In the pic below, I've circled a portion of the fuselage that has what looks like a scoop. Does anyone know what it is and should it be drilled out on a model? Thanks.

It's a step / foot hold for short pilots.

Hi Bryan

It looks like an air-scoop... like half a cup over a hole.



All the best

Rowan

Merlin could be right I'll have to go to the field to check. Our pilots use it to get a leg up.
My reference books only show it on the D model, and yeap there's one on both sides.

here's another site you might like.
http://www.p51.mustangsmustangs.com/p51.shtml

Last I recall it is a foothold. I cant remember at the moment and I cant seem to find my books so Im not 100% sure. I know there is a foothold in that vicinity but cant recall if it is that or a hidden foothold like on the P-47s.

Hi again

I've been having a closer look at Squadron's P51D Walkaround. On Page 63 they show what looks like an identical vent and have captioned it as a fuselage fuel tank drain.

I thought this seemed odd, as the "vent" seems to face forward, but on Page 22 you can just make out the stencilling on an Air National Guard a/c. It reads..."FUEL VENT".

This does tie in with the shots of a/c under construction, with access panels off, because a pipe is clearly leading diagonally to the "vent"... :-)

I've no doubt it doubles as a foot-step, official or otherwise.

All the best

Rowan

Thanks for all the responses guys.

:-) Bryan, I was looking at exactly the same thing on my ex Otaki Airfix P-51D, looks like I'll have to drill them out. Now that everyone knows they are scoops
Mal :-)

Very good point Tin_Can. I didn´t drill them out in my Otaki because I didn´t repare on them.
I´ll have to make more research.

I think were close to identifying what it is. Chuck Shanley is heading out to the Chino Air Museum today where he is a member volunteer and is going to check it out for us on one of their stangs.

:-) Ho wow, can I go, please, please
How do I become a member volunteer?
Mal

http://planesoffame.org/
go to Membership. Members can even get rides in the WarBirds.

It's not a big deal anyone can jion, I just like to go hang out with the Birds and watch'em fly. As you'll see it's non profit so they could us the support to save some vintage aircraft.

Hi CRS

I probably don't have to say how jealous I am... :-)

Joining up is one thing... finding the money for the airfare... well...

I know there are some preservation groups this side of The Pond... maybe Mal and I should check them out... :-)

Hurry up and find out what the "scoop/foot-step/fuel-vent" thing is and put us out of our misery!!:-)

All the best

Rowan

Merlin,
I live a charmed life being pure of heart and irish. I live 20 miles (about an hours drive in traffic) from the hanger. Do check out the website link I posted, there are lots of planes there and if I can serve as an information resource I'd by proud. Fighter Rebuilders (the company at Chino that does the real work on the flyable birds) has done work for UK displays as well as for Chino. Alot of the Chino planes are used in movies, some are one of a kind still flying. I'll get the info on the scoop (or the scoop on the scoop) tomorrow morning, that will be about 1900 your time, probably won't see it posted until Wednesday morning your time. The suspense lingers!!!!!

Hi again CRS :-)

Oh how I'd like to have a snoop 'round the Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing!! :-) I've got a Sword kit, part-built, but I hardly dare finish it - knowing you can pop over and check things out on the real thing...!

All the best

Rowan

Hi again CRS :-)

Oh how I'd like to have a snoop 'round the Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing!! :-) I've got a Sword kit, part-built, but I hardly dare finish it - knowing you can pop over and check things out on the real thing...! (I don't suppose you've got some pics???)

All the best

Rowan

Okay Merlin just to rub it in and keep this airplane envy going. Can you find it in this original Northrop Factory Photo ?

The Wing (all of them) has always been a special plane for me. Jack Northrop is one of my heroes, he kind of saved my life back in 1955. He arranged to have the right doctors fix my legs after a bad car accident.
If you look in my gallery in the album called The Wing (duh) you can see how see looked in May of this year.

uh...WOW! What a great man.

Just goes to prove that a man's (or woman's) legacy is built upon their deeds. (uh-oh, that's a Bryan Dewberry original right there-though I'm sure somebody else has beat me to it....I better get to work on that paperwork I brought home while the creative juices are flowing)

Hi there

Image being able to step into the photo and walk around that factory... I''ve copied it for reference (hope you don't mind) and I'll check the album...:-)

Cheers

Rowan

Great :-) a lot of thanks to Chuck :-)
I would like to go with him but I guess I´m a little far. Thanks again

A picture is worth a thousand words

This is on the port side of Wee Willie II a late model D

This is the starbord side of Spam Can an early model D
As you can see it's an indentation about an inch deep, on both side of the aircraft, with a half inch hole in the rear apex of the curved opening. The Scoop "intended to prevent leaking fuel from walking up the side of the fuselage"
If you are going to add this hole you may wish to add this one too.

1 1/2 inch hole on both sides
Here you can side both on Wee Willie II

Had to laugh the stencil just to the right of the U says "Keep holes and surfaces clean"

Hi Chuck :-)

Fantastic job!! :-)

From looking at references, I'd better add that painting the vent red and adding stencilling only seems to have occurred post-war... whereas the warning signs show on Air National Guard a/c, I haven't found any WW2 pics yet with the markings.

Maybe wartime ground-crew didn't need them... :-)

Looks like you've had a horrible day, having to hang around all those warbirds... :-)

All the best

Rowan

:-) Nice job, thanks chuck (envious or what) :-)
Mal

To My UK Friend,
Lest you think we left you out, these two fly on a regular basis.

Come on Chuck...

You don't have to rub salt in the wounds... :-)

You simply have to have the best WW2 a/c refs of anyone I know... nothing can beat access to the real thing! :-)

I hope you're ready for plent of "Chuck, could you just go and take a picture of...." requests!!! :-) #:-)

That's already got me thinking, so watch out for a PM!!

All the best

Rowan