"Horse's Itch" - 357th FG, 363 FS - P-51D

[Fencer51]

I just noticed that you have a redish stain flowing aft from the fusalage tank fueling point.

Should not fuel spilling during fueling drop down?

Also what is that black circle on the left wing near-on the white ID stripe?

Overall one of your best skins, nicely done.

[oboe]

It is Vraciu's best work I think.  Great-looking subject and nicely done.

The black circle, I think, is an attachment point for a grounding cable (or whatever it is they use) for use during fueling.
I've seen them labeled "GROUND HERE" and they seem to be near each fuel filler cap.

[Fencer51]

 Yes grounding points, but they appear on only warbirds, period aircraft do not have them afaik.

[Vraciu]

I just noticed that you have a redish stain flowing aft from the fusalage tank fueling point.

Should not fuel spilling during fueling drop down?

Also what is that black circle on the left wing near-on the white ID stripe?

Overall one of your best skins, nicely done.

Thanks Fencer.   I appreciate that. 

I went with the stain running aft to represent air flow as if a tiny bit of the fuel is coming put of the cap in flight.   

The grounding points were mentioned by oboe.   I will do some additional research on those.

 

[Vraciu]

It is Vraciu's best work I think.  Great-looking subject and nicely done.

The black circle, I think, is an attachment point for a grounding cable (or whatever it is they use) for use during fueling.
I've seen them labeled "GROUND HERE" and they seem to be near each fuel filler cap.

Thanks, bro!   

[Vraciu]

I wish this photo was a bit larger...



Here's a shot that shows two in the same place as the underside.  Were these filled?

[Fencer51]

Those are bolts, 3 total per side, attaching the wing to the fuselage.  Here is a photo showing Preddy's plane with the three bolts visible.

[Devil 505]

Yes grounding points, but they appear on only warbirds, period aircraft do not have them afaik.

I can see it on some wartime photos. I do not see it on "Horse's Itch" however.

[ACE]

Nice work.

[Guppy35]

I'd lose the grounding point on the white ID band.  New production airplanes had all their stencils in place, as do most modern warbird restorations.  I'd be hard pressed to think the 357th would have taken the time to re stencil things like that when they painted the 51s.

Most 51s that weren't painted had silver painted wings to start but ended up with that paint wearing off as well.  Airframe life on operations was never going to be too long and there were too many other things to do besides paint

[FTJR]

I was asked to post some links on the subject. But they seem to have been covered in Devils post.

http://users.telenet.be/Emmanuel.Gustin/fgun/p51d-b.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7c/04/de/7c04de53a8f855bbcdf186843ab3c8e4.jpg


https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjzy5bYup_TAhXnw1QKHRGrALEQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.largescaleplanes.com%2Findex.php%3Fshowtopic%3D46527&psig=AFQjCNFpG-rep7MODIGAhk1Vvym-QMPbXA&ust=1492105050464131

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjyy8Gsu5_TAhWm4IMKHXO9DwIQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Flanguages.oberlin.edu%2Fblogs%2Fgperez%2Foral-history-projects%2Fjose-mendiola%2Fmilitary-service-the-air-force-was-an-adventure%2F&psig=AFQjCNGKF-Wg7w_0jPUyItPECkEUWwFLSQ&ust=1492105208534046

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiOyNS7u5_TAhVK54MKHYhODAcQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fmarkradcliff3%2Fairplanes%2F&psig=AFQjCNGKF-Wg7w_0jPUyItPECkEUWwFLSQ&ust=1492105208534046

[bustr]

KOWABUNGA!!!! Vraciu......

[Vraciu]

KOWABUNGA!!!! Vraciu......

Thank you kindly, sir. 

[Vraciu]

Nice work.

Thank you.   

[Vraciu]

I'd lose the grounding point on the white ID band.  New production airplanes had all their stencils in place, as do most modern warbird restorations.  I'd be hard pressed to think the 357th would have taken the time to re stencil things like that when they painted the 51s.

Most 51s that weren't painted had silver painted wings to start but ended up with that paint wearing off as well.  Airframe life on operations was never going to be too long and there were too many other things to do besides paint

Many stencils were reapplied including some on this airplane.  That said I went with a compromise.   I put a grounding port just outboard of the stripe with no markings. 

I also added the bolt holes Fencer showed us.   It looks better than a plain OD wing that way...

I'll post one more set of photos for review then it goes to the update queue.