picture showing those two planes has ever surfaced, beside the two published in Michael O'Leary's book, "Building the P-51 Mustang", one showing the cockpit with the important data plates, identifying the plane as 42-106540, and the other showing the right wing, with the 3 guns and the 5 rockets.


Althought blurry, the picture showing the tail indicates that this is 42-106540 (strangely enough, they have not painted the "2"), and that the fuselage was not modified, unlike the wing.


Laurent

What happened to the two threads about the P-51D prototype? I know they were acrimonious, but the research information was very good.

C2j

Those were on the Hyperscale forum.

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/hyperscale/those-elusive-p-51d-prototypes-case-closed-t516761.html 32 pages

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/hyperscale/that-elusive-p-51d-prototype-t514878.html 49 pages!

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I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.

Thank you, raconnel!

To others, this is well worth the time to read through these threads.

C2j

I followed that thread. "Acrimonious" is a very apt description. OTOH, "informative" also applies. Separate the wheat from the chaff.

I too followed the two original threads over on Hyperscale and found them to be quite fascinating. Definitely worth the time for anyone seriously interested in Mustang history.

Here's another shot of 102.

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When I was young "sex was safe & flying was dangerous".

Back in the late 1970's John Marlin rebuilt his Mustang as 102.

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remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

Or, more correctly, "...painted it like..."

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Later became Sizzlin' Liz.

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-74458

Thats so amazing. I have short listed both of those, 43-12102 and 42-106540, for me to make in 1/72nd scale. I love oddball and prototype aircraft, some of the most interesting for me for sure. Going to make the decals for them.