That elusive P-51D prototype

[dollar65]

Hi all,


Most P-51 fans know about 43-12102, the first P-51 to fly with a bubble canopy, basically a D fuselage with a B wing





but, how about a Mustang with a B fuselage and a D wing...





Beside the modified 43-12102, NAA had subsequently taken two other P-51Bs from production lines, 42-106539 and 42-106540. They were supposedly brought to P-51D standarts, and labelled P-51D-1-NA. To my knowledge, no picture showing those two planes has ever surfaced, beside the two published in Michael O'Leary's book, "Building the P-51 Mustang", one showing the cockpit with the important data plates, identifying the plane as 42-106540, and the other showing the right wing, with the 3 guns and the 5 rockets.


Althought blurry, the picture showing the tail indicates that this is 42-106540 (strangely enough, they have not painted the "2"), and that the fuselage was not modified, unlike the wing.


Laurent

[Cubs2jets]

What happened to the two threads about the P-51D prototype? I know they were acrimonious, but the research information was very good.

C2j

[raconnel]

Those were on the Hyperscale forum.

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/hyperscale/those-elusive-p-51d-prototypes-case-closed-t516761.html 32 pages

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/hyperscale/that-elusive-p-51d-prototype-t514878.html 49 pages!

[Cubs2jets]

Thank you, raconnel!

To others, this is well worth the time to read through these threads.

C2j

[junkman9096]

I followed that thread. "Acrimonious" is a very apt description. OTOH, "informative" also applies. Separate the wheat from the chaff.

[C VEICH]

I too followed the two original threads over on Hyperscale and found them to be quite fascinating. Definitely worth the time for anyone seriously interested in Mustang history.

[Duggy009]

Here's another shot of 102.

[Lon Moer]

Back in the late 1970's John Marlin rebuilt his Mustang as 102.

[Randy Haskin]

Back in the late 1970's John Marlin rebuilt his Mustang as 102.

Or, more correctly, "...painted it like..."

[bdk]

Back in the late 1970's John Marlin rebuilt his Mustang as 102.

Later became Sizzlin' Liz.

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-74458

[dgreenblatt]

Thats so amazing. I have short listed both of those, 43-12102 and 42-106540, for me to make in 1/72nd scale. I love oddball and prototype aircraft, some of the most interesting for me for sure. Going to make the decals for them.