I was in the local craft store yesterday and couldn't resist picking up a 1/48 P-51D for $2.50, even though it is boxed by Testors. I was very surpised when I got home to find that the kit had engraved panel lines and looked pretty nice. The decals that come with it let you build two planes, one of which is the silver Old Crow flown by Bud Anderson. I going to build that one but have a couple questions since I haven't done a ton of research on the P-51.
1. When did they shift between each of the different tires-smooth tread, block tread, diamond tread and radial tread?
2. When did they shift from a 3-blade to a 4-blade prop?
Thanks.
Hosted by Rowan Baylis
P-51D Questions
Tin_Can
Joined: January 26, 2002
KitMaker: 1,560 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 06:35 AM UTC
csch
Joined: December 27, 2002
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Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 07:10 AM UTC
I donīt know about the wheels, but the four blades propeller was used for the first time in the P 51 B/C. As I know all the P 51 D came with four blades props. The P 51 D used the cuffed Hamilton Standard hydromatic prop, and the P 51K were fited with the Aeroproducts A - 542 - A unimatic prop. 
airwarrior
Joined: November 21, 2002
KitMaker: 2,085 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 07:35 AM UTC
Quoted Text
$2.50! THATS IT!? YOU SPENT 2.50 ON A DECENT MODEL!? YOU LUCKY PERSON YOU! :-) #:-) $2.50
KiwiDave
Joined: January 14, 2003
KitMaker: 248 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 07:53 AM UTC
I may be about to foot in mouth, but I would be surprised if choice of tyre was associated to any particular date/mark.
Even civilian aircraft in peace time can display a selection of different tyres, so I imagine during a war you would fit what you have.
The 'tread' on an aircraft tyre has little traction value, and the wear is monitored by wear marks not tread depth. As tyres are used down to their wear mark there is often little discernable tread on a worn tyre if it is being used on sealed strips ( an aircraft tyre spends a lot of its working life in a carcass wrenching, tread shredding skid). Of course the less grip you have on grass, and indeed with a tailwheel, the better so an untreaded tyre can be the best option.
Why not have a different tyre on each side?
Regards Dave :-)
Even civilian aircraft in peace time can display a selection of different tyres, so I imagine during a war you would fit what you have.
The 'tread' on an aircraft tyre has little traction value, and the wear is monitored by wear marks not tread depth. As tyres are used down to their wear mark there is often little discernable tread on a worn tyre if it is being used on sealed strips ( an aircraft tyre spends a lot of its working life in a carcass wrenching, tread shredding skid). Of course the less grip you have on grass, and indeed with a tailwheel, the better so an untreaded tyre can be the best option.
Why not have a different tyre on each side?
Regards Dave :-)
Merlin
Senior Editor
#017
Joined: June 11, 2003
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Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 09:02 AM UTC
Hi Bryan
I've done a flick though the Detail & Scale Pts 1&2 and Squadron Walkaround and it looks like the diamond tread was by far the most common on operational WW2 aircraft.
The smooth tread seems to be restricted to early Mustang 1s P-51s and some prototypes. A square tread appears occasionally. A grooved tread shows on plenty of museum exhibits and (maybe) Korean War a/c.
I know someone who REALLY knows their Mustangs will contadict all this... but I hope it helps :-)
All the best
Rowan
I've done a flick though the Detail & Scale Pts 1&2 and Squadron Walkaround and it looks like the diamond tread was by far the most common on operational WW2 aircraft.
The smooth tread seems to be restricted to early Mustang 1s P-51s and some prototypes. A square tread appears occasionally. A grooved tread shows on plenty of museum exhibits and (maybe) Korean War a/c.
I know someone who REALLY knows their Mustangs will contadict all this... but I hope it helps :-)
All the best
Rowan
Tin_Can
Joined: January 26, 2002
KitMaker: 1,560 posts
AeroScale: 750 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 12:14 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Bryan
I've done a flick though the Detail & Scale Pts 1&2 and Squadron Walkaround and it looks like the diamond tread was by far the most common on operational WW2 aircraft.
The smooth tread seems to be restricted to early Mustang 1s P-51s and some prototypes. A square tread appears occasionally. A grooved tread shows on plenty of museum exhibits and (maybe) Korean War a/c.
I know someone who REALLY knows their Mustangs will contadict all this... but I hope it helps :-)
Merlin, thanks a lot for looking that up.
Quoted Text
I may be about to foot in mouth, but I would be surprised if choice of tyre was associated to any particular date/mark.
Dave, your probably right.
Quoted Text
I donīt know about the wheels, but the four blades propeller was used for the first time in the P 51 B/C. As I know all the P 51 D came with four blades props. The P 51 D used the cuffed Hamilton Standard hydromatic prop, and the P 51K were fited with the Aeroproducts A - 542 - A unimatic prop.
Thanks CAS. The kit came with the 4-blade prop but I just wanted to make sure. All the pics I've seen show the aircraft in question with four as well.
Quoted Text
$2.50! THATS IT!? YOU SPENT 2.50 ON A DECENT MODEL!? YOU LUCKY PERSON YOU!
$2.50, that's it. I went in armed with a 50% off coupon and the kit was only $5. I should go back and buy the other three for building later.
TwistedFate
Joined: February 11, 2003
KitMaker: 805 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 06:48 PM UTC
Bryan, you are so lucky I didn't know about them this weekend. I would have cleaned them out while I was in the area.
mavrick1124
Joined: August 16, 2002
KitMaker: 188 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 07:17 PM UTC
Diamond tread here too. That is the one I have seen the most of on the Mustangs. As for the prop, the four blade is it. Don't ever recall seeing a 3 blade on one before. 
chip250
Joined: September 01, 2002
KitMaker: 1,864 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 07:34 PM UTC
I am telling you incase, the P-51D Mustang, had a four bladed Hamilton Standard propeller.
With yellow tips of course!
~Chip
:-)
With yellow tips of course!
~Chip
:-)
csch
Joined: December 27, 2002
KitMaker: 1,941 posts
AeroScale: 1,040 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 01:32 AM UTC
Hi Tin_Can:
I have the oportunity to buy a Testors P 51D here in a local shop, not the price you pay it but cheaper than the other brands. Is it really a good kit ? I know you didnīt build it yet, but whatīs your impresion about moldings, fit, etc...?
I have the oportunity to buy a Testors P 51D here in a local shop, not the price you pay it but cheaper than the other brands. Is it really a good kit ? I know you didnīt build it yet, but whatīs your impresion about moldings, fit, etc...?
Whiskey
Joined: May 30, 2002
KitMaker: 1,038 posts
AeroScale: 252 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 06:17 AM UTC
I have built the Testors kit and compared to the Revell 1/48 D model it is ok. The only thing I did not like about the kit was the cockpit area. It is basically just the tub with a seat and a stick. It did however come with a decent K-14 gunsight compared with the Revell kit.
Oh and only the A-36 Apache and the P-51A had a 3 bladed prop. ALL off the P-51 variants from B to K had 4 bladed props. The most famous would be the Hamilton standard prop which was used on the B/C/and D variants.
Oh and only the A-36 Apache and the P-51A had a 3 bladed prop. ALL off the P-51 variants from B to K had 4 bladed props. The most famous would be the Hamilton standard prop which was used on the B/C/and D variants.
Tin_Can
Joined: January 26, 2002
KitMaker: 1,560 posts
AeroScale: 750 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 12:08 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Tin_Can:
I have the oportunity to buy a Testors P 51D here in a local shop, not the price you pay it but cheaper than the other brands. Is it really a good kit ? I know you didnīt build it yet, but whatīs your impresion about moldings, fit, etc...?
Zach is correct about the cockpit. Not even a console to put the instrument decal. I'll have to make one of those. This one does come with the 4-bladed prop and two canopies (both the bubble version).
Tin_Can
Joined: January 26, 2002
KitMaker: 1,560 posts
AeroScale: 750 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 01:48 PM UTC
More indepth:
1. The mold is obviously old because it is starting to take some beating but not too bad and nothing that can't be easily fixed.
2. I addressed the cockpit above.
3. The panel lines on the fuselage are engraved and look nice but might be a tad overdone. Panel lines on the wings are raised.
4. Overall surface detail is pretty nice in my opinion with lots of detail on the fuselage and wings-especially the wing bottoms.
5. Wingspan and length measure out almost exactly to scale. Close enough for government work and it even looks like a mustang.
6. There are some sinkmarks on the aleirons and gear doors that will need to be addressed.
7. No landing gear wells to speak of.
8. No engine.
9. Four blade prop which is correct. Individual prop blades.
10. Two drop tanks.
11. Two rocket pods.
12. Diamond tread wheels but there is a seam down the middle.
13. Decals to model Old Crow or The Millie P. Decals by Microscale.
14. Fit of the fuselage halves is ok-I've seen worse. Fit of the wing tops to the lower one piece wing bottom is good and the fit of wings to the fuselage fillet is very good.
Overall, there are a few issues but for $5, how can you turn it down? I certainly couldn't for $2.50.
1. The mold is obviously old because it is starting to take some beating but not too bad and nothing that can't be easily fixed.
2. I addressed the cockpit above.
3. The panel lines on the fuselage are engraved and look nice but might be a tad overdone. Panel lines on the wings are raised.
4. Overall surface detail is pretty nice in my opinion with lots of detail on the fuselage and wings-especially the wing bottoms.
5. Wingspan and length measure out almost exactly to scale. Close enough for government work and it even looks like a mustang.
6. There are some sinkmarks on the aleirons and gear doors that will need to be addressed.
7. No landing gear wells to speak of.
8. No engine.
9. Four blade prop which is correct. Individual prop blades.
10. Two drop tanks.
11. Two rocket pods.
12. Diamond tread wheels but there is a seam down the middle.
13. Decals to model Old Crow or The Millie P. Decals by Microscale.
14. Fit of the fuselage halves is ok-I've seen worse. Fit of the wing tops to the lower one piece wing bottom is good and the fit of wings to the fuselage fillet is very good.
Overall, there are a few issues but for $5, how can you turn it down? I certainly couldn't for $2.50.
csch
Joined: December 27, 2002
KitMaker: 1,941 posts
AeroScale: 1,040 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 01:03 AM UTC
Thanks for the info Tin_Can. Iīll buy it.
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