Model aircraft - In the larger scale

[Flieger]

Today I visited at a friends house outside the city where I live. This guy started out as a very competent 1/4th scale RC aircraft builder and flyer but has since moved on to slightly larger things.

The story starts back in 1952 when this thing hit the ground (pilot jumped safe) where it rested in a bog until 1999 when the SwAF decided to collect the parts and bring it home. Reviewing what they had to work with they realized that they where never able to bring it back to "life" so the put the parts in crates and forgot about them. Fast forward to 2004 when my friend managed to convince them to release the parts in his care.

First photo shows what it looked like when it was dumped at his front yard:

Second photo shows the progress today:

Even if this lady never will fly again, I feel very honoured just to be near her and helping out, in whatever small way I can, to make her look her best again.

Cheers
/F

PS: It's a P-51D Mustang by the way, or a "S 26" to be exact - The SwAF photo recc version. This is the only one of 13 built/converted that survived until this day.

 

[BellyTank]

Very cool, Flieger.
You're lucky to be involved.


B
T

 

[Story]

P-51 Mustang, right?

http://www.canit.se/~griffon/aviation/text/26mustan.htm

(Oops, didn't see your footnote!)

 

[Twitch]

Didn't see the engine. Is it around? All things are possible with money as far as rebuilds of historic aircraft go.

 

[Jay]

I never cease to be amazed at the way they can bring an old bird back to life from a scattering of crumpled parts. The progress looks great. Flieger, I'm jealous you can be a part of such a noble enterprise.

 

[Flieger]

Didn't see the engine. Is it around? All things are possible with money as far as rebuilds of historic aircraft go.

The enigine is also there but it's rather smashed. Not only did the aircraft crash, it was also used for target practice by the airforce. :eusa_doh:

/F

 

[Flieger]

Maybe some of you are interested in a small update?

This is what the airframe looks like today:

About one yard of the rear airframe, between the canopy and the tail, was compleatly missing and new bulkheads had to be manufactured from original NAA-blueprints. That part of the aircraft held the camera on the Swedish recc-version of the P-51D so modifications had to be done to the original drawings to accomodate the SwAF modifications (camera mountings and a different arrangement of the rudderlines.

Slowly getting there.

NOTE: In case someone is keeping tracks of these things. The aircraft in question is former P-51D20, 44-72112.

/F

 

[Spitfire]

Aren't you guys missing something...I thought these things had something sticking out on the sides....like wings?

No serious - this is fantastic!!! Well done so far:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Flieger]

LOL! Yes, we have wings. Right now they look like the old beercans you can sometimes find when you dig in your back yard...

This is the best one btw.

It's just a matter of duct-tape and bondo.

/F

 

[DutchIndo]

I'm sure Chino Airport would be interested in that Mustang. They have rebulit Fighters long as I can remember. I remember when they rebuilt that Zero years back.

 

[PADDY]

What a marvellous project!!

I can hardly imagine the painstaking hours of panel beating and recutting that must be going on.

I wonder what 'livery/markings' will be eventually chosen for her?

And where will she be displayed? Must be a few years work left yet, but this is just so inspiring bringing this vintage baby back to life :eusa_clap

 

[Speedster]

This is absolutely fantastic...Thanks for sharing :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Flieger]

After completion (yes, it will take a couple of years more) she will first be displayed here at the local museum for a season or so.

After that she'll be moved to her home base - The 21st Wing in Luleå. This was the only Wing that flew this bird. As far as we know, this is the only S 26-variant that exist today.

13 where built/converted, a few crashed or was scrapped. Some where sold to warbird collectors in the US (then re-converted back to original fighter status).

This is how she looked when on active duty in the SwAF... and this is how she's going to be displayed once again:

 

[MikeBravo]

Slightly off-topic

I spied this aircraft for sale on ebay

Going cheap at AUD375,000

 

[Windsock]

I spied this aircraft for sale on ebay

I've seen this one many times as it's local to me- great warbird, what a bargain and part of me hopes it doesn't sell.

 

[Flieger]

As of fall 2008, this is the progress so far on the S 26/P-51D:

/F

 

[donCarlos]

Sorry if you´ve already written it, but do you plan to send her to the sky again, or are you just restoring it for static display? Because it would be really pity if it was never to fly again. I know how much work it is, but....

 

[Spitfire]

That is just bloody amazing!!!!!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Flieger]

Sorry if you´ve already written it, but do you plan to send her to the sky again, or are you just restoring it for static display? Because it would be really pity if it was never to fly again. I know how much work it is, but....

I'm sorry but in this case Static Display was the only option. This poor lady was too banged up and neglected ever to fly again.

/F

 

[dhermann1]

Question: Are they taking the old mangled metal and flattening it out, or are they getting new sheet metal and forming it? Are they able to straighten out the propeller, etc? How much original material will wind up being used? I think it's cool that the old bird will wear her original Swedish livery.