randypandy831 Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Going to be doing a mustang build soon and got a few questions on accuracy on specific bird. my decal sheet shows P-51D-5-NA "Sebastian Jr." of Capt. Robert Becker to have a bird with the fin fillet on the tail. I have researched a few builds and all the builds are early birds with no fin fillet. I haven't found any actual photos of this specific bird to prove if it did or didn't have a fin fillet. does anyone have photo of this bird? it has a tail code of 413517. thanks!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martin_sam_2000 Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) 15 hours ago, randypandy831 said: Going to be doing a mustang build soon and got a few questions on accuracy on specific bird. my decal sheet shows P-51D-5-NA "Sebastian Jr." of Capt. Robert Becker to have a bird with the fin fillet on the tail. I have researched a few builds and all the builds are early birds with no fin fillet. I haven't found any actual photos of this specific bird to prove if it did or didn't have a fin fillet. does anyone have photo of this bird? it has a tail code of 413517. thanks!!!! That P-51 was one of the first 800 P-51D's that were built WITHOUT a dorsal fin. It was most likely delivered and entered service without one. That being said, the dorsal fin was provided as a field mod kit and was added to many of the aircraft in the field. You can even find pictures of the fin added to P-51B/C's.( although the last few "C" models built rolled of the line with the fillet added For example, this famous picture has both fined and non-fined D models: and here is a "C" model with one fitted in the field: now, to answer your question about the discrepancies, the pictures I can find do not show the tail, only the nose. Many people may have made assumptions one way or another. it may even have had no fillet at first, then had one added. Without any real photographic proof, it can go either way. Do what makes your heart happy!! Sean Edited January 14, 2019 by martin_sam_2000 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rpeck Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 I think in one of the books I have there is a photo. I will take a look today and see. Off the top of my head I don't think it did and what Sean said I agree with him. I do remember the 'O' in the codes had some thing different. I will get back to you. Rick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rpeck Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 (edited) That didn't work. Well I scanned lowest setting and it is still to large. PM me your email and I will send it that way. Rick Edited January 16, 2019 by rpeck Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rpeck Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 (edited) Sorry this is the best I can do and the tail is not in the photo but the other two P-51D's that I cropped off do not have the dorsal fin. The photo is in 'To War with the Yoxford Boys' printed by Eagle Edition. Rick Edited January 16, 2019 by rpeck Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martin_sam_2000 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 10 hours ago, rpeck said: Sorry this is the best I can do and the tail is not in the photo but the other two P-51D's that I cropped off do not have the dorsal fin. The photo is in 'To War with the Yoxford Boys' printed by Eagle Edition. Rick That's actually a great photo!. If you look at my earlier post, you will see the fin fillet front lines up almost with the aft edge of the national insignia. Your pictures, while it doesn't show the fin, shows enough of the rear fuselage to see that there is NO fillet at that time! That would be a perfect reference. Camo lines, kill markings, weathering. It is a perfect "in the moment" reference, and as it has invasion stripes, you can do the build for the D-Day GB!! Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
randypandy831 Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 I appreciate all the help folks. Guess I'll save the markings for another build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DavidRezabek Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Here's what Brett Green found out about Sebastian Jr. over on HyperScale http://hsfeatures.com/features04/p51dsebjrbg_2.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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