P-51 in Iowa-Replica or Real?

gale_dono · **Joined:** Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:32 pm **Posts:** 328

Came across a photo of this, displayed at the Sullivan Brothers museum in Waterloo, IA:

http://www.vgbimages.com/AFV-Photos/The ... /i-7Z9dXZ6

Thing is, I can't tell from these images if this is an authentic airframe or a replica. Anyone have any more info on this?

airnutz · **Posted:** Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:08 am

A MARC replica.

JohnB · **Posted:** Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:26 am

A good use for a replica, the museum can't afford a real one and 95% of the visitors can't tell the difference or really, don't care. besides it can be painted in the colors of a local pilot.
But looking at the photo, no where do they say it's a replica.

Also, I'd take away the Skil saw from the curator. Cutting off the Huey tail boom, the right side back of the tank and the sectioning of the F-86 display (I hope it's fake) for photo goes a bit to far.

I saw the museum twice while passing through town in 2011, but I was towing my antique car and didn't need the issues of driving downtown and finding a parking spot. It's nice the town remembers the Sullivan brothers and their sacrifice. I would have expected a larger model of the Juneau on display..and hopefully a model of the USS Sullivans.

The map of the U.S. in the Civil War made me laugh...I would think that every school kid learns the "Blue vs. Gray" in school history classes...perhaps not any more.

Clifford Bossie · **Posted:** Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:24 pm

JohnB wrote:

Also, I'd take away the Skil saw from the curator. Cutting off the Huey tail boom, the right side back of the tank and the sectioning of the F-86 display (I hope it's fake) for photo goes a bit to far.

The F-86 has a "fake" appearance to me. It just doesn't look "right". The M4 Sherman looks fake to me as well. Again there are several things about its appearance that bespeak mock-up.

p51 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:45 pm

Yeah, I think that Sherman is plastic as well. If it is, I'd really like to know where they got that!

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Mon Nov 24, 2014 6:13 pm

I think the video display screen impeded in the front of the tank is a give-a-way that it's fake.

Snake45 · **Joined:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 5:49 pm **Posts:** 864

The caption on the photo says replica, and I believe it.

Triplane102 · **Joined:** Wed Oct 15, 2014 12:55 pm **Posts:** 491

My eyes might be getting tired, but IMO, I think the 'Stang & tank look Better than that certain tri-color 4 blade Corsair & the green kinda P-40, apologies in advance! Yeah, p 51, where DID they get it from? Hmmm...

Pogo · **Posted:** Mon Nov 24, 2014 7:13 pm

airnutz wrote:

A MARC replica.

What's a 'MARC replica'...?

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Mon Nov 24, 2014 8:35 pm

MARC= Military Aircraft Restoration Corp.
Dave Tallichet's Chino based operation (MARC) had a number of fibreglass replica's made a number of years ago. I seem to remember that the plan was to trade them to the USAF (and others) in return for real airframes still on poles, pretty much like Tim Routsis did in the UK with the Spitfires.

T J

Triplane102 · **Joined:** Wed Oct 15, 2014 12:55 pm **Posts:** 491

Yup TJ, like the P-38 & B-24 in Lackland AFB in SA Tx? I thought I read/heard that the P-38 is really mostly Metal?

hang the expense · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2014 1:10 am

T J Johansen wrote:

MARC= Military Aircraft Restoration Corp.
Dave Tallichet's Chino based operation (MARC) had a number of fibreglass replica's made a number of years ago. I seem to remember that the plan was to trade them to the USAF (and others) in return for real airframes still on poles, pretty much like Tim Routsis did in the UK with the Spitfires.

T J

Back in 91 this was going on. Dave did trade a few of the fiberglass birds for a tailhook P-51 that had been on display which made the whole operation worthwhile.The man was quite the deal maker and would have multiple deals going on all at once.He was successful most of the time and had something like 130 aircraft at one time from an L-4 to a B-29.What a guy.

Pogo · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2014 10:05 am

Thanks for the info, y'all. I must be the dumbest guy in warbirds ... now what's a "tailhook P-51"...?

Vagabond · **Posted:** Sat Nov 29, 2014 10:55 am

Hi All,

If you zoom in on this photo from our gallery, you'll see the details on the P-51 Replica in the museum foyer.

It's a fiberglass replica from MARC and is marked as Robert Abernathy's P-51 'Lady Gwen' - 353rd FG, 8th AF. Abernathy was from Mason City, IA.

Yes, the M4A3(105) Sherman is also a fiberglass replica - hollowed out so you and the kids can climb inside and stick your heads out of the hatches.

flightsimer · **Posted:** Sun Nov 30, 2014 9:53 pm

hang the expense wrote:

Back in 91 this was going on. Dave did trade a few of the fiberglass birds for a tailhook P-51 that had been on display which made the whole operation worthwhile.The man was quite the deal maker and would have multiple deals going on all at once.He was successful most of the time and had something like 130 aircraft at one time from an L-4 to a B-29.What a guy.

While I do credit him with saving a lot of aircraft, the countless museums and individuals he screwed over in the past would disagree with you.

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P-51 in Iowa-Replica or Real?

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