A-36,P-51A,B,C To Radio Mast ? or not to..
Mon Feb 15, 2016 4:18 pm
Disclaimer : I know, owners Aeroplane, & $$$$$.
Now, I've notice on the past Restored A-36s, P-51A,B&Cs, that some have a WWII Radio (Looking?) Mast & some do not. I looked over issues of Mustangs International & noticed some do & some don't have R.Mast. Is a WWII Radio Mast a BIG part of future Restorations (?)
I DO Know that the Restored WWII Warbird that SEEMS to NEVER be without a Radio Mast is the Spitfire !! (
maybe some kinda Spit. "Law" that they just look Naked without a R.Mast )
Now, I've notice on the past Restored A-36s, P-51A,B&Cs, that some have a WWII Radio (Looking?) Mast & some do not. I looked over issues of Mustangs International & noticed some do & some don't have R.Mast. Is a WWII Radio Mast a BIG part of future Restorations (?)
I DO Know that the Restored WWII Warbird that SEEMS to NEVER be without a Radio Mast is the Spitfire !! (
maybe some kinda Spit. "Law" that they just look Naked without a R.Mast )
Re: A-36,P-51A,B,C To Radio Mast ? or not to..
Mon Feb 15, 2016 4:51 pm
Depends...
On the P-51C "Tuskegee Airmen", the Beck P-51A, and the John Dowd P-51A, they all have a back seat, and thus mounting the antenna in any proper fashion would be an issue - especially since the A-frame structure is gone, which is what the antenna mast mounts to.
On the P-51B's "Old Crow", "Berlin Express", and "Impatient Virgin", they don't have the standard radio antenna mast since they were removed when the Malcolm hood canopies were added (as per original) - otherwise the canopies wouldn't be able to travel/open. A wire antenna was then added farther back along the side of the spine of the fuselage, which has been copied in these restorations (to various extents).
The antenna mast on the restored P-51C "Ina the Macon Belle" is what was used with the SCR-522 radio set (as it has installed). The antenna mast on the restored P-51C "Princess Elizabeth" and the POF P-51A is what was used with the SCR-274 radio set. The P-51C "Lope's Hope 3rd", currently under restoration at Aircorps Aviation, will have that same narrow metal antenna mast together with the SCR-274 radio set, as well as the MN-26 radio compass set and direction finder loop antenna on the spine/rear fuselage (all as per how the original "Lope's Hope 3rd" was configured for the CBI Theatre).
The TP-51C "Betty Jane" doesn't really need mentioning, since it is obvious why it doesn't have the standard radio mast (all of the dual seat/trainer Spitfires don't have the mast either). As for the P-51C "Boise Bee", it's their plane, their money (and it is one of my favorites).
The antenna masts fitted to both of the flying A-36's are another type used with the SCR-274 radio set on those early aircraft.
On the P-51C "Tuskegee Airmen", the Beck P-51A, and the John Dowd P-51A, they all have a back seat, and thus mounting the antenna in any proper fashion would be an issue - especially since the A-frame structure is gone, which is what the antenna mast mounts to.
On the P-51B's "Old Crow", "Berlin Express", and "Impatient Virgin", they don't have the standard radio antenna mast since they were removed when the Malcolm hood canopies were added (as per original) - otherwise the canopies wouldn't be able to travel/open. A wire antenna was then added farther back along the side of the spine of the fuselage, which has been copied in these restorations (to various extents).
The antenna mast on the restored P-51C "Ina the Macon Belle" is what was used with the SCR-522 radio set (as it has installed). The antenna mast on the restored P-51C "Princess Elizabeth" and the POF P-51A is what was used with the SCR-274 radio set. The P-51C "Lope's Hope 3rd", currently under restoration at Aircorps Aviation, will have that same narrow metal antenna mast together with the SCR-274 radio set, as well as the MN-26 radio compass set and direction finder loop antenna on the spine/rear fuselage (all as per how the original "Lope's Hope 3rd" was configured for the CBI Theatre).
The TP-51C "Betty Jane" doesn't really need mentioning, since it is obvious why it doesn't have the standard radio mast (all of the dual seat/trainer Spitfires don't have the mast either). As for the P-51C "Boise Bee", it's their plane, their money (and it is one of my favorites).
The antenna masts fitted to both of the flying A-36's are another type used with the SCR-274 radio set on those early aircraft.
Re: A-36,P-51A,B,C To Radio Mast ? or not to..
Tue Feb 16, 2016 4:05 pm
THANK YOU JOHN!! That was an Excellent breakdown of the "Mast" situations with these W.Birds ! 
..........Now, as for the Corsairs still around....