Twin Mustang

I've read over the years conflicting information concerning the P-82 airframe .
Some say it was two P-51airframes , while others have stated that it was a completely new airframe(s) .
Curious to know the actual history on this airplane .
Thank you .

It was a completely new design, much like the P-51H was.

Back around 1986 I decided to build a 1/48 scale model of a P-82 using two Monogram P-51D kits and a FSM article on converting a D to an H.

I found you could not do it. The P-82 fuselage was stretched a great deal as compared to the P-51H, so much so that simply inserting a plug into the aft fuselage would not work. You would need to sculpt two wholly new rear fuselages. Of course the MLG was in a completely different spot, too.

The people in Douglas, GA, who restored the XP-82 said it had only one part in common with the P-51H. It had rather more in common with the XP-51F.

By the way, while the Allison V-1710 could be converted from L to R rotation with only one part changed in the gearcase, the V-1650 Merlin had to be made in L and R versions. They were lucky enough to find one of the very few left turning Merlins for the XP-82 restoration.

Both the P-51H and P-82 designs have their roots in the XP-51F project.

you tube has a video by the crew who have restored the XP-82. Their answer to that question is "There is only five parts common to the P-51D".

I'm not totally sure how many parts it had in common with the P-51H. Supposedly the canopy was similar, but there were some differences overall.