RidgeRunner Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 Hi all, I’m in the closing stages of my Mustang build and had a potential change of thought last night regarding ordnance. My plan had been to install the WW2-style underwing tanks but I now realise that most, if not all, photos show these machines (Indonesian) with bombs and not tanks. My question is: what are these bombs and are they of the type used in the 1950s? To my untrained eye they look like they could be Japanese WW2 era. Any ideas, please? Thanks a lot. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 Not sure how much info you have, but that's an Indonesian P-51D in the Museum in Jakarta. The Mustangs were ex-Dutch RNLAF and saw Post WW2 service in Indonesia. Best of luck with your quest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted August 12, 2021 Author Share Posted August 12, 2021 Yes mate, and I’ve been there. True, they were ex-Dutch, but I imagine they aren’t Dutch bombs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 I'm not sure how easy it would be to get weapons that fit the standard Mustang Fuel Tank/ Bomb carrier- I'll have a thumb through my Mustang references and see if I can spot any more of those bombs. Rear fuse on those babies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan B Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 The tail units are very similar to Russian bombs and the Indonesians were being equipped with Russian stuff during the timeframe of their Mustang operations. Duncan B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted August 12, 2021 Author Share Posted August 12, 2021 52 minutes ago, Duncan B said: The tail units are very similar to Russian bombs and the Indonesians were being equipped with Russian stuff during the timeframe of their Mustang operations. Duncan B True but I can’t see anything Russian that matches 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob de Bie Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 My first impression is that it has the lines of an American M38 100 lbs practice bomb. But it might be smaller than what your photo shows. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted August 12, 2021 Author Share Posted August 12, 2021 A good thought, Rob. The rail fins are different but you are on the right track. Maybe the preserved machines have been set up with practice rounds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob de Bie Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 I would make a rough mock-up (ie a tube) of the M38 to see whether it's the right size. Manual TM 9-1980 'BOMBS FOR AIRCRAFT' (downloadable from the net) has information on pages 231 and 233. The text says "47.5 inches long and 8.12 inches in diameter." Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted August 12, 2021 Author Share Posted August 12, 2021 2 hours ago, Rob de Bie said: I would make a rough mock-up (ie a tube) of the M38 to see whether it's the right size. Manual TM 9-1980 'BOMBS FOR AIRCRAFT' (downloadable from the net) has information on pages 231 and 233. The text says "47.5 inches long and 8.12 inches in diameter." Rob The thing is, if these preserved machines have simply been fitted with practice rounds from storage, I need to know what bombs they would have used operationally in the mid to late 1950s. I am guessing they wouldn’t have been US models given that the US (CIA) was trying to overthrow them! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 12 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: The thing is, if these preserved machines have simply been fitted with practice rounds from storage, I need to know what bombs they would have used operationally in the mid to late 1950s. I am guessing they wouldn’t have been US models given that the US (CIA) was trying to overthrow them! Martin Quite the opposite. The US bomb carriers are configured to carry weapons that feature the US bomb twin lug system. A Russian Bomb would simply not fit as the lugs were not compatible. Selwyn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1954 Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 12 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: The thing is, if these preserved machines have simply been fitted with practice rounds from storage, I need to know what bombs they would have used operationally in the mid to late 1950s. I am guessing they wouldn’t have been US models given that the US (CIA) was trying to overthrow them! Martin IMHO, museum based ordnance like that could be very suspect, but who knows. What airforce/era are you modelling the Mustang to be Martin? Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted August 13, 2021 Author Share Posted August 13, 2021 Indonesian, Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted August 13, 2021 Author Share Posted August 13, 2021 1 hour ago, Selwyn said: Quite the opposite. The US bomb carriers are configured to carry weapons that feature the US bomb twin lug system. A Russian Bomb would simply not fit as the lugs were not compatible. Selwyn So would I be safe in installing the kit bombs? The build is a late-1950s F-51K of the AURI. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted August 13, 2021 Author Share Posted August 13, 2021 8 minutes ago, RidgeRunner said: So would I be safe in installing the kit bombs? The build is a late-1950s F-51K of the AURI. Thanks. Further @Selwyn, I cant actually find any photos of these machines in service with anything hanging off the underwing pylon, no tanks or bombs! I might just leave them un-used. Thanks again for your help. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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