Re: Polar Bear
Wed Oct 05, 2011 4:06 pm
I've secretly hoped that one of the Beck P-51A 'kits' would be used to rebuild Polar Bear into a legit P-51A.
As is, it's simply a P-51D dressed up as an A.
As is, it's simply a P-51D dressed up as an A.
Re: Polar Bear
Wed Oct 05, 2011 4:14 pm
Randy Haskin wrote:I've secretly hoped that one of the Beck P-51A 'kits' would be used to rebuild Polar Bear into a legit P-51A.
As is, it's simply a P-51D dressed up as an A.
Still looks good to me! Polar Bear holds a special place for me as it was one of the first razorback Mustangs I ever knew was out there on the circuit. Its qwerky since its mostly a D with A features and an Allison. Still, seeing it converted completely back to that of an original A with Beck's kits would be very cool.
Re: Polar Bear
Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:55 pm
ive always thought that it was an "a" from the longgerons up, fire wall forward, and the horizontal, everything else was from a d.
Re: Polar Bear
Wed Oct 05, 2011 6:27 pm
Randy Haskin wrote:I've secretly hoped that one of the Beck P-51A 'kits' would be used to rebuild Polar Bear into a legit P-51A.
As is, it's simply a P-51D dressed up as an A.
I like that train of thought Randy! If someone was smart and had the cash to burn, one could resurrect 44-73483 as a legit "D" and with a Beck "A" kit, end up with a legit 43-6006. A cunning plan...
Re: Polar Bear
Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:36 am
Polar Bear at Reno 2011:
Polar Bear KCVH, Hollister, CA February 2011 during the MT Prop testing.
Polar Bear KCVH, Hollister, CA February 2011 during the MT Prop testing.
Re: Polar Bear
Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:11 pm
AvroAvian wrote:If someone was smart and had the cash to burn, one could resurrect 44-73483 as a legit "D" and with a Beck "A" kit, end up with a legit 43-6006. A cunning plan...
Two Mustangs for the price of...two.
But it would sure be nice. If I won the lottery, and the current owner of Polar Bear wanted to dance....
Re: Polar Bear
Thu Oct 06, 2011 5:20 pm
Warbird Kid wrote:Would be cool to see this aircraft visit Geneseo again.
I'll second that...
I think it was my second Genny, back in the early 80s, that I first saw this ship. It was early in the morning, before the place was officially open I think, and she came across the field with 'Little Demon' and Doc Anderson's P-40... I seem to recall their making a couple passes before landing. At first, when they were still aways off, my young, untrained eyes thought it was another P-40, but as the three drew nearer I knew it was something... different. Exactly how different, I did not know at the time because back then I couldn't tell a P-51A from a B from a C. And I certainly would not have known by sight that this was a 'kit-bash', to use a modeling term.
All I knew was that it was one groovy looking bird.
Here's the only photo from that day that I've scanned...
Fade to Black...