P51b

[Zanth]

I never liked ponies before, but the p51B is a very nice plane.  I was shocked at how well it handles.  Later I was shocked again to see it has an ENY of 35 or something lke that.  We are going to see a lot more of these, and one of em will probably be me till I get bored with it.


Someone needs to make some skins for it though. only has the default (which isnt bad, just like variety).

this is a pretty one:



487th Fighter Squadron P51B "Francis B Too" of Ralph Hamilton, in full D-Day markings

[Zanth]

Is that a rear view mirror on top of the canopy?

[Batz]

yeah its a mirror. The p51b is good looking plane, the C looks even better. All though I will never fly one of all the Ami planes it looks best....

I  have a pic of a captured p51b in lw colors (wilbuz posted a profile a while back) I might be able to convince myself to fly it in those colors....

[Tilt]

Originally posted by Zanth
but the p51B is a very nice plane.  I was shocked at how well it handles.  

Ssssshhhhhhhhhh damit............ they'll all be flyin one..........

[MachNix]

It is pretty.  Unfortunately, the current skin for the b version has the nose mirrored.  Anything forward of the firewall, like the name "Frances B. Too!", will be mirrored on the other side.

MachNix

[Octavius]

Yup, one of the first skins I attempted was hosed due to the unnecessary mirroring.  Room for the mirrored side on the bitmap is provided and it still mirrors.  Hopefully this will get fixed post-release

[Adogg]

How difficult is it to add rear-view mirrors to the cockpits of those that had them?

[LWACE]

Batz ima LW guy to, and id love to see some of the other planes that were captured skinned in LW colors!

Maybe some of the skinners on here can make us afew:D

I would ,by skinning for me is hopeless:(

[-MZ-]

It is the best plane for getting assists.

[Guppy35]

What would be nice is if you could have a choice to have both B/C models and D models in the same Group markings so you could mix and match formations.  There certainly were flying both together in the same squadrons and groups in WW2.

The mirrors btw were Spitfire mirrors, very coveted by the 8th fighter pilots.  some D Mustangs had two mounted on the windscreen.  Most Mustangs had at least one mounted.

Image is an old profile I did of a 353rd P51C.

Dan/Slack

[fluffy]

The p51B is a real sleeper all right - it was my favourite ride in AH1 too.  I'm just a mediocre stick in a dogfight, but the p51B appears to have an energy edge over the 'D' in a one-on-one.   I think that the 4x.50 guns and the laticework in the canopy discourage a lot of people from picking this sweet ride more often.  The truth is that the 4x.50s are all you need against nme fighters, if you can hit with them - although I admit they aren't so good versus buffs.  Plus people seem to take the 'B' lightly when they face one, figuring that it's "not dangerous". This, of course, is a mistake.
I like the olive drab paint scheme best as it is better camoflage then the silver schemes used for the 'D', and I know I find it harder to see and hit AH planes that have good camo, icons or not, in low level fights.  I may fly the 'D' more often in AHII than before now that an olive skin is available for it.
I'd love to see the 'C' model, or anyway Malcolm hood upgrades to the 'B' available in AH2 someday. Being a canuck I'm required to have a special fondness for Spitfires - and I do, but the AH plane I feel most at home in is the Mustang III (P51-B).

[AKFokerFoder+]

It will be a great day when those planes that had mirrors get them modeled in AH.  It will make the views more realistic.

The pony B with mirrors would be a saaa weet ride

AKFokerFoder+

[TDeacon]

Not sure if it just my display, but if you carefully compare the p51b game model with any good side view, the model looks compressed in the vertical dimension.  

How p51-b now appears (vertical dimension too small):


How p51-b should appear (vertical dimension correct):

[ergRTC]

Thanks for reminding me about the b.  A truly fantastic aircraft.  I have read that it was more streamlined due to the lack of the bubble cockpit (the razorback) and had a higher speed at lower alts because of it.  It is also considerably lighter and more agile.  Only issue I think is the fuel loadout.


It does need a new skin, and that suggestion about matching skins with the d is a very good one.  I would love to see a mixed formation.

[ergRTC]

And for those people that dis the stang for being too good... here are some sad pictures....







But look at that wonderful climb in the p51b up high.  Very nice.