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Commonwealth Mustang IV help


PhantomBigStu

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Wrecked the canopy on my HB build and had to fit the slightly wider canopy from the Airfix and hence think I will have be easier to repaint in camo once I've blended the canopy in than to try and do it so it will look fine with NMF. So my question is, I know some commonwealth mustangs had louvres, some didn't and likewise with the cuffed HS prop vs uncuffed aeroproducts but are there any that don't have louvres and have the HS prop? If they don't its not massive deal as I can hold get the aeroproducts prop but as I've already spent money on decals for this build (and a spare airfix that will get those decals now) would rather not get my wallet out any further.  Cheers for any help.

 

Edited by PhantomBigStu
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  • PhantomBigStu changed the title to Commonwealth Mustang IV help

I do not know what P-51D block numbers had louvres or for that matter where the louvres were or what they did.  According to the USAAF the K model was the D model with the only change being Aeroproducts A-542A1 propeller, in block number terms
P-51K-1 = P-51D-5
P-51K-5 = P-51D-10
P-51K-10 = P-51D-15
P-51K-15 = P-51D-20

 

The following is ignoring the various test machines, pattern aircraft etc. Mustang production for export came from Dallas which meant as the factory shifted from D to K and then back to D so did the export models.

 

If I have done this correctly RAF KH641 to 670 P-51D-5, KH671 to 750 P-51K-1, KH751 to 870 P-51K-5, KM100 to KM311 P-51K-10, KM312 to KM492 P-51K-15, KM493 to KM695 P-51D-20, KM696 to KM743 P-51D-25.

 

Likewise Australia received P-51K-10, K-15 (A68-500 to 583), D-20, D-25 (A68-600 to 813), New Zealand received D-25

http://www.adf-serials.com.au/raaf2.htm

http://www.nzdf-serials.co.nz/nz-serials/nzaircraft.htm

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Thanks Geoffrey, least I have some serials to try and get a pic of one edit: and seems research suggests aside from the odd one like a IVa I’ve built previously Louvres are universal so I guess I just have to pick a IV and accept the slight inaccuracy. 

Edited by PhantomBigStu
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Hi

Supplementing Geoffrey's response.

When production of the NA-111 model began at Dallas the first 200 a/c 44-11153 to 44-11352 were P-51D-5 fitted with the HS prop. Of these just 30 were assigned to the RAF 44-11168 to 11187 (KH641-660) and 44-11253 to 44-11262 (KH661-KH670). Some of these were delivered to UK and some were delivered direct from US to the MTO. The louvred plates were only fitted to a/c prepared in the UK so your best chances of a camouflaged MkIV with HS prop and perforated plate would be in photos of MTO a/c most likely 3RAAF and 5SAAFSqns. … this is close to hen’s teeth territory.

Steve

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1 hour ago, SteveBrooking said:

Hi

Supplementing Geoffrey's response.

When production of the NA-111 model began at Dallas the first 200 a/c 44-11153 to 44-11352 were P-51D-5 fitted with the HS prop. Of these just 30 were assigned to the RAF 44-11168 to 11187 (KH641-660) and 44-11253 to 44-11262 (KH661-KH670). Some of these were delivered to UK and some were delivered direct from US to the MTO. The louvred plates were only fitted to a/c prepared in the UK so your best chances of a camouflaged MkIV with HS prop and perforated plate would be in photos of MTO a/c most likely 3RAAF and 5SAAFSqns. … this is close to hen’s teeth territory.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve, had a look and the only photo I got is of the NMF aeroprop RAAF one I've done before, so I'm sticking with my choice of ignoring the lack of louvres and doing KH655

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Looking at the RAF serial registers, for KH641 to 670 only KH667 is marked as Med/ME, while KH660 is marked crashed in US, KH664 marked UK, the rest do not mention where they were sent.  According to the UK aircraft import report, to end September 1945 there were 619 imports into the UK September 1944 to May 1945, 72 into North Africa, November 1944 to February 1945 and 177 into India (4 in March 1945, then from June to September 1945), from the US.  In addition Britain exported 103 Mustangs to the Mediterranean March to May 1945, and 67 to India July and August 1945 (note the lack of mark numbers in the exports).

 

Remainder of mark IV serials, quick survey,

 

Marked Med/ME/MAAF KH671, 673, 676, 682, 684, 688, 690, 702, 706, 710, 714, 716, 718, 720, 723 (Casablanca), 726, 727, 731, 734, 738, 741, 745, 748 (via UK?), 749, 750, 751, 753, 755 (Casablanca), 757, 759, 760, 762, 763, 768, 772, 773, 774, 776, 779, 780, 782, 786, 791 (Casablanca), 792 to 799, KH800 to 806, 807 (via UK?), 808 to 811, 813 to 817, 819, 820, 821, 823, 824, 826 (via UK?), 827, 828, 830 to 832, 833 (via UK?), 834 (via UK?), 835, 837, 840, 842, 845, 848, 850, 852 to 854, 856, 859, 861, 865, 870.

 

KM100, 101 (casualty), 104, 105, 107, 109 to 111, 117, 119, 120, 124, 127, 131, 135, 138, 139, 143, 144, 171, 182, 211, 214, 222, 227, 230, 231, 247, 249, 250, 258, 259, 262, 264, 268, 269, 271, 293, 296, 302, 340 (in February 1946), 348, 390, 420

 

The Via UK is for those taken on charge months before the date of their arrival in the Mediterranean.  Apart from the earlier serials sent to India almost all from KM582 onwards are marked as going there, that is almost all of the final 162 serials.

 

Crashed in US/Lost Transit KH689, 839, KM415, 419, 425, 486

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  • 2 weeks later...

Ignore my previously post. and apologies for the choas (heat has made me ill) But I’m at my wits end I can’t decide if the code letters are 18 or 24 inch’s for QV-P

 

https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/1/3/4/1340134-37-instructions.pdf

 

edit after measuring the eduard profile and looking at a pic of the real thing I have a nasty feeling they are actually 20inch's, oh well 18 will have to do 

Edited by PhantomBigStu
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