Most Authentic Mustang Flying

[JimH]

5410V became Dago Red? same machine?

Jim

[Dan K]

What group is that black checkertail? I've never seen that before.

If you're referring to the example with the nose art "Sigh", it's not PTO, but rather CBI...1st Air Commando Group.

[262crew]

... or a real aircraft wich would be painted like this model:

http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/axis ... mc32a6.htm



Love the FW190 This must have been at Maching. BTW I am sure I have seen the aircraft in the background once or twice before

This is my vote

[Chicoartist]

This is my vote

Mike V's work (HJGB, et al) takes a back seat to nobody in his business (you don't need me to tell you that fact), but from what I've read, the Upupa Epops folks took that plane apart and rebuilt it rivet by rivet exactly as she would have rolled off the assembly line. Working WWII-era radios, functioning K-14 gunsight, EVERYTHING.

HJGB may indeed have equalled U/E in every way, but it would be literally impossible to surpass Upupa in detail/authenticity work.

My vote - Upupa Epops and HJGB tie for the Gold Medal, with Upupa slightly edging out HJ's because it's 'da real deal' - and the original fighter pilot has his fingerprints on the stick.

Oh - trivia time. FHC's Upupa Epops was Tordoff's second "Upupa". His first tour Mustang was also so named. From Peter Randall's excellent site:

44-14805 P-51D SX-L Tordoff Capt. Harrison B "Bud" Upupa Epops. There's a couple of pics in Aces & Wingmen Vol II, and there may be an exclamation point, as in Upupa Epops! This ship displayed the three rows of yellow/black checks pre-Dec 44 (IIRC, not near my refs). In Dec (IIRC), the 353rd P-51s went to eight rows of checks to further differentiate them from the 55th FG's yellow/green 3-row nose checks, as seen on FHC's bird (2364).

44-72364 P-51D SX-L Tordoff, Capt. Harrison B "Bud" Upupa Epops. This was his second-tour machine.

Wade

[262crew]

This is my vote

Mike V's work (HJGB, et al) takes a back seat to nobody in his business (you don't need me to tell you that fact), but from what I've read, the Upupa Epops folks took that plane apart and rebuilt it rivet by rivet exactly as she would have rolled off the assembly line. Working WWII-era radios, functioning K-14 gunsight, EVERYTHING.

HJGB may indeed have equalled U/E in every way, but it would be literally impossible to surpass Upupa in detail/authenticity work.

My vote - Upupa Epops and HJGB tie for the Gold Medal, with Upupa slightly edging out HJ's because it's 'da real deal' - and the original fighter pilot has his fingerprints on the stick.

Oh - trivia time. FHC's Upupa Epops was Tordoff's second "Upupa". His first tour Mustang was also so named. From Peter Randall's excellent site:

44-14805 P-51D SX-L Tordoff Capt. Harrison B "Bud" Upupa Epops. There's a couple of pics in Aces & Wingmen Vol II, and there may be an exclamation point, as in Upupa Epops! This ship displayed the three rows of yellow/black checks pre-Dec 44 (IIRC, not near my refs). In Dec (IIRC), the 353rd P-51s went to eight rows of checks to further differentiate them from the 55th FG's yellow/green 3-row nose checks, as seen on FHC's bird (2364).

44-72364 P-51D SX-L Tordoff, Capt. Harrison B "Bud" Upupa Epops. This was his second-tour machine.

Wade

You see that is why WIX to me is so valuable because of the info all of you provide







Yes FHC has millions to spend on a restoration but as far as I know they do not enter their aircraft into competitions. And to me that makes them winners

[ChrisDNT]

Thanks for the Upupa Epops pics
What a beautiful plane, looking cool and looking right.
You're never wrong with a natural aluminium finish!

[Django]

Have any pics of 44-72035 (currently Jumpin Jaques) in theatre ever materialized?

[Green Goggles]

I'm obviously very biased... but I think Little Rebel will turn some heads this summer.


Better than HJGB? Well, that's for the judges and public to decide.

[Jack Cook]

Have any pics of 44-72035 (currently Jumpin Jaques) in theatre ever materialized?

Another in the UK is also reputed to be a x-332nd FG combat vet since
some red paint was found on a gear door

[Jack Cook]

Hopefully to be painted soon is John Anderson's 44-63889 N4034S
formally #60 of the 318th FS 325th FG Checkertail Clan 15th AF.
The only other MTO P-51 I believe is 44-72777 flown by 5 kill ace Doc
Watson of the 52nd FG now covered with jelly beans

[Mark V]

Have any pics of 44-72035 (currently Jumpin Jaques) in theatre ever materialized?

No - but we would love to find one.

[Ken]

Don't recall if this article was quoted before when Air & Space covered Upupa Epops:

http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-f ... 23/?no-ist

[DH82EH]

When I saw this thread resurrected, I assumed it would be to place Sierra Sue II as the latest contender for the title of most authentic flying Mustang.

Discuss

Andy Scott

[JimH]

ok...it doesn't have the combat history but this one gets my vote, although...Upopa, Sierra Sue and HJGB are probably the best mustangs in existence. I can't think of any others in the pipeline that will touch them.

[mlenoch]

OK, I can't stand it anymore..........HJGB is the best. Also the first with many of the historic recreations that the others have!
Green doors, not with standing......... (ok, now slow breaths........in & out....... ..)
VL