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It is a pleasure to show you my latest build, a mojo mender in that it was an (edit: intended) out-of-the-box build (pretty much) with just a little chopping around. (Edit: I got carried away!) I had been holding off in anticipation of an Arma Hobby D/K-model release but my impatience got the better of me. I have two more to do too! As you can see, the build depicts North American F-51D-15-NA Mustang ‘15655’ as she was in the Summer of 1955. Together with at least two others she was operated by/for the oppressive regime of “Papa Doc” Duvalier in Haiti and flew from Bowen Field. Some sources say that they had six aircraft. Originally, as serial ’44-15655’ c/n 109-35958, she was stored ex-factory with the plan for her to be going to the Royal New Zealand Air Force. However, that never happened and she went directly in to storage and stayed there until acquired by Trottner Iron & Metal Co, San Antonio, TX, in 1949. She then passed to Dal-Air, Tx. At that time she was registered within the US civil system as N1783B. From there she, and her companions, were sold to Haiti and were delivered on the 10th July 1951. The only photos I have managed to find of her show her being taxied in (Miami?), Florida in August 1955 during a period of maintenance. The main one is below: Credit: via Dan Hagerdorn and also available at http://aviadejavu.ru/Site/Arts/Art7537.htm She, and the rest of the Mustang fleet if there was a total of six, continued in service in Haiti for a number of years until being sold to the Dominican Republic as spare ships in support of their large fleet. They were replaced by North American T-28/Fennecs. At least two – ‘916’ and ‘826’ - eventually found their way to the Aero Sport Storage Yard in Chino, Ca. It is claimed that they are still flying, either in whole or as parts! I am indebted to Dan Hagerdorn for his additional insight into this machine, Giorgio @Giorgio N for his thoughts on the natural metal finish and other details, plus Mika at Arctic Decals for his thoughts and skills with the decal designs. As I said above, I used the Tamiya kit. It is, in my view, the best representation/mould/detail combination that is available. However, it has its faults, such as the strengthening plates that are moulded into the wings. Even so, these can be overcome easily. I opted not to get side tracked by producing a WIP for this and so I list below the changes – all relatively small - that I made in the hope that it help others. 1. Replaced the exhausts with resin items that are more detailed 2. Added gunsight glazing with thin scrap clear plastic 3. Removed the panels on the fin, and below the fin, that were related to the APS-13 which was removed from these machines 4. Sanded the strengthening plates above and below the wings and filled the wing panel lines, leaving just the gun access hatches. 5. Cut out the flaps and replaced with Airfix parts in order to get dropped flaps 6. Added side bars to the pilot’s seat 7. Scribed the engine cover hinge line atop the nose 8. Added the wire antenna 9. Cut the locating lugs inside the main leg doors so that the doors sit correctly 10. Thinned and drilled the “arch” that forms the strengthener for the canopy 11. Added the side rails for the canopy using thin card 12. Used PE seatbelts 13. Added the actuator for the radiator vent with 0.3mm rod 14. Added the flap indication decal on the port flap using white and black decal strip What did I use?: 1. Kit – Tamiya North American F-51D Mustang (54) 1/72 2. Aftermarket – none apart from the Airfix flaps, resin exhausts, AML PE seat belts (AMLE 80 003) and EZ wire antenna 3. Decals – kit technical markings plus a set of Haiti decals drawn and printed by Mika at Arctic Decals. Of note are the early roundels. 4. Paint – All enamels. Overall Humbrol Polished Aluminium (H27002), with the forward fuselage H27002+H34 White mix. The exhaust surround is H27002 and Humbrol Steel (27003) mix. The “puttied” areas of the wings (upper and lower) are H27002+H140 Grey mix to simulate Silver. The rudder is the same. The wing, elevator and fin tips are Colourcoats Insignia Red. The cockpit is Colourcoats Interior Green while the u/c bays etc are Colourcoats Zinc Chromate Yellow. Other than these it was a mix of Humbrols and Colourcoats. Remember to buff your Metalcotes!!!!! She is varnished with Vallejo Gloss and Satin Acrylic varnishes - my venture in to the workd of acrylics! 5. Weathering – no panel washes for me anymore, just a little Flory dirt and sand here and there to accentuate hatches etc and other moving parts. Tamiya Weathering powders and a Prismacolor silver pencil. I hope you like her, Martin

Hi, In 1942 Haiti started organizing their airforces from Garde d'Haiti. The first equipment was a group of biplane Douglas O-38E received from US, which immediately started antisubmarine sorties over Caribbean Sea and this region of Atlantic Ocean. I've learnt about it some years ago reading something about Battle for Atlantic in Net. There was a page about Latin American share in battle for Atlantic - now I cannot find it again. Nevertheless - I have found another page with photo and colour profile and even with scratchbuild model. More can be read here, especially in post by Juchan which I appreciate very much. He clarified my doubts: When I realised that Ardpol is producing Douglas O-38E - the late variant of O-38 with completly re-worked aerodynamics (completly new fuselage for instance) I desperatly needed it. The Ardpol is a small family business located in my home city Krakow (like also Choroszy Modelbud) - so I bought the kit about year ago and soon start work on it. But then I have some months break... This is resin kit, very delicate and detailed. In box you will find only pre war US decals. In presented here model there are home made early-style Haitian national insignia (Czech markings were the base for them). Depth charges Mk XVII by Attack Squadron. I added aerials, Pitot tube and landing lamps. The photo exists for no 4001, but the 3012 was one of existing Haitanian O-38 E and such number I was able to find in my drawer (decal set - Techmod "US Numbers yellow")... Here is the result: As always - I made propeller rotable : And family photo - two Ardpol Douglases O 38 (B and E): Coments welcome Regards Jerzy Wojtek