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Mustang Wings and panel seams


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  • 5 months later...
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Thnks, nice research. My father was in the RAAF and worked on 77 Squadron Mustangs in Korea. He was the one that told me the that sections of the wing had the seams and rivets filled and coated with a silver lacquer. I have spent quite a bit of time researching this myself.

Rgds Ian

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Thanks for bringing this up Greg! The bare metal fuselage silver lacquer wings scheme is basically NEVER done by modelers. I assume the factory-camouflaged aircraft also had the panels filled. Wouldn't be surprised if most field units with free time did the same -- the gain in speed was quite significant.

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  • 3 weeks later...

It would not be about a Squadron in the field doing it to gain some speed, it is about why NAA did it in the first place.

The laminar flow airfoil that the P-51 employed was dependant for efficient operation on having a very smooth and defect free surface. The wing was filled at the factory to maintain that profile as best as possible as the more surface defects in the profile the greater performance hit would be taken.

Legend has it that even an accumulation of bug hits on the leading edge could seriously ramp up the drag on the wing.

I would be suprised if a T.O. does not exist stating that if repairs were done to the wing that they should be filled, primed and painted to restore a factory surface finish.

Cheers

Tony

(Aircraft Engineer by trade for 25 years now, in case you were wondering)

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

Greetings. I've been recommended this forum by users of the Airfix site (www.airfix.com)

I'm nearing completion of my Mk III Mustang of 315 (Polish) Sqn. Looks a beaut with D-Day stripes, sky band at rear of fuselage, yellow wing leading edges, white nose and spinner).

Am now adding undercarriage doors. The inner ones are the problem. I've looked at umpteen photos of Mustangs on the ground; the inner u/c doors are either completely closed (!) or open at a 35 degree angle from the horizontal, or at a 2-3 degree angle (ie ajar). Or hanging perpendicularly down, as per the instruction sheet (and as per this model, pic posted recently... http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal3...ll/gal2430.htm).

What's the score, anyone? Flight Check for P-51D does not mention opening and closing inner u/c doors - were they automatic? I notice pics of taxiing Mustangs have doors closed - had they just landed?

Some examples or Mustangs with doors closed or opened:

(Closed)

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-...of_the_355th_fg

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-Force/p_51

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-Force/p_51_7

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-..._pilots_England

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-...1_BEING_FUELLED

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-Force/add

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-...356th_fg?full=1 (note flaps down, air cooler exhaust flap open, elevators down)

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-Force/acv?full=1 (flaps down, elevator up)

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-Force/aal (note plane in background has inner u/c doors open)

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-Force/abc

(Open)

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-...e/p_51_9?full=1

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-...356th_fg?full=1

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-...RVICED_2?full=1 (Note: Flaps down)

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-Force/don_gentile

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-...honington_p_51s

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/U-S-Air-Force/acx (note plane in background has inner u/c doors closed; both flaps down)

A perplexing question, no doubt I'll find answers here...

Michael

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Michael,

At engine shut down, the doors are fully closed. However as the hydraulics bleed off, they gradually open fully, so you can basically glue them anyway you want, and it will be correct.

Regards,

Murph

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