Mustang: F-51, A-36, F-82, Cavalier, and Piper PA-48 Enforcer

[kitnut617]

If you look at the profile Jon posted a few replies back, you'll see that the canopy on the H is very similar to the F & G, the bottom edge of the clear is almost horizontal. This appears like this on the High Planes H model I have.

But looking at photos and 3-Views of the F,G & J in The Complete Book of Fighters, all you need to do to make any of these is take the H wings and radiator duct and put them on a D fuselage but don't forget to move the tail wheel backwards and put it under the tail-planes. For a canopy, use the D windshield and then use the rear canopy off an F-86.  The H fuselage got a 12" plug behind the duct.

I did, and I know the 'lightweight' canopies were similar but they wern't the same.

I've got a book on the H itself which has lots of info on the F & G as well and the base of their canopies doesn't incline like those on the D & H at all, it's totally horizontal. That means a D windscreen won't work either because it goes too deep into the fuselage decking.

You're right Kit, the canopy does run practically horizontal -- and as I suggested in my last post, here's the canopy we need --- from the FJ-1



Now all I need to do is find a replacement one to chop up a bit

[kitnut617]

So while playing around - erm, testing parts -- I got thinking about scenario's.  It was very difficult to install a Griffon onto a Mustang (although the Reno fraternity have managed it) because of some serious cg problems it caused, but I've always thought the P-82 would have been the better candidate for it.

Here's an idea I thought of last night, what-if a P-82B was used to test a Griffon installation --  with a contra-prop   

[kitnut617]

The real Jet Mustang ----    the original XP-86





Jim showed me a link to someone's XP-86 at a model show, only it was a tail-dragger.  I don't think it would've been as the FJ-1 is very similar and is tri-gear. So mine will be tri-gear --

[PR19_Kit]

I'm still not sure the FJ-1 canopy is long enough for a lightweight P-51.

I scaled a photo of the XP-51G from the McLaren book down to 1/72 scale and it should be around 45 mm long from the base of the windscreen to the rear of the metal part of the canopy. That's about 125% of the wing chord. I scaled your pic of the FJ-1 canopy sitting on an H fuselage and it's almost the same length as the wing chord.

[kitnut617]

That photo is actually of the XP-51F Kit, but I see what you mean.  Do you have Green/Swanborough's book 'The Complete Book of Fighters' ? there's a couple of different views in that which show the FJ-1 canopy is quite close to what we need.

I've always wondered why the these XP-51's got the big canopy, but I think I know why now and a clue came about from text about the XP-51J.  The 'J' had it's carburetor air intake mounted inside the radiator duct, which meant there has to be ducting from there to the back of the engine. This would mean there would be some space under the cockpit to do that.  Looking at various photos of these XP-51's, it seems that the cockpit was raised up, judging by the back head rest position.  They also used a modified P-51D fuselage (in fact the 'F' had the regular P-51D engine) so to cover the raised cockpit, a bigger canopy was made.

On the F-51H, they altered the fuselage metal work to go higher up the sides and then went back to a regular P-51D canopy but using a new windscreen.

[KiwiZac]

Hi all,
I doubt there's an Official Answer, but do any of you have any idea as to what the in-service name for a Piper Enforcer would've been? Or would they have stuck with Enforcer?

[kerick]

I've never heard of any reference to an official name. I don't think it got that far through the procurement process. Since the Air Force didn't really want it I'm sure no one wanted to make it look like they were promoting it by giving it a name.

[Dizzyfugu]

The real Jet Mustang ----    the original XP-86

That's lovely!  I like it VERY much! 

[pyro-manic]

Hi all,
I doubt there's an Official Answer, but do any of you have any idea as to what the in-service name for a Piper Enforcer would've been? Or would they have stuck with Enforcer?

A-8 and A-11 were not used, so either of those would work. I'd probably go for A-11, as A-8 might get confused with the AV-8 Harrier...?

Alternatively, the Piper designation was PA-48, so just losing the P to give A-48 Enforcer might work?

[kerick]

Its a whiff so go for it!

[KiwiZac]

I'm going with A-11 for sure :-D and probably stick with Enforcer, unless someone comes up with something cooler...

[Zero-Sen]

[Tophe]

Great!
While it looks like the North American Stallion photo fake built by our friend Stargazer2006, here or (as Bispro) on DeviantArt.

[kitnut617]

I'm going with A-11 for sure :-D and probably stick with Enforcer, unless someone comes up with something cooler...

I nicked the A-11 designation for this   

[Zero-Sen]