I am looking for information about this plane.

Also are there any kits featuring this plane or decal sets and what scales?

Do you have any more information?
Fighter group/squadron would help if you have it.
Nige

The only information I have right now is that Robert Farney flew the plane in the 361st Fighter Group and the planes ID numbers were 44-14827 EZ-V. I think I have found some decals, but not sure of the paint scheme. I would like 1/72 or so as this would be my first plane since grade school and we use waxed tablets with sharp sticks to write for the teacher. LOL!

Here is some of the information that I have come up with so far.

The nose and spinner was a flat school bus yellow and on the right side looking at the plane was the "Croghan Cruiser" logo and the left side had "Waverly Democrat" logo. Flat black panel infron of the windscreen and bare metal finish. Still looking for the color for the rudder.

I hope to get some more information from Mr Farney this week.

Hi Jim.
44-14827
E2-V (not ez-v)
375th FS 361st FG.
3rd in line on the photo.

Its very likely that the canopy rim and rudder were medium blue.
More information of the 361st can be found
HERE
Note the squadron codes on the wing undersides.
Ive not seen them on photos pre May 1945.
They were "buzz numbers" added to discourage low flying after the end of hostilities. If the pilot was flying low enough for the numbers to be read, he was in trouble!
Nige

Nigel,

Where did you confirm the 44-14827? The color or colorized picture I have seen shows 4-14827. I was not sure of the shade of blue on the rudder and canopy. I am looking for a copy of "Little Friends" at the local library, but there could be a second coming before I get it out here in rural Northern New York.

Aviation USK has a sheet for this aircraft in 1/48th. AVD4001, I found it on a European site

http://www.mondoridotto.it/eng/cat648.htm

John

I found another sheet, also in 1/48th, a little closer, in Canada.

http://flightdecs.ca/aa_carpena/c4824.html

John

Hi Jim.




44-14827 and 4-14827 refer to the same aircraft. The first 2 numbers of the serial number refer to the year of manufacture and the first "4" was usually ommited when the serial number was painted on the aircrafts rudder. The full serial number would be shown on the aircrafts data stencil though.
Heres an example.
Note that the two photos show the P-51 at different stages of its career and wearing different nose art. Its the same aircraft though, and its the serial number we're concerned with in these photos. Its the first example I could find of a P-51 where there are photos of both the data stencil and the serial number on the rudder


You can see the serial number on the 3rd line of the data stencil 44-14-570

On this photo you can see the abbreviated serial number on the rudder.414570


Hope this explains how 44-14827 and 4-14827 are indeed the same P-51
Nige