Warbirdsim P-51D-5-NA Nearing Completion

[bomberpilot500]

I'll be adding more screenshots to this thread, as Warbirdsim's next product, the P-51D-5-NA, nears completion. I hope you'll enjoy them!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/metal_finish_1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/metal_finish_2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/metal_finish_3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/metal_finish_4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/metal_finish_5.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/metal_finish_6.jpg

[bomberpilot500]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Donald_E_10.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Donald_E_11.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Donald_E_12.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Donald_E_13.jpg

[bomberpilot500]

A few last images of the final texture work on "Donald". I'll provide further screenshots of other variants that will be covered in the product, and the VC, soon.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Donald_Close_Up_1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Donald_Close_Up_2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Donald_Close_Up_3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Donald_Close_Up_4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Donald_Close_Up_5.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Donald_Close_Up_6.jpg

[FS_Talking_Tom]

That is gorgeous! I have an autistic son who likes Donald Duck. Will this be for Microsoft's line (FSX, CFS3)? I'd love flying this beauty in CFS3.

[bomberpilot500]

Many thanks, Tom, it is being produced for FSX however. ; )

[bomberpilot500]

Here is a preview of all of the variants featured in Warbirdsim's up-coming "Little Friends II" product, focusing on the P-51D-5-NA.

"Cripes A' Mighty 3rd"

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Cripes_1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Cripes_3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Cripes_4.jpg

"The Flying Dutchman"

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Flying_Dutchman_1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Flying_Dutchman_2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Flying_Dutchman_6.jpg

"Donald Duck"

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Donald_1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Donald_6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Donald_5.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Donald_4.jpg

[bomberpilot500]

"Frenesi"

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Frenesi_1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Frenesi_2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Frenesi_7.jpg

"Glengary Guy/Jackie"

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Glengary_Guy_3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Glengary_Guy_1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Glengary_Guy_11.jpg

"Lou IV/Athelene"

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/LouIV_4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/LouIV_3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/LouIV_5.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/LouIV_7.jpg

[bomberpilot500]

"Marie"

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Marie_6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Marie_3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Marie_7.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Marie_4.jpg

"The Comet"

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/The_Comet_6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/The_Comet_7.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/The_Comet_2.jpg

[taffy63]

Hi,

These skins are absolutely amazing! I've recently purchased the Warbirdsim 'Limited Edition' P-51D pack for FSX and I'm very impressed/pleased with it. These skins would be the icing on the cake. Can you advise if they are available for download and, if so, where can they be found?

Many thanks.

Taff

p.s. don't know if you're aware but the aircraft "Glengary Guy" and another named "Blondie" are featured in Tamiya's recent 1/32 scale P-51D plastic model kit. It, like the Warbirdsim model, is a superlative in its relevant field. Perhaps you might consider producing a version of "Blondie" for the Warbirdsim P-51D? ;)

undefinedundefined

[taffy63]

How embarrassing :o I've just realised that these are development shots of the forthcoming P-51D without dorsal fin fillet.

Never mind, will just have to start saving ready to buy it when released :)


Hi,

These skins are absolutely amazing! I've recently purchased the Warbirdsim 'Limited Edition' P-51D pack for FSX and I'm very impressed/pleased with it. These skins would be the icing on the cake. Can you advise if they are available for download and, if so, where can they be found?

Many thanks.

Taff

p.s. don't know if you're aware but the aircraft "Glengary Guy" and another named "Blondie" are featured in Tamiya's recent 1/32 scale P-51D plastic model kit. It, like the Warbirdsim model, is a superlative in its relevant field. Perhaps you might consider producing a version of "Blondie" for the Warbirdsim P-51D? ;)

undefinedundefined

[bomberpilot500]

Thank you, Taff!

The P-51D-5-NA is quite a different aicraft compared to later models of the P-51D, though most only know about the lack of the dorsal fin fillet being the signature difference. Many of the most famous P-51D's of WWII, were P-51D-5-NA's, and as there has never been a proper example of the D-5-NA produced for any of the Microsoft-based flight simulator platforms, I thought it would be great to introduce this variant of the Mustang, as it originally was, the first production model of the P-51D.

The biggest exterior difference, between the D-5-NA and later models, is of course the lack of the dorsal fin fillet, but other smaller details are different, such as fabric elevators instead of the later metal types, a white recognition light on the spine of the aircraft which was removed with P-51D-10-NA and later production, a unique to the P-51D-5-NA canopy design (that changed by D-10-NA production), a circular gun camera port instead of the later square type, etc. But when you sit in the cockpit, you also notice quite a significant difference when compared to the later P-51D cockpit layouts and configurations, that are more commonly known and seen (because all of the P-51D's flying and on display in museums today are later models of the Mustang). For instance, the instrument panel, which is almost pure P-51B in form, is very different than the later type that was first developed immediately after P-51D-5-NA production. Also, on P-51D-5-NA to early P-51D-20-NA production, the gun sight installed was that of the N-9 reflector type, before the K-14 was introduced in mid P-51D-20-NA production. Supplied with it, until mid P-51D-15-NA production, was a back-up ring and bead sight, incase the N-9 were to fail in combat. The recticle modeled for the N-9 gun sight on the Warbirdsim P-51D-5-NA, is collimated (at least simulated as such), and the materials make it "lit-up" under all conditions and times of day, so it really looks as if it is projected by light. There are also numerous other differences throughout the cockpit, when compared with later examples, including an early/standard ball-grip throttle lever (which was changed out for the more well-known twist-handle type with the introduction of the K-14), a different, early Warren McArthur seat, a manual primer pump instead of an electrical unit, and different-layouts/configurations of the main electrical panels.

With product release happening sometime this coming week, here are some images of the cockpit. As with past P-51D products released through Warbirdsim, the cockpit is as it was on the original P-51D-5-NA's in WWII. A large amount of the parts were modeled straight from original factory drawings, the paint/finishes/materials as produced through the textures are all specific and exact to the types seen from the North American Aviation factory, all of the various placards/stencils/gages and other text-markings use the actual type-faces as the originals, and the wear and tear was actually copied, paint chip by paint chip, to match various rare WWII-era period P-51 cockpit photos. Even the smallest of details, such as original inspection stickers applied to electrical panels, and safety wired hardware, are reproduced in exact/authentic form.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image5.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image7.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image9.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image10.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image11.jpg

[bomberpilot500]

Here are some views of the N-9 gun sight in action:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image12.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image13.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image14.jpg

[bomberpilot500]

Here are details on each of the unique variants covered in Warbirdsim's up-coming "Little Friends II" product.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/lf2_21.jpg

P-51D-5-NA (44-13317) "Donald Duck"
Assigned to the 336th FS, 4th FG, of the 8th AF, 44-13317 was the personal mount of Capt. Donald R. Emerson. Emerson arrived in England in early March of '44, and was first assigned to a P-51B before being given 44-13317, one of the first of the new 'bubble-top' P-51Ds to arrive in England, right around the time of D-Day. His new P-51D was personalized with a combative Donald Duck painted on the nose. Emerson would participate in over 80 combat missions, including the D-Day operations and the Russian Shuttle missions. On Christmas Day, 1944, while flying another P-51D in action over the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge, Capt. Emerson was killed when his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire as he headed back to base. On Emerson's last mission, he became separated from the rest of his group, and was jumped by six Fw-190's. Alone, Emerson managed to shoot down two of the enemy aircraft before running out of ammunition, but eluding the others in the clouds. Capt. Donald Emerson earned the Distinguished Flying Cross w/ OLC's, the Air Medal w/1 Silver and 2 Bronze OLC's, the Distinguished Unit Citation, and the Purple Heart, posthumously.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Frenesi.jpg

P-51D-5-NA (44-13318) "Frenesi"
Assigned to the 364th FS, 357th FG, of the 8th AF, "Frenesi" was the personal mount of Lt. Col. Thomas L. Hayes. Hayes started out flying P-40's and P-39's in the Pacific, with the 70th and 17th Pursuit Squadrons, as well as the 35th FG, in 1942, before being transferred back to the U.S. to serve as an instructor. In October of 1943, Hayes was promoted to Major and assigned to command the 364th FS, 357th FG, which shipped out to Leiston, Suffolk, UK. Entering combat in February of 1944 flying a P-51B, Hayes quickly became the group's first ace. Around the time of D-Day, or just after, Hayes was assigned the brand-new P-51D, 44-13318, which he nicknamed Frenesi, named after his and his wife's favorite song at the time. When Lt. Col. Thomas Hayes completed his last mission of the war, he had tallied 8.5 aerial victories while operating from England, as well as two Japanese ground victories from his time in the Pacific. He earned the Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, and a Purple Heart (from wounds he received when he was shot down by a Japanese Zero in 1942).


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Cripes.jpg

P-51D-5-NA (44-13321) "Cripes A' Mighty 3rd"
Assigned to the 487th FS, 352nd FG, of the 8th AF, "Cripes A' Mighty 3rd" was the personal mount of Maj. George E. Preddy, Jr. Already a pilot before the war started, Preddy was determined to get into the war as a fighter pilot and was first assigned to the 49th Pursuit Group, based in Australia, flying P-40's against the Japanese. During this time he was credited with two probables, before being seriously injured in an air-to-air collision with another Warhawk. After recovering, Preddy hooked up with who would become his future commander, John C. Meyer, and after being trained on the P-47, shipped to Bodney, England, in mid-1943, to serve with the 352nd FG. He would already tally a few aerial victories before transitioning to a P-51B in early 1944, after which point Preddy's score began to quickly increase. On June 12, 1944, Preddy was given the brand-new P-51D, 44-13321, for which he named "Cripes A' Mighty 3rd", the aircraft with which Preddy would become famous. By the end of July, Preddy had already shot down a Fw-190, an Me-109, destroyed three Ju-88's, damaged two others, and shared a Me-410 victory, with 2.5 victories coming on August 5th. Preddy's "big day", however, came on August 6th, when as serving as the lead of the 352nd, Preddy claimed six confirmed victories, all in a total of five minutes of combat time, and through it all, nursing a massive hangover from the night before. After this extraordinary mission, Preddy was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and was allowed to go home. Preddy returned to Bodney in late October, and was made CO of the 328th FS. Assigned a new Mustang, this one simply named "Cripes A' Mighty", Preddy lead the 328th with tremendous success. On Christmas Day, 1944, Preddy was chasing down an Fw-190 on the deck, when he was caught up in anti-aircraft fire. Tragically, Maj. George Preddy was killed by friendly-fire. With two confirmed kills on Christmas Day, George Preddy's final tally of the war was 26.83 aerial victories, making him the highest-scoring Mustang ace of the war. Maj. George Preddy earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Silver Star with OLC, the Distinguished Flying Cross w/8 OLC, the Air Medal w/7 OLC, and both the Purple Heart and the Belgian Croix de Guerre, both awarded posthumously.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/lf2_17.jpg

P-51D-5-NA (44-13298) "Marie"
Assigned to the 2nd FS, 52nd FG, of the 15th AF, “Marie” was the personal mount of Maj. Freddie F. Ohr. Initially Ohr went overseas with the 62nd Service Group, but was assigned shortly there after to the 2nd Fighter Squadron of the 52nd Fighter Group. When Ohr joined the 52nd, the group was flying Spitfires, based out of North Africa and then Sicily. Ohr scored his first victory while flying a Spitfire, taking out a Ju-88, but it wasn’t until about a year later, and after the 52nd had transitioned to P-51’s, that he would claim his next aerial kill and work his way up to ‘ace’ status. Freddie Ohr was officially credited with 6 aerial victories, though there were almost certainly more that remained unconfirmed, throughout the span of the more than 150 missions that he flew. Maj. Freddie Ohr earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Silver Stars, the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal w/18 OLC. Freddie Ohr remains the only American Ace of Korean ancestry.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/lf2_13.jpg

P-51D-5-NA (44-13410) "Lou IV/Athelene"
Assigned to the 375th FS, 361st FG, of the 8th AF, “Lou IV/Athelene” was the personal mount of Col. Thomas J.J. Christian, Jr. Great grandson of the Confederate General Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson, Christian entered the war as a B-17 pilot, stationed at Guadalcanal. During this time, Christian would be shot down and posted as 'M.I.A.' over the South Pacific, but he managed to make it back to friendly lines after surviving a period in the jungle with the help of natives. After returning to the U.S., in early 1943 Col. Christian became the commander of the newly-formed 361st FG, flying P-47’s. The group shipped out in late 1943, arriving at Bottisham, England, flying P-47’s until May of ’44 when the group transitioned to Mustangs. When assigned 44-13410 in the summer of 1944, it became the fourth aircraft that Christian would name after his daughter Lou Ellen, becoming Lou IV. The starboard-side of the aircraft, however, would be named after the wife of crew chief S/Sgt D Jameson, Athelene. Lou IV would become quite famous, due to a large number of publicity photos that were taken of the “Bottisham Four”, a formation flight of four 375th FS Mustangs led by Col. Christian high above the English countryside. Tragically, just a very short time after these photos were taken, Col. Christian was killed in action on August 12, 1944, while flying Lou IV. Although Col. Christian did not achieve any air-to-air victories, Lou IV did have two confirmed kills to its credit, while at the hands of other pilots. At the time of his death, Col. Thomas Christian had completed more than 70 combat missions. For his service, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross w/ OLC’s, the Air Medal w/3 OLC’s, and the Purple Heart.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/lf2_25.jpg

P-51D-5-NA (44-13471) "The Comet"
Assigned to the 505th FS, 339th FG, of the 8th AF, “The Comet” was the short-lived mount of Capt. Evan M. Johnson. As the then leading ace of the 339th FG, the aircraft was presented to Capt. Johnson on July 8, 1944, as a presentation aircraft sponsored by Hackensack High School, NJ, named after the school’s athletics team “The Comets” . On the very same day of presentation, the aircraft was lost when its wing failed in-flight, while Capt. Johnson was wringing out the aircraft for the gathered press. Fortunately Capt. Johnson bailed out safely, though the aircraft was a total loss. Following “The Comet”, Capt. Johnson would eventually receive another P-51D, which he named “Pistol Packin’ Mama”, which was his original choice of nickname on his previous aircraft.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Flying_Dutchman_2.jpg

P-51D-5-NA (44-13500) "Flying Dutchman"
Assigned to the 308th FS, 31st FG, of the 15th AF, "Flying Dutchman" was the personal mount of Capt. Robert J. Goebel, named after the famed phantom ship. Bob Goebel first entered service in 1943, when he was posted to the Panama Canal zone on defensive duties, where he flew P-39's with the 43rd FS. At the beginning of 1944, Goebel was transferred to the 31st FG, 308th FS, and shipped out to North Africa to join the 15th AF, flying Spitfire Mk.V's and Mk.VIII's. The squadron soon moved across the Mediterranean, to a forward airbase at San Savero, in southern Italy. At this time, the groups role was changed to bomber escort duties, and the Spitfires were traded for P-51B's. The 31st FG would escort bomber raids on targets inside Romania, Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Italy. Entering combat in April of 1944, Bob Goebel would fly 61 combat missions, and would be credited with destroying 10 Me-109's, one Me-110, and an additional 109 probable, before returning home. Capt. Bob Goebel earned the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross w/ Silver OLC, the Air Medal w/ 17 Bronze OLC's, and the Distinguished Unit Citation w/ OLC.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/lf2_11.jpg

P-51D-5-NA (44-13760) "Glengary Guy/Jackie"
Assigned to the 79th FS, 20th FG, of the 8th AF, “Glengary Guy/Jackie” was the personal mount of Capt. Glenn M. Webb. Capt. Webb’s aircraft were named after both him and his sons, Gary and Guy, with the starboard-sides of the aircraft named after his wife, Jackie. Capt. Webb flew 78 combat missions with the 20th FG, starting out on P-38’s in early May of 1944, before transferring to P-51’s in mid-summer, ‘44. Assigned to 44-13760 on July 21, Webb would fly the aircraft for the duration of his tour with the group. Capt. Glenn Webb returned to the U.S. in early November of ’44, having earned the Air Medal w/7 OLC’s, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and many other medals and decorations. 44-13760 would be re-assigned to Capt. Dale Jones, and re-named “Nina Merle”, who flew the aircraft until January of ’45, when it was assigned to Lt. Lloyd E. Rowlett, and then Lt. David McAllister, of the 77th FS, who named it Cindee Lind. (Although flown by another pilot on the mission, Glengary Guy served as one of the escort fighters on the specialized mission that killed Joe Kennedy, on August 13, 1944, when the guided-bomb configured B-24 he was piloting exploded in-flight.)

[bomberpilot500]

I am very happy to report that this product is now available! You can find more details and purchase the product from this page here: http://warbirdsim.com/Store.do?state=ViewProduct&product=26&category=1

If you have any questions about the product, be sure to ask, and I'll do my absolute best to answer them!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image10-1.jpg

[fsxar177]

Good Evening,
Been out of the loop for a little bit, but was going to post a few questions. First of all, the Warbirdsim Mustang has to be one of the "musts" For FSX, and the upcoming release looks to be the best yet. There is something about the Warbirdsim variants that scream....
"As real as it gets!" - Good work guys.


So, my question is, what all is involved in a production like this? How many people, how many programs? I used to develop in the FS.8 days, and I can assume, for the most part, what's going into a model like this. But Specifically for this production, what's being used? From graphics programs, the visual model, sounds, panels, dynamics, etc., etc., there must be 50+ things being used... What are the top 15?

Thank-you,
Looking forward to the release!
Joseph

[bomberpilot500]

Hi Joseph,

At Warbirdsim, it is just a two man show. I do all of the 3d modeling, textures, and coding, while Albert Patrick handles the sound set and the flight dynamics. I'm personally not up to speed on what was is used for the sound recording, sound mixing, and flight dynamics development on Albert's end, but for my section of the work I just use GMAX and Paint Shop Pro primarily, with Photoshop from time to time. In order to have the most functionality in the cockpit, 3d gages and radios, etc., there is also a ton of specially-written code for those animations and 'clickables'.

There is of course a massive amount of research that goes into these planes. For the P-51D's, we participated in several trips to current-day examples (I'm in the U.S., while Albert is in the U.K., so we get a good mixture between us), with Albert being fortunate enough to basically have had complete access, inside and out, to such examples as "Janie" and "Jumpin Jacques" (the sounds were recorded from inside and outside of "Jumpin Jacques", during engine break-in high-power runs, and a flight onboard). One of the most unique things about the Warbirdsim P-51D productions, is a large percentage of the modeling was done straight from original blueprints, inside and out, to ensure an extremely high level of visual accuracy. Besides the blueprints, the pilot's P-51D/K handbook, the maintenance and assembly manual for the P-51D/K (one of the best resources), discussions over the internet and in person with current-day P-51 pilots, restorers, and those that maintain them (another one of the best resources - the maintenance and restoration guys), other discussions with P-51 historians and experts (those who have already spent a life-time researching the P-51), and of course utlizing thousands upon thousands of photographs of every nook and cranny of the aircraft.

Through all of the unique P-51D/K variants we have produced, nearly three years have been invested, having started in on the very first P-51D, "Happy Jack's Go Buggy", in January of 2009, which wouldn't be finished until a year and a half later (with roughly 5 more months dedicated to just produce the other uniquely different examples contained in the P-51D "Restored Part 1" product).

I love do these projects for all that I learn throughout them, on each new one. I also get a great thrill being able to share that knowledge with anyone who be interested in it.

One of the many interesting aspects of covering so many of the different variants/sub-types of the P-51D, is that it shows everyone that there wasn't just one, "cookie-cutter mold", P-51D, that the extension behind, such as P-51D-5-NA, or P-51D-20-NA, made a lot of difference, with literally hundreds of changes between them (there are numerous difference between just an early-produced P-51D-20-NA and a late-produced P-51D-20-NA, with the changes that were introduced during the production run).

With "Little Friends I" and "Little Friends II", you can directly compare the changes that took place between the first production P-51D and one of the very last produced P-51D/K's at the end of WWII, to see exactly how everything progressed through all of the makes/models in between as shown here:

P-51D-5-NA - the first production model P-51D

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image1.jpg

P-51K-15-NT (comparable to a P-51D-30-NA or a P-51D-25-NT) - one of the very last P-51D/K's produced - too late for WWII service (seen in factory fresh form)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/p51k_raf7.jpg

[bomberpilot500]

As I've also posted elsewhere recently, both the "Little Friends I" and "Little Friends II" sets, feature a highly detailed left gun bay, that is reproduced in complete accuracy and authenticity. You can count the number of individual links in the ammunition chutes, the numbers and placements of screws, rivets, spot welds, and bolts, the primer finishes and markings, and the way the ammunition belts are loaded, with that of the real thing, and it is all exact. You can even look at the "up/down/up/down" pattern of the forward gun door hinge, and it is exact to the actual part. All of the various inspections stamps, as marked at the factory, are also accurately reproduced (as they are also in the cockpit). With the exception of the wiring (I had to preserve performance some how : )), everything can be seen in the gun bay on the Warbirdsim reproduction as you would be able to see on the real aircraft, in the exact form and finishes. Everything is also animated to perfectly match the sequence of events that lead to the forward gun door being un-locked, opened, and supported with a support arm, the rear gun door being slid out and stowed to the side, and the ammunition door being unlocked, slid out, and stowed.

Here are some screenshots of my work in the sim, compared with photos of the real deal.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image5-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image6-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends/Image4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/Image7-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/2730472626_d2a4b46496_b.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/P51_CripesAMighty_20070930_03.jpg

(Save for the wiring, if everything you see in this photo can be found in the reproduced gun bay - though it requires one to look around the guns a bit to see all of the details)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Image11-6.jpg

[fsxar177]

John,
Thank-you for the reply. It is truly awesome to replicate, with the authenticity, something of this caliber...and bring it to the desk of the average computer pilot. Great stuff. It is pretty remarkable that you and Mr. Patrick are the essential developers of such an add-on. What's your next project when the dust settles?

Joseph

[bomberpilot500]

Thank you Joseph! I plan to announce the next project, which will be an entirely different WWII-era fighter (in convention, and maker), sometime around mid-December, after the project has been started.

-John

[JBnTX]

This beautiful work of art is my next purchase, come next payday.

[fsxar177]

- John,
I'm sure we will all be looking forward to an announcement on the next project!

So, based on your precious little clues, my guess would be:
P-63 King Cobra Series.... (Please say yes!)