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

[PR19_Kit]

Here's a question I can't find answer to, simply because it doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere.

Did any P-51 variant ever have a pressurised cockpit, and if not, why not? As it could get to almost 42000 ft I'd have thought it was a must. Or did ALL of them have pressurised cockpits and no-one thought to mention it anywhere?

[raafif]

AFAIK some pilots were issued with a "G-suit", actually JUST a pair of über-tight leggings -- this with the oxygen-mask was deemed good enough for 1944/45.

= pressurised cockpit + long wings + extra engine blower = 

[sideshowbob9]

Unlike photo-reconnaissance versions of the P-38, the F-6 retained its armament, being used primarily in low-altitude operations where it might have to defend itself.

Source: http://www.history.com/topics/p-51

Admittedly, this doesn't rule out the existence of a pressurised cockpit variant at all and doesn't mean you can't have a high-altitude F-6. They should afterall have a comparable service ceiling to their P-51 siblings.

I'm assuming you are thinking of a photo-recce machine, as no period bomber can get that high to escort and you wouldn't need an interceptor up there.... unless the Germans persisted with the Ju-86P/R.......

[PR19_Kit]

You two guys know me too well...........  

Yes, I'm thinking of an F-6H, naturally with longer wings, which would give it almost parity with a Spitfire PR19, the majority of which did have pressure cabins although the earlier productions ones didn't. With 'only' a Merlin to haul the Mustang up to the 45000 ft mark it may need a bigger supercharger to give it enough oomph to drive a cabin blower, but I wondered if I'd need to make visual changes to the canopy, the only visible differences between the early PR19s and the later ones is the absence of a side door and different canopy slides on the later versions, plus the small air intake on the lower left of the cowling.

[Old Wombat]

I'd suggest the same changes for the Mustang, then, & lose the guns.




....... Wonder what a Griffon engined Mustang would look like?

[kitnut617]

....... Wonder what a Griffon engined Mustang would look like?

Like this ---



It used an old Shackleton engine and prop (shortened of course) and a Learjet wing. 'Used' because it crashed later.

And there's this one too ---



BTW, High Planes Models does a kit of both of these, got a copy of each in the stash.

[Pablo1965]

F-51J:
See this one... http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,33219.0.html

[jcf]

Personally, I'd start with a P-51B/C as the high-back Mustang version would probably, in RW terms, be easier to pressurize.
Also I just think they look better than the D model. 

... or of one did go the D route, perhaps a metal reinforced canopy similar to the third DH 108:


... or even portholes like the Vulcan. 

[raafif]

definitely go with a B/C model -- stronger canopy area plus an extra 3mph of speed over the bubble-top version (better streamlining).  You'd lose the extra speed due to the increased weight of this version, but it's handy to have it to lose.  Less guns too for a PR but add humongous camera windows !

Just how much longer will the wings be

[PR19_Kit]

7' longer, 3'6" per side as that's the width of the styrene strip I had handy.  

And I'm starting with an H as I have one handy, but I like the idea of the metal canopy with portholes.

Moving on to props, almost all P-51Bs seem to have had cuffed props, as did most P-51Ds, but some Ds had uncuffed props. P-51Hs all had uncuffed props AFAIK. What's the performance difference between the two types and why did they change?

[johnsjunk]

Here is my F-51-R Interceptor Griffon powered Mustang using the High Planes "Precious Metal" kit.



F-51-R MUSTANG INTERCEPTOR 1/48th scale by john's junk, on Flickr

[sequoiaranger]

A nasty-looking airplane, if you are an enemy!

[PACOPEPE]

Here my mixed powered-forward swept wings "P-51 FS-J".




Regards
Fran

[ChernayaAkula]

Nothing new under the sun! Had the idea to use an F-82 with the complete wing, but only one fuselage and new stabilizers to create a high-altitude interceptor version (think Me 109 --> BV 155). Turned out Wyrmshadow already did this a couple of pages back.

Here's the drawing anyway:



When looking at the profile of the F-82's long fuselage again, another thought hit me.

Just so.

[NARSES2]

That HA version looks right  Where's Kit (PR 19) ?