P-51B/C gin sight.

[Chops]

I am building the Eduard 1/48 P-51B (or was it C?) In the markings of Major George Preddy, the version I am building is the one prior to adding the Malcom Hood and D Day stripes.
please could anyone tell me the type of gunsight likely to have been fitted? Eduard produce an upgrade set of different U.S gunsights in 1/48 but I'm wondering which to use.

 

[Airframes]

It would be the N3 type. The Eduard set is a future release, but a set of this type is available from Quickboost. See pic below.

 

[Wurger]

Actually it is quite difficult to state .. in the pic of the 42-105451 it can't be noticed.

However in these two below the gunsight looks like the British MK II* one. But the serial of P-51B/C isn't provided.

the pic source: Preddy, George E | Crazy Horse Aviation Photography

 

[MIflyer]

Well, for what its worth, here is the P-51A maintenance manual info. The P-51B pilot's manual looks almost identical.

 

[Airframes]

That certainly looks like the British Mk.II sight in those photos, and appears to be on a custom mount too, as the standard N3 sight protruded up through the instrument cowl, as seen in the manual illustrations.
The RAF Mk.II sight is also available in resin from Quickboost and other manufacturers.

 

[Chops]

Actually it is quite difficult to state .. in the pic of the 42-105451 it can't be noticed.

View attachment 794729

However in these two below the gunsight looks like the British MK II* one. But the serial of P-51B/C isn't provided.

View attachment 794728
View attachment 794730
the pic source: Preddy, George E | Crazy Horse Aviation Photography

I haven't seen the top photo before but the sight (from what I can see of it) looks like the bottom right one of the Eduard sights in picture 1 top left in picture 2. Not sure what this sight is though

 

[Wurger]

Do you mean the one? If you do that's the K-14 gunsight. It was used for the D and late variants of the Mustang. However it happened these were reto-fitted to the the B/C kites too. IMHO it wasn't used for the particular P-51B.

 

[Airframes]

Nope, the Eduard sight mentioned is the K-14 gyro sight, a licence-produced version of the British sight, fitted to the P-51D series late in 1944 onwards.