Need Split Between Pony Models

[usieric3]

Not neccessarily for the sake of more skins, but so that the skins we have are accurate. The B Pony is modelled with a Malcolm hood, which very few had, and only four (the 354th FG, the UK/POL sqdrn, the 4TH FG for "Kid"  Hoffer and the default for "Old Crow")of the B Pony skins actually had Malcolm hoods. We need a model of the B/C Pony with a bird-cage canopy so that Gentile's "Shangri-La" isn't flown with a Malcolm hood when he never had one on that bird. IF these are to be historically accurate when submitted as to paint schemes, then hardware should be as well.

[Krusty]

No more an issue than skinning a P51B with a malcolm hood on the old P51 (with folding canopy).


It's basically a non-issue, IMO. We can't have every minor variant ever made. What about spits with tall tails and short tails? Same plane, same engine, same armament, same performance, but one bit is different. We can't very well model every option ever had.


It's a compromise, and a fair one IMO. I do miss the old frames at times, but only for nostalgic reasons.

I would be interested in seeing if HTC can add the other canopy as an option. They can add a nose gun to the B-25, they should be able to add/swap the canopies, right?


Also, the Malcolm hood was fairly common. Maybe just not on the skins we have here. It was retrofitted after the fact, though, so you may see photos of planes with the framed canopy, that were later replaced with newer hoods.

[Widewing]

By June of 1944, more than 60% of 8th AF P-51B and C models had been retrofitted with the Malcolm hood. They were very common. I doubt that many (if any) had reached the MTO.

Before the P-51s received the graphic update, the P-51B had the standard framed canopy.

My regards,

Widewing