Garage Sale Gold Baby!!!!!

[Swiss Mustangs]

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I won't go into differences on canopies (those D's in the photo have the early -2 California type).....
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Martin

Martin, doesn't the centre of the 3 D's in the pic. have a different canopy to the outer 2 ? more pointed above the pilot ?

ah yes - that's the early -2 California type - the other two appear to have the early -6 California type...

I quote Charles Neely from the now defunct MustangsMustangs board:

1. There are two, possibly three, distinct and identifiable "Dallas" type canopy shapes. These, as far as I know at present ,are also different than the two "official" "California" types.

2. "California" types are identified in original NAA drawings as the -2 type(early) and the -6 type. Profiles and cross sections are also quite different. Early is rather flat sided. Later -6 is full round when viewed from head on.

Basically, the -2 appeared only on the first -NA production block, and was often replaced on England based a/c, usually with a "Texas" type. Current speculation is that these were exchanged for the different cross section, which allowed greater head movent/visisblity. The -6 appeared with the second production batch and subsequent Inglewood built a/c. Again speculation, but photos suggest that there was a period where noticable variations in basic -6 profile was quite common. This also happens to coincide with rapid increase in D production. Late production seems to have stabalized with uniform canopy profiles.

Martin

[Chicoartist]

I quote Charles Neely from the now defunct MustangsMustangs board . . .

There's a new version of the MM.com Forum at: http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/thehangar/

I believe most if not all of the 'old' posts were transferred over.

Wade

[Swiss Mustangs]

cheers Wade

[Chicoartist]

Not to hijack Jack's thread (thx for the photo, BTW, Jack - a gr8 view of the "Bottisham Four"), but Martin, weren't you writing a book concentrating on the combat-vet Mustangs that later saw Swiss service? I've been wanting to see that one out for a while.

Wink - I'd be happy to do the cover art!

Wade

[B-29 Super Fort]

Nice find Jack!

[Jack Cook]

doesn't the centre of the 3 D's in the pic. have a different canopy to the outer 2 ?

?????????????????

Last edited by Jack Cook on Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Originalboxcar]

Looks like Drew had the new model eh?

Nope. Early D were retrofitied with the fin filet also so don't use that to judge the model of the airplane. A number of Bs also had it put on. The Bs looked a little funny, sorta like a P-47 with a malcolm hood canopy.

I stand corrected, this "COULD" be a field modifed ship.

Thanks Jack!

t~

[Jack Cook]

I stand corrected, this "COULD" be a field modifed ship.

Drew's is s/n 44-13926 a very early production 'D' has all 3 D's. It is one of the first field modified 51s and probably preceeded the factory versions to the front. I don't remember the date of the photo but i believe it is in the late July-early Aug 1944 timeframe has Col Christian was KIA on Aug. 12, 1944.

[Shay]

Here's an example of a P-51B with the field modification:

"PUNKIE" P-51B 42-106886, 339th FG, 504th FS Flown by 1st. Lt. Blizzard:

Barrowed from Web-birds.com



Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Flat 12x2]

doesn't the centre of the 3 D's in the pic. have a different canopy to the outer 2 ?

?????????????????

Jack, compare side profiles in your 1st pic. , it wouldn't show up in the 2nd. top of radius of the canopy is above the pilots head in centre a/c, top of radius is above seat armor on the other two.

[Shay]

Looks like Drew had the new model eh?

Nope. Early D were retrofitied with the fin filet also so don't use that to judge the model of the airplane. A number of Bs also had it put on. The Bs looked a little funny, sorta like a P-47 with a malcolm hood canopy.

According to the Serials listed in the photo. Those should all be field modification Dorsal Fins. The Dorsal fin didn't enter the production lines until Block 10 and those "D"s are block 5.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[tom d. friedman]

great find!!!! i've had some good luck at garage sales over the years. my biggest plum was a grouping of photos, an original piece of "gold beaters" skin from the german graf zeppelin dirigible about the size of an open matchbook with provinence & a few autographed post cards, all belonging to clara adams who billed herself as the pioneer passenger, hence she flew on many of the highly publicized 1st flights of the airline routes in the 20's & 30's. she was a minor celebrity. she was the only woman aboard the graf zeppelin on it's maiden flight most notably. i ended up researching her & wrote my 1st nationally published magazine article from my findings. i paid 60 bucks for all the stuff, sold the zeppelin skin for 495.00, a few years later i found a very early ww 1 era sperry turn & bank indicator, case made of brass no less!! paid 2 bucks for it, sold it for 175 bucks!! that's how you make money!!

[Mudge]

Cool pic. I'd say you stole it considering one web site has it for sale for $59.99.

Mudge the researcher

[Jack Cook]

I'd say you stole it considering one web site has it for sale for $59.99.

An original or a copy????

[Mudge]

Not sure. Go to
www.allposters.com
in "search" type in P-51 and it should be on the first page

Mudge the researcher

Ooops...Just read the "fine print". It's a copy.