P-51B/C in civilian colours

stangman · **Posted:** Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:21 pm

Hi i am attemting to construct a model of the P-51B and i would like to finish it in a civilian scheme.I have a particular intrest in all Mustangs operated in civilian schemes post-war up until the majority were painted in Military markings onc again.
Does any one have any details ,descriptive or photos/drawings of P-51B's in civilian schemes. I am aware of some being used as racers but were any others actually operated by civilians post-war?

many thanks in advance

jasonp51d · **Posted:** Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:20 pm

Excalibur jumps to mind - the famous post war air racer - see: -

http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/survivors/pages/44-10947.shtml

Good luck

VBR

jason

Steve T · **Posted:** Mon Jun 18, 2007 4:26 pm

Stangman--

You could do a whole series of highback P-51s/F-6s in civilian schemes. Off the top of my head I can think of half a dozen great looking racer liveries for highback 'stangs...

*the aforementioned "Excalibur III" (Charlie Blair's record flight aircraft)

*the two Paul Mantz P-51C Bendix transcon racers, N1202 and N1204, race 46 and 60 (one of which became Blair's "Excalibur" and survives at NASM, the other eventually becoming Kermit Weeks' "Ina the Macon Belle")

*Jackie Cochran's P-51C, N28388 (?) race 13

*Joe deBona's F-6C Bendix racer "Thunderbird", race 90 (gorgeous)

*Jackie Cochran's/Bill Odom's drastically modified P-51C Thompson pylon racer, N4845N "Beguine" race 7 (also gorgeous but famously ill-fated)

*P-51B "sportplane" from the 50s--no idea whose it was--called "Mr.Alex"

*going to more recent times...ex-Pete Regina P-51B/C (now "Princess Elizabeth") during ownership by Joe Kasperoff as "The Believer", overall red with gold trim, race 97

And that's without taking all the Allison Mustangs into account that flew in civilian hands, mostly as racers, in the late 40s...

Online, try the Society of Air Racing Historians website--maybe try to hunt up someone like Bill Meixner. Books? See if you can get, for a start, the old (ca.1980) NASM series book on "Excalibur III" by Robert Mikesh. That's got all you could want on the two Mantz racers.

Good luck on the project...maybe you can post pix of the resulting model in the WIX modeling forum?

S.

rwdfresno · **Posted:** Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:08 pm

Technically a C model. This is "Batty Betty" with Jack Hardwick in the pilot's seat and accomplished NAA pilot and engineer Virgil Thompson on the wing. This is a the Cleavland National Air Races in 1947.

stangman · **Posted:** Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:05 pm

Seve T
Thanks for that list some i knew of [excalibur, the beleiver] some i didnt

rwdfresno
thanks for the photo never heard of this one i will have to research it and see if i can find info on colours etc.

Steve · **Posted:** Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:56 pm

There's just something about civilian paint on a warbird that you just got-ta love

Steve

MKD1966 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:08 am

Hi stangman,
I don't know what scale your building, but go over to www.RedPegasusDecals.com
Keith does nice decals in several different scales and includes "B" models in civie colors... Hope this helps, Mike

stangman · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:27 am

MKD1966
I am starting on a 1/72 and if that goes well i will try something bigger.
Eventually i would like to do a 1/24 P-51D in civilian colours [maybe convert to cavalier spec]
Many thanx for the web link it offers some intersting ideas!!

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P-51B/C in civilian colours

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