82Whitey51

Welcome news, especially with Blackbird Models planning some P-3A/B conversion sets too. I know you're plenty adept at your research but feel free to hit me up for details you might get hung up on, stenciling, etc.

😂

Yeah, that's an accurate photo. I believe the fictitious unit tail markings stayed on the birds for a few weeks up until just prior to them returning stateside. Here's a few more that show "Bockscar" : This is ENOLA GAY just after returning from the Hiroshima mission...in the background, you can see "Bockscar" (77) already with the "N"...but no red stripe. I guess it was added in the coming days prior to the 9th of August. Unfortunately I don't have a date on this one, but I'm going to guess it's sometime after both missions. In the background here, you can now see ENOLA GAY (82) with the 509th arrow back in place on the tail sitting in it's same hardstand as when it returned on the 6th. This one is a bit unusual, "Bockscar" with the "R" on the tail?? I'd say these were taken back in the states, post war. They appear to be in storage (engines covered, alll the tie downs and sitting on pallets in the dirt. Though it is unusual that they have the "R" and not the arrow on the tail. Or, the photos may be touched up to show the "R" on the tail?

OK, makes sense. Probably the same for the overall red PA ANG bird?

Wow...very nice work. More flashy than I had anticipated! I wonder if aircraft 464347 was a one off scheme? Commanders aircraft perhaps? I can't find any other photos of MASS ANG aircraft in those markings outside of 4347.

Here's an example of a NH ANG with "shark teeth" !!

Looking forward to this kit (as well as the F-82 they're also talking about!) I'll of course toss the MASS. ANG hat into the ring...not necessarily the often seen "Irish Air Force" or the "Polish Air Force" P-51Hs but these markings with the flashy yellow trim: RS Models did one in 1/72 scale

Yeah, pretty sure it was.

I believe that is the last of the Active Duty P-3 squadrons, VP-40, returning home. BuNo 162776, I have 45.3 total hours in that one.

I'm not sure the exact story behind it, but your theory sounds reasonable...appears to be an MC-130 in the background here:

Thank you, sir.

Great work! P-51s, never get old.

Wooo Hooo! Getting into decal time! Man, this project has been draaaaaaaaaagin'. OK, I knew I'd have to make decals for the tail logo, because it's fairly big. I didn't count on having to make all the numbers too...because they're fairly big too! I figured there had to be sheets out there with "Navy" font letters and numbers big enough (30" on the tail numbers, 24" on the modex [nose] numbers) but, nope. No problem, I can make them pretty quick. Just had to track down decal paper. On that note, I can't recommend "Expert's Choice" decal paper enough! The white paper is super thin, so when doing color imagery they lay down very nice, and the clear paper makes the numbers/letters look painted on. I've used the paper from Micro Mark in the past and found it is a bit thicker, leaving a noticeable "edge". Go with "Expert's Choice", and be sure to get the paper made for the printer you are using (ink jet vs laser jet). https://www.bare-metal.com/experts-choice-decal-film.html When I made the tail logos (color, so printed on white paper...), I knew I'd have to cut them out, and perfection being key to a good looking model I wondered how I'd do that, giving that it's a circle with a "banner" attached. Scissors aren't gonna cut it (see what I did there...). So I used my Shadowhobbby circle cutter along with the center finder accessory to cut the main logo out, then used scissors to cut the "banner" from the paper, attaching the two when I applied them to the tail. I was pretty happy with the results: As I mentioned, the numbers went down like paint. The "UNITED STATES NAVY" on the wheel sponsons came from a Scale-Master sheet. Those folks used to make some really nice letter/number sheets but I guess they are no longer in business (???), snatch them up when you see them at the vendor tables. Aircraft 497 had a unique piece of "nose art" for it's deployment to CENTCOM. I made it after cropping a photo and changing some background color. Pretty happy with the result there too; Still awaiting a decal sheet from Australia that has the rest of the aircraft data and warning markings in color. The old sheet of kit decals are faded, and though most of the old Testor/Italeri kits used to use Scale-Master decals this one does not, and they have a dull appearance to them that lead to heavy silvering when I tried using one. So, no thanks.

Sounds like a good problem to have! We're a patient lot (usually...)

They may have "copied" the cab from the Tamiya Fuel truck, I hear it does not have the window either. Not difficult to add it.