I have been working on a Tamiya 1/48 F-51D and Tamiya has the cockpit as a chromate green color with some black boxes on the side walls. I have heard it was repainted black OR left chromate green depending on if it went through IRAN or not. So can I leave it as chromate green? I think so but have no photographic proof.
F-51D Korean War interior
- Thread starter vandee
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MIflyer
Captain
The USAF F-51D's that were already in the theater probably were equipped with SCR-522 VHF radio, but there were not very many of them. No USAF units were flying F-51D's at the start of the Korean War but there were some scattered around Asia, used as hacks and target tugs. They hastily scrounged up all they could and went to war with them. That cockpit seems to be for the SCR-522 version. By the way, the SCR-522 was painted black, not OD or green.
F-51D's in the states were quickly gathered up and put on a jeep carrier for transport to Korea. They mostly had been equipped with Aeroproducts props and ARC-3 VHF radios. The ARC-3 was the next step past the SCR-522 and while similar in technology and performance looked quite different, consisting of two boxes, each of which were notably smaller than the SCR-522 and a dynamotor power supply that was smaller than that of the 522 and lacked the outer case. The ARC-3's can be seen through the rear part of the bubble canopy and seem to always have been painted black, while ARC-3's in other installations always seem to have been left in bare aluminum.
So, if you are depicting an early Korean War Mustang the SCR-522 installation would be correct and the radio would be black, with the rest of the cockpit probably green. If you are depicting a later F-51D, which was the vast majority of those that fought there, you would have a different radio installation, painted black. Maybe they painted the ARC-3 black because the rest of the cockpit was painted black.
One day I plan to build the old classic Monogram 1/32 F-51D as a Korean War aircraft and I'll replace the undefinable radios provided with that kit with some scratchbuilt ARC-3, although I have not been able to tell if the transmitter or the receiver was mounted up top.
F-51D's in the states were quickly gathered up and put on a jeep carrier for transport to Korea. They mostly had been equipped with Aeroproducts props and ARC-3 VHF radios. The ARC-3 was the next step past the SCR-522 and while similar in technology and performance looked quite different, consisting of two boxes, each of which were notably smaller than the SCR-522 and a dynamotor power supply that was smaller than that of the 522 and lacked the outer case. The ARC-3's can be seen through the rear part of the bubble canopy and seem to always have been painted black, while ARC-3's in other installations always seem to have been left in bare aluminum.
So, if you are depicting an early Korean War Mustang the SCR-522 installation would be correct and the radio would be black, with the rest of the cockpit probably green. If you are depicting a later F-51D, which was the vast majority of those that fought there, you would have a different radio installation, painted black. Maybe they painted the ARC-3 black because the rest of the cockpit was painted black.
One day I plan to build the old classic Monogram 1/32 F-51D as a Korean War aircraft and I'll replace the undefinable radios provided with that kit with some scratchbuilt ARC-3, although I have not been able to tell if the transmitter or the receiver was mounted up top.
- Thread starter
- #3
As to the F-51D from the Korean War is concerned, I think that the IFF should be also mentioned. They were fitted either with the SCR-695A or AN/APX-6.
Navigation equipment consisted of a BC-453B range receiver which covered 0.19-0.55 MHz.
Some F-51Ds were also fitted with the AN/ARA-8 VHF homing equipment. In such circumstances, they had two vertical rod antennas aft the cockpit canopy.
Navigation equipment consisted of a BC-453B range receiver which covered 0.19-0.55 MHz.
Some F-51Ds were also fitted with the AN/ARA-8 VHF homing equipment. In such circumstances, they had two vertical rod antennas aft the cockpit canopy.
Color photos Korea. Search words RF-51D or Mustang Mk. IVA.
MIflyer
Captain
When the SCR-522 was replaced with the ARC-3, the Detrola BC-1206 LF set was replaced with the BC-453, a component of the SCR-274-N. I have seen photos of F-151's with the BC-453 mounted high atop the upper ARC-3 set, very visible under the canopy. But I have seen no pictures of F-51's in Korea with the BC-453 so mounted. In the USA the BC-453 was used to receive control tower communications and to utilize A-N "Adcock" ranges, but it is unlikely that any control towers in Asia had the LF transmitters or that there were A-N ranges available.
The photo below from the above link shows an RF-51D in Korea. You can clearly see the ARC-3 set sitting behind the pilot's seat but I still can't tell if it is transmitter or receiver mounted up top with the other set beneath it.
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MIflyer
Captain
Okay just checked in the garage and the bedroom and the one on top is the R-77/ARC-3 receiver.
fubar57
General
Some cockpit info here..... F-51 Cockpit colour Korean War
Interesting manual found somewhere on the net on installing the BC-453-B with BC-473-B control unit on the F-51Ds equipped with the SCR-522. I assume that the A-N range beacon network in South East Asia existed from ca. 1945, and that it was used mostly for ferrying purposes.
MIflyer
Captain
I don't think they had AN ranges in SE Asia. In the USA the LF band, 200 -400 KHZ was also used to receive control tower communications for aircraft that did not have anything but a range receiver. So I think the BC-1206 was only used in the USA. It was standard practice to equip USAAF aircraft with the capability to receive that band, even if they had ADF of DF equipment that enabled them to make little use of the AN ranges, so they could receive control tower communications. While there is a lot of artwork that depicts P-51's in the ETO with the long wire antenna associated with the LF band, it does not appear they were actually equipped in that manner.
There is a map showing confirmed locations of LF beacons. Obviously the US and Europe are densely covered. However, the remaining territories clearly show the paths of ferrying routes from WW II. The BC-1206 were an obvious choice for such flights.
By the way, have you spotted any images of the P-51D fitted with the MF/HF SCR-274 in lieu of the SCR-522?
Flying the Beams
Low Frequency Radio Range, Four Course Radio Range, 4 Course Radio Range Adcock Range, LFR, Aviation History, Radio Navigation, System Map
flyingthebeams.com
By the way, have you spotted any images of the P-51D fitted with the MF/HF SCR-274 in lieu of the SCR-522?
MIflyer
Captain
Nice pictures. Thanks for posting them.
I think that the A-36s were originally fitted with the SCR-274, as well, in addition to the P-51As to Cs. Interestingly, a DF loop can be seen on the third photo that you posted. It looks quite unusual on the Mustang.
I wonder what was the percentage of the P-51Ds that were flying with the SCR-274. I thought that the comms between pilots rather migrated towards VHF at the end of WW II, so probably these radios were eventually removed before 1945 unless they retained the SCR-274-N sets and additionally received the SCR-522 VHF.
I think that the A-36s were originally fitted with the SCR-274, as well, in addition to the P-51As to Cs. Interestingly, a DF loop can be seen on the third photo that you posted. It looks quite unusual on the Mustang.
I wonder what was the percentage of the P-51Ds that were flying with the SCR-274. I thought that the comms between pilots rather migrated towards VHF at the end of WW II, so probably these radios were eventually removed before 1945 unless they retained the SCR-274-N sets and additionally received the SCR-522 VHF.
ThomasP
Chief Master Sergeant
It may be that the SCR-274 sets were used for air-to-ground communications with the FACs (or whatever the the combat troop's ground controllers were called at the time). IIRC that was the case in the CBI and PTO at the end of WWII - when in some cases the SCR-522 were swapped out for SCR-274, and sometimes (oftentimes?) both sets were carried.
In Korea the P-51s were used almost exclusively for ground attack, so this seems to me that it would make sense.
Yes/No?
In Korea the P-51s were used almost exclusively for ground attack, so this seems to me that it would make sense.
Yes/No?
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MIflyer
Captain
Yes, in fact the P-51A's sent to Burma were equipped with SCR-274-N and that proved to be a major advantage. The RAF had their aircraft equipped with SCR-522, as they were in the ETO, and that meant their pilots were briefed on what targets to hit for CAS. The ground troops had no easily portable VHF sets. But the ground troops did have HF sets and the P-51A's could talk directly to the troops they were supporting, in real time. There is even a USAAF policy letter saying that P-51A's sent to the CBI should have an extra SCR-274-N transmitter supplied but not installed, with additional frequencies.
The picture where the DF loop can be seen very probably is a Merlin Mustang bound for the CBI. Unlike the standard SCR-274-N installation of two transmitters and three receivers (note the three receivers being installed in a P-51A by the nattily attired NAA gentleman) they installed one transmitter and one receiver so to leave room for a DF set like the MN-26Y.
I doubt any P-51D/K had SCR-274-N. The drawings below are from the P-51A manual.
Attached is a little piece I wrote on the BC-1206.
