**** DONE: GB-64 1/48 P-51D ( I ) - One Trick Pony

I think that may be the parachute pack, albeit lower than I would expect. Note what looks like the pocket for the "D" ring ripcord handle (arrowed), although I can't see the handle itself, or the flexible tube housing the ripcord cable, which ran back over the shoulder, which may be hidden by the oxygen mask.
As it seems that the kit part has the cushion moulded onto the seat, I wouldn't worry about it, and just leave "as is", as it is possible a seat cushion was fitted in this instance, and maybe a change to a seat-type parachute pack, as used with the P-47.

There's a build thread over at Britmodeller with excellent reference pics and discussions.


Somewhere in there is a lengthy discussion about the back cushion. IiRC the conclusion was that there often was a cushion - not a parachute, not a flotation device, but a simple padded cushion.

Thanks Andy. I got the above photo from there. That guy is way outta my league but I can get some good ideas from there

Many thanks Andy, it's a gem of a site.

Nice choice and nice start Geo, camo scheme very interesting and not common

I've had a look at the Britmodeller article and, whilst there is a lot of very good information, there are also a few misinterpretations.
One that I quickly noticed, though not relevant to this discussion, was the incorrect identification of the seat harness colour, where a shoulder strap is seen hanging over the cockpit sill. The strap in question is from the parachute harness, and not the seat harness, confirmed by the "buckle", which has the hole for the harness locking lug, whereas the seat harness ( a different colour) utilised the "lever lock" system.
Also, there is some misinterpretation of what is, and what is not, some form of cladding, or cushion, on the seat back, where some of the photos definitely show the seat without any form of cladding or padding. (note that some photos shown are not WW2).
However, in some of the photos, there is evidence of some form of cover and, in some instances, what appears to be a thinly padded cushion, not the bulkier flotation device type.
I've had a closer look at the photo Geo posted and, in my opinion, I think that the seat back has a canvas, or similar material, cover over it, close-fitting, and following the contours of the seat (note how it "curves" around the top), rather like those elasticated car seat covers from years ago.
Examples are clearly seen in some of the wartime photos in the article.
I can only think that this may have been fitted, to some aircraft at least, to prevent possible wear to the parachute pack, and / or the pack closure flap.
Although this would be similar to the covers seen in some of the Britmodeller photos, I may be wrong, and it might indeed be a thin cushion, as also seen in some of the photos (along with seats lacking cover or cushion).

I think that Geo's representation is acceptable enough, and is more accurate than portraying the thicker, yellow flotation device cushion, which I'm fairly sure would necessitate the use of a seat-type parachute pack and, as far as I'm aware, was not used in the ETO.

Jut an interesting snippet concerning an ETO P-51 ace (ashamed to admit I've forgotten his name !) who got hit over Europe and his Mustang exploded. He found himself in mid air, pulled the rip cord at relatively low level, and landed in the shallow water of a pond, in a sitting position.
When he tried to stand up, he discovered he was still strapped to his seat !
He was equipped with a back-pack parachute, and the pilot 'chute had managed to deploy, between his body and the seat back, successfully deploying the parachute canopy. If he'd been using a seat-type parachute pack, this would have been impossible, and he would not have survived.

Nicely done so far George!

Innards spritzed with Tamiya XF-69 Nato Black. The I.P. was undercoated with white. The reason being is I've found photos and people saying the stripe around the flying instruments was always white, never yellow and found and equal amount saying always yellow, never white. If it was yellow, the white is a base coat for the yellow The few war time photos I've seen are in black and white and its just someones guess what the actual colour was so I need documentation

Interesting input there Geo. Yellow or white that is the question.

Yep, no matter which one I chose, it will be wrong

Interesting. Could it just be white and look tarnished with grime such as dust grease, oil stain thus possibly looking yellow. Yes I know it's in the cockpit but even this part of the machine got grimy. Just a thought.

Blurple.

fubar57 said:

Yep, no matter which one I chose, it will be wrong

Click to expand...

True but you'll never know, Schrödinger's cat!

I would say these two shots say the yellow ..




However these two may suggest the white ... IMHO these are the post-war kites ...



the pic source: the net.

White it is

Just bring your box with the cat in it. Your all good.

It's possible that both white and yellow were used, perhaps depending on which plant built the aircraft.
The RAF Museum's Hawker Typhoon had been sent to the USA during WW2, for evaluation and testing and, during this time, a similar stripe outline was applied around the Blind Flying Panel, in yellow, and still exists to this day.
I reckon either colour would suffice, and white would be easier to apply, especially if using the "scratch off" method.

Close enough

looks good to me and once it's nestled down it will fully look like deal.