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NORTH AMERICAN XP-51 Apache

North American designed and built the P-51 in 90 days to keep from building P-40's for the British.

This is modified from an Airfix P-51B. The thick plastic leaves enough room to sand the nose to shape.

All the classic lines are there with the variation on the nose common to the Allison powered early models.

"Blue Canopies and Me".

Though given a fighter designation, the USAAC bought its first P-51's as A-36 Apaches.
 
NORTH AMERICAN P-51A Mustang
  
 
The first P-51's were taken from British orders - which explains the British camoflage pattern.
 
Again modified from an Airfix kit because there were no P-51A kits available when this was built.
 
Other than re-siting the carburetor intake on top of the nose, the plane is almost identical to the XP-51.
 
NORTH AMERICAN P-51D Mustang
  
 
The P-51D from Hasegawa.
 
The 'D' is the definitive Mustang model. Even with the arrival of jets, Mustangs served on in guard units into the mid-50's.
 
 
NORTH AMERICAN XP-51F
  
 
The 'F' model was one of a series attempting to improve performance by lightening the airframe.
 
The 'F' had a larger bubble canopy, 3 bladed prop and carried only 4 guns. The aft portion of the belly scoop was smoothed out to improve airflow.
 
The wing leading edges were straight, since a smaller main wheel was used.
 
NORTH AMERICAN XP-51G
  
 
The 'G' had the same changes as the 'F' except is sported a five bladed prop.
 
I used a 5 bladed prop from a Testors Spitfire F.24, so it is turning the wrong way.
 

Just don't tell anyone and they won't notice.
 
NORTH AMERICAN XP-51J
  
 
The 'J' was similar to the 'F', but the fuselage had more changes.
 
The Rarebits P-51H fuselage is too small for an 'H' model, but is just about perfect for the XP-51J.
 
I vacuformed new canopies for the Mustang using an F-86 canopy as the starting point.
copyright 2005
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this page last updated 8/11/2005