GB-64 1/48 Mustang P-51K – One Trick Pony (1 Viewer)

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With the extra formation lights I would be careful. It looks like that's almost a post-war, field addition but not a factory one. The early images of the kite didn't show these. Also the one from the IMW site dated on the 17 March 1945. So their presence depends on the time frame.

no lights ...



with the lights ...




the pic sources:

North American, P-51K-5NT (Mustang), serial number 44-11622. Flown by Maj. Leonard Kyle ‘Kit’ Carson. — Planes in Profile

This page contains airplane profile artwork (paint scheme) and some information about Carson's “Nooky Booky IV” North American, P-51K-5NT (Mustang), serial number 44-11622.
www.planesinprofile.com

UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES (USAAF) IN BRITAIN, 1942-1945

A crewman, believed to be D.W. Marner, stands by a fuel drop tank on the wing of a 362nd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group P-51 Mustang (G4-C, serial number 44-11622) nicknamed "Nooky Booky IV" on the 17 March 1945.Handwritten caption on reverse: 'D.W. Marner, 17 Mar '45. Nooky Booky IV...
www.iwm.org.uk

Warbird Information Exchange • View topic - New Mustang for Flying Bulls (Nooky Booky IV)

www.warbirdinformationexchange.org
 
If it's the later post war kite that's fine. Anyway the additional formation lights doen't seem to be the standard ones even for the P-51D (K) assembled by the Dallas factory.
 
Vic Balshaw said:
Thanks Wojtek, it is the latter aircraft that I am doing which I believe was painted with this serial number flying in airshows in Europe.

Info from: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_1.html
Click to expand...


Not sure but the one used for the European airshows looks like that ... please notice the lack of the lights, the different victory markings and the Rolls-Royce emblem on the engine cowling ... with no doubt, the different P-51D. No wonder, the orginal one was scrapped in 1946.




the pic source: Nooky Booky IV - Studio Cui Cui - Sails & Rods
 
Lots of confusion now and I'll have to back track a bit as I was not aware of the tour Mustang as seen above. My aim all along has been of this machine which I assume was taken in the closing days of the conflict or around that time.

 
I couldn't find any info on when the pic you posted above, was taken. It is said it was also taken in the early 1945 like the one from the IMW site ( 17 March 1945 ). Juding by these large trees noticed in the background on the right .. I would say that's still the Spring. No leaves there or these were still too small to cover the plants in the noticable way. IMHO it could be the April or May when the threes start getting the ornament here. So it might be the difference of a month when the kite got the lights installed. The another possibility can be the image could be taken in the Autumn of 1945 or the Spring but of the 1946.

Here two shots of her to compare ... the first one is of the IMW signature. The "nose" of the NookyBooky IV can be noticed in the foreground. IMHO the shot was taken on the same day ( time ) the IMW one posted above. So March 1945. If you have a close look at the horizont and the large trees there you may notice these are stiill without the leaves. There are small traces of the water on the ground. Generally the landscape seen in the Europe in March and beginning of the April.



and here the kite with the lights installed. It is a quite sunny day. Please noticed the large trees on the horizont. These are dark with the full green ornament. It is a dark green tone so the leaves are very fresh like in the later Spring here. Also please notice the puddle by the side of the apron. The grass also is richer. IMHO the very late April or just the May.

 
Vic, there is one detail I have noticed. The pics taken in the March and the one you posted with the kite standing on the concrete apron with the building in the background seems to be taken in the Great Britain. So it also would be a clue and seems to confirm the time frame. The all other images with the P-51K standing or taxing on the Marston mats indicate an airfield on the continent ( France/Germany ?). In other words the lights had been added in the GB along with removing of the exhaust shrouds before the squadron was moved to the continental Europe. If it was sent there of course.
 
Good enough for me as I have removed the exhaust shrouds as well and you could be right about location as that building is very much like one of the wartime control towers. The pic with the mechanic was taken 17 March 1945 and as can be seen the formation lights are not fitted, so the addition must have been sometime after this date.


 
Thanks for all the comments and input guys. interesting discussion. So moving along from those little formation lights, were all now assembled and almost at the spray stage.

Starting to look like a flying machine.



Did a little work on the air cooling exit flap, the was a good 2mm thick so had to be thinned down some and naturally, no control strut provided, so i knocked one up.


Something else about this build is the tail fin warning radar that was fitted, again a couple bits of wire and we have one.

 
Thanks for dropping by and the valid input guys. As you can see she looks a bit of a mess, this is the culmination of several early morning sprays before it get to hot and a lot of filing back with wet and dry. Another paint coat will be applied in the morning and with luck will see the end of the filing process.


 
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