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Update by Chuck Cravens
In recent weeks, work has progressed on installing systems in the fuselage. Control system, electrical, and hydraulics installations take a long time on a restoration like this one.
Also progressing are the wings. The structural framework is coming together.
Hydraulic systems, engine control pedestal, and flight control cables were the focus of fuselage work in recent weeks.
The control pedestal assembly has been installed. The lever with the yellow knob is the flap control lever. The upright lever on the top of the assembly is the carburetor air control. Ahead of that is the rudder trim wheel and the aileron trim wheel. The wheel on the side is for aileron trim. Below that is the landing gear control lever.
The following photos of completed wing and gun installations are also of Lope’s Hope 3rd, one of Dakota Territory Air Museum’s other B/C model Mustangs.
Notice the difference in the wing root. The D/K model has a longer root chord and slightly different gear doors that necessitate a more pronounced “kink” in the leading edge. The uplocks for the landing gear are also different between B/C and D/K Mustangs.
There are four gun ports and 4 spent cartridge ejection ports on the B/C versions and six of the same on the D wings.
While the B/C versions had only two guns per wing and the D/Ks had three, the dimensions of the gun bay itself are the same. North American was able to fit three upright M2s in the same space as the two slanted mount .50 calibers, only needing to change the holes through the spar and leading edge to accommodate 3 guns instead of two. There is a myth that surfaces periodically that the wing thickness was increased for the D/K model to accommodate the upright machine guns.
The airfoil and wing thickness on all the Mustangs from the prototype NA-73 through the last P-51D-30NA produced had the same wing other than the altered “kink” at the root. The experimental XP-51F, XP-51G, P-51H, and twin Mustangs had a different wing design.(1)
(1) Robert Gruenhagen, Mustang , the Story of the P-51 Fighter, Arco Publishing, N.Y., N.Y, 1969,1976
“Initially, P-51Bs had problems with gun jams. We learned that the guns had to be absolutely clean and not oiled, as the oil could freeze at altitude. Another problem with the B model guns was that they were mounted on a slant in the wing, which could cause a gun to jam. The P-51D fixed that problem by having the guns mounted vertically. Our P-51B’s normal load was 350 rounds for inboard guns and 280 rounds for outboard guns. The P-51D held 400 rounds for each of the two outboard guns and 270 rounds for the center and inboard guns.(2)
North American issued Technical order 01-60JD-44 which included a modification to the ammunition feed chutes and belt holding pawls that cured the jamming issue.”
(2) Brigadier General Clarence “Bud” Anderson interviewed at EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, WI
Great work on that a/c – as usual;-)
Looking foreward to the next steps…
That is really impressive. You guys do amazing work. I’m looking forward to the finished product.