P-51 Mustang Diary, page 3
Thursday, 21st February, 2013
Producing the masters for the rubber tyres has been troublesome, not least because it is yet another job where I have had to feel my...
Read more
Friday, 19th October, 2012
The canopy frame is not a straightforward piece. It took careful study of the NAA drawings before I was able to understand the complexities of...
Read more
Tuesday, 2nd October, 2012
By mid-summer of 2012 the bulk of the work on my P51-D had been completed, yet several hurdles remained, one of which was the sliding...
Read more
Thursday, 20th September, 2012
As any P-51D fan knows, the AN 3150 battery and the bulky SCR-522 VHF radio are prominent features within the streamlined, tear-shaped cockpit canopy. Both...
Read more
Monday, 7th May, 2012
The Hamilton Standard airscrew as fitted to the P-51D is uncompromisingly businesslike, a great paddle-bladed affair that speaks more of brute power than elegance, especially...
Read more
Sunday, 6th May, 2012
During an exceptionally cold, wet April of 2012, I resolved to tackle the pilot’s seat, a job I had toyed with and repeatedly put off...
Read more
Sunday, 15th January, 2012
Anyone who has followed this log may have noted that, while much of my work is done in metal, I am not afraid to make...
Read more
Retrospective: Auxiliary fuel tank
Saturday, 14th January, 2012
With the completion of the main landing wheels last October, my P-51 project has come to a standstill. Over the last few months I have...
Read more
Tuesday, 1st November, 2011
The Mustang’s wheels have been problematical. For most of this year I scoured all known avenues for manufacturer’s drawings, but to no avail. My entreaties...
Read more
Tuesday, 6th September, 2011
With most of the painting complete, I have recently added some, although not all of the external stencilling detail, using the Hendon P51-D as my...
Read more
Stories 21 to 30 of 44
Archive
- Retrospective: The flaps
- Retrospective: The elevators
- Retrospective: Rudder framework
- Retrospective: Outer doors
- Retrospective: Main doors
- Retrospective: Wheelbay fittings
- Retrospective: Wheelbay structure
- Retrospective: Wheelbay basics
- Retrospective: More switch panels
- Retrospective: Switch panel detail
- Retrospective: Handles and levers
- Retrospective: Control quadrant
- Retrospective: Cockpit floor
- Departure Day
- Retrospective: Rudder pedals
- Retrospective: Fuselage frames
- Retrospective: Tail wheel strut
- Retrospective: Main landing gear
- Retrospective: The chin scoop
- An end in sight
- The Mustang's tyres
- Canopy framework
- The vac-formed canopy
- VHF and battery packs
- Hamilton Standard airscrew
- The pilot's seat
- Control column assembly
- Retrospective: Auxiliary fuel tank
- Machining the wheels
- Some external stencils
- Stars and bars
- Warpaint - the first coats
- Cockpit update
- Spinning the spinner
- Rudder fabric
- Assembling the fin and tailplane
- Grappling with gremlins
- A pause to look back
- Wing root fairings
- Wings and fuselage united
- Instrument panel complete
- Gun port blisters
- A tipping point
- Welcome to my P-51 diary
