Tamiya 48th P-51D. Built SOB except scratchbuilt belts and harnesses. Sorry, no close-ups because my camera is a P&S POS with no zoom whatsoever.
This thing was started a looooong time ago, in a galaxy not too far away from one of the former seven wonders of the world. It had reached a point at which I could consider it 'finished', and I do believe that I had previously posted a photo or three on a forum or four...
However it wasn't really 'finished' then, and still isn't... but it's 'more finished' now than... oh nevermind. For all intents and purposes, it's done. I
do have to fix a nasty blemish on the starboard wing and replace the gunsight which went west when it hit the floor and got ran over by the chair. I also have to do something with the ID stripe on the port flap... I'd tried an experiment which failed miserably, so it may be repainted... someday...
I did make a few
D'oH's on this thing, and they stick out like a cherry girl in a house of well-travelled... 'ladies'... but I trust that I shall be forgiven.
Anyhoo, here's a look at an ongoing build that should be 'really officially finished' sometime in the next decade... no, really, it'll really be really finished one day... I promise...
Click 'em for larger images!
Oh, here's a shot of the real deal. Unfortunately, I found this photo only after I'd applied the decals, so the placement of the name is a bit off... but I won't tell anyone if you won't...
Capt. Frank Stillwell, 503rd Fighter Squadron, 339th Fighter Group.
This P-51D was a presentation aircraft from the students of Bloomfield High School, New Jersey. The students sold war bonds which helped to make possible the manufacture of this P-51, and the name is in reference to the school's basketball team, the 'Bengals'.
This photo was taken on November 19th, 1944. Capt. Stillwell had just returned from his first mission in this ship, during which he bagged a Bf 109. Notice the outline of his flight goggles, still imprinted on his face.
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