Jump to content

P-51H Finish


Spad

Recommended Posts

Hello

I'm having trouble deciding from pics how the P-51H was finished. Does anybody know whether they had the same puttied and painted wings, the rest NMF or if they were aluminium lacquered all over? Or even NMF all over?

Thanks in hope

Rick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have linked a video walkaround of the P-51H that was recently restored at the Chanute Aviation Museum, but was moved to the USAF Museum because the facility closed.  As far as I know, it is an accurate restoration as far as interior colors and equipment are concerned. As for the wings, I think that the panels and seams, with the exception of the control surfaces were finished with putty and surfacer to the same degree as the earlier variants, so they would be painted with silver lacquer, except as noted. In b&w and color period photos, it appears that some P/F-51H's were in bare metal or silver lacquer, with some ANG examples painted in a glossy light grey. We have an F-51H at Lackland AB here in San Antonio where I live, painted erroneously as P-51D' Petie 2nd,' and I examined, measured, and photographed it in minute detail many years ago for a New Zealand-based model maker who was planning a short-run injected 1/72 kit at that time. Given that the aircraft in the Lackland collection have been painted numerous times since they were first put on display, and the colors and markings get further and further from the original, I do recall that the P-51H wings were very smooth, with very few inspection panels visible; the entire airframe was painted with glossy aluminum paint. When first displayed, I recall that it was bare metal with painted wings and was in its original ANG markings. I know this probably doesn't help you a lot. Perhaps @Dana Bell might have information on how the H's were finished. Best I can do- sorry!

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnRIiH_DwiM

 

https://www.avgeekery.com/the-ultimate-mustang-north-americans-advanced-lightweight-p-51h/

 

https://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/variants/p51h

 

 

Edited by 72modeler
corrected text
  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The H was designed to improve on performance compared to the D/K.  As such, I would be nearly certain that they would have continued to putty and paint the wings.     Given that any F-51 you see in overall aluminum was painted during overhaul (along with the black cockpit), I also think it's likely that H's came off the assembly line in NMF (except for the wings).   Whatever happened to them afterwards is anyone's guess.   Look at pics of H models.   If you can make out the slightly darker stainless steel panel behind the exhausts, the aircraft is NMF.   When they painted them aluminum, they overpainted that panel as well.   It's about the only way you can tell them apart from B&W pictures. 

  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's the best period photo of a P-51H I could find that clearly shows the wings were puttied and painted like the P-51D; you can see the bare metal control surfaces as well as the fuselage, which was not painted. The stainless steel exhaust shroud used on the P-51H as well as on the P-82A/B/C/D is also clearly seen. Hope this helps!

Mike

 

http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/images/P/-/P-51_Mustang__full.jpg

  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@11bravo and @72modeler

Brilliant! Thanks guys, some great leads and tips there! 

That's it settled then for my Modelsvit  kit - NMF with puttied/painted wings!

 

I love being a part of the BM Massif! Huge amount of knowledge on here.

 

ATB and thanks again!

Rick

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Spad,

 

I found some more good P-51H photos that I thought might be useful to you and others. Note the smoothed wings and aluminum paint- you can also see the bare metal flaps, ailerons, and wheel fairing doors.

Mike

 

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/p-51/p-51h-44-64164-5/

 

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/p-51/p-51h-44-64164-inglewood/

 

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/p-51/p-51h-44-64164/

 

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/p-51/p-51h-44-64164-3/

 

Now, this one, that I have never seen before, is very interesting! If you compare the control surfaces to the rest of the wing, it sure appears that the wing is not painted, as the tones on the wing look the same as those on the bare metal control surfaces; you can also see more panel lines and inspection covers than I think you would see on a filed/painted wing. Thoughts?

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/p-51/f-51h-10-na-44-64593-118th-tfs-ctang/

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If I'm not mistaken, the putty & paint-over process was let go post-war for non combat zone units when it became apparent that the perceived benefits weren't all that great after all when considering the effort it took maintaining it.
 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 hours ago, 72modeler said:

Now, this one, that I have never seen before, is very interesting! If you compare the control surfaces to the rest of the wing, it sure appears that the wing is not painted, as the tones on the wing look the same as those on the bare metal control surfaces; you can also see more panel lines and inspection covers than I think you would see on a filed/painted wing. Thoughts?

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/p-51/f-51h-10-na-44-64593-118th-tfs-ctang/

or the other way 'round, crewchief decided to paint the controlsurfaces as well?

Edited by Bozothenutter
typo
  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...