Probably the best P-51D restoration to date

[colmbo]

We did a stop in Danville with the Collings bombers and got to go through their restoration shop. They had a Mustang there at the time getting a stock restoration, authentic as possible including armor plates. He explained that it was no longer possible to get the original wire, cloth insulation IIRC, so what they did was have wire made to match original wire in dimension and color. This was done for wiring that would not be seen except by someone working on the airplane. Many restorations today are as authentic as is possible. Big salute to the guys doing the work and the guys willing to foot the bill for that level of detail.

[Bodhi]

The best restoration I have ever seen was the P-51 Upupa Epops done for Paul Allen by Westpac Restorations.  Having been involved in the restoration business for 20 years, it is the best job I have ever seen.

[Bodhi]

We did a stop in Danville with the Collings bombers and got to go through their restoration shop. They had a Mustang there at the time getting a stock restoration, authentic as possible including armor plates. He explained that it was no longer possible to get the original wire, cloth insulation IIRC, so what they did was have wire made to match original wire in dimension and color. This was done for wiring that would not be seen except by someone working on the airplane. Many restorations today are as authentic as is possible. Big salute to the guys doing the work and the guys willing to foot the bill for that level of detail.

You can get the cloth covering, you just can not use it on the bare wire.  What is done now is to loom the cloth covering over modern wire.  It looks identical.

[smoe]

Does anyone have any documentation of the 51's and the German pilot's first impressions? Of course the German pilot's would have had to survive the encounter to talk about it.

[Nath[BDP]]

Does anyone have any documentation of the 51's and the German pilot's first impressions? Of course the German pilot's would have had to survive the encounter to talk about it.

Germans probably shot down a bunch then were overwhelmed with numbers.

[smoe]

Germans probably shot down a bunch then were overwhelmed with numbers.

So they Allies took Germany with hordes?

[Bruv119]

beautiful pony pics Wide,   thanks for sharing.   

[Oldman731]

Germans probably shot down a bunch then were overwhelmed with numbers.

Good lord, Nath, where did you come up with that?

- oldman

[GScholz]

So they Allies took Germany with hordes?

Yup 

[pipz]

Very nice.

[DaveBB]

The first P-51 ace was actually an A-36 pilot (the dive-bomber version of the P-51).  This was in North Africa.