1/72 decals for RAF cannon-armed Mustangs?

[Procopius]

Are there any aftermarket decals for RAF Allison-engined Mustangs armed with cannon? Also, are those Mustang Ias, or is there a different designation for them?

[ben_m]

Are there any aftermarket decals for RAF Allison-engined Mustangs armed with cannon? Also, are those Mustang Ias, or is there a different designation for them?

Yes, they were called Mk.Ia in the RAF.

I think at least one of the squadrons using them only used individual aircraft letters, so generic roundel and sky lettering sheets would be how I would do it (they tend to have accurate colours, in my experience).

I built one with Operation Starkey bands (only needed decals for the fuselage roundels and letters!):

Mustang- Build blog

Mustang- Ready for Inspection

A good thread for RAF Allison Mustangs is:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=44133

This is also a good introduction, if the above thread is a bit overwhelming!

[ColFord]

The Allison engined North American Mustang armed with the 4 x 20mm Hispano cannon was the Mustang Mk.IA in RAF service. By the time the RAF Squadrons who operated them started to received them from July 1943 they were only identified by the individual aircraft id letter, Squadron codes had been dropped in late 1942. So what you had was an individual aircraft id letter ahead of the fuselage roundel.

Aeromaster and the Aviation Workshop put out decals that covered early Allison Mustangs, but their choice of Mustang Mk.IA subjects was the rather well covered FD472 'M' with the post D-Day reduced distinctive markings on the under surfaces only from July-August 1944, incorrectly identified as being with No.168 Squadron - actually with No.268 Squadron from late January 1944.

There are a couple of other threads here on BritModeller regarding subject aircraft for subject aircraft for the Mustang Mk.IA, and the four volume set of 2TAF by Shores & Thomas contains plenty of inspiration.

For decals, best bet is firstly find your subject aircraft, then use XtraDecals or Almark or Aeromaster 24" Sky id letters for the aircraft id letter, use similar for the 8" Night aircraft serial number, then whatever source and sized appropriate roundels, fin flashes, etc.

Range of potential variants on the basic c&m scheme as the aircraft c&m evolved from when first received until after VE-Day. A range of small and not so small variations that can actually nail down the timeframe when the aircraft is depicted.

Below a range of some from No.268 Squadron RAF, using the AM 1/48th scale Mustang Mk.IA:

Regards,

[Seahawk]

Colin,

Could you give us the serial numbers for some of those aircraft please? I've been looking for photographic evidence of a Mustang Ia without invasion stripes for some time - because I'm rubbish at painting them. Can make out that "H" is FD507. The last picture of an "X" looks interesting: post 3/1/45 upper surface roundels but nary a trace of invasion stripes, even under the fuselage.

[ColFord]

Seahawk,

Top one is FD507 'H' August 1943, not long after entering operational service. The anomaly here is that it has the full span yellow wing leading edge id strip - someone mis-read the directive. Also a very old photo, that model has been updated since with just the smooth barrels for the cannon without the external recoil springs. FD507 also had a long history with No.268 Squadron, being one of the original batch they received in July 1943. Except for a short period when it served with No.63 Squadron during late October 1943 to early January 1944 (whilst 268 went 'on rest' to Scotland), it remained with No.268 Squadron until eventually written off just after 24 June 1944 with battle damage.

'X' in both is same aircraft at different times in its long operational life. FD535 'X' originally with No.170 Squadron from September 1943 until January 1944 when it was passed to No.268 Squadron where it is recorded as flying some 179 operational sorties until being retired just before VE-Day. The top photo of 'X' again is an old one, model since modified with the smooth cannon barrels. FD535 was interesting in that it was one of the Mk.IAs modified to also have the vertical camera installation in the rear fuselage located just behind the radiator outlet and ahead of the tail wheel bay. It had been in to a MU for major servicing in mid to late December 1944, so came back looking nice and fresh when the photos were taken in early 1945 upon which the bottom model is based.

Regards,

Edited July 24, 2012 by ColFord

[Procopius]

Thanks, Colin! That greatly simplifies things. Was the serial number on V visible? I quite like the look of her.

[ColFord]

N.A. Mustang Mk.IA FD544 'V' No.268 Squadron, RAF Gatwick around 10 to 15 June 1944. Is recorded serving with No.268 Squadron from January 1944 until mid November 1944 when SOC after damage received in a heavy landing.

Another photo of the model of this aircraft.

Regards,

[Seahawk]

Many thanks for your time and help, Colin.