Warbirdsim and Flight Replicas have joined forces to bring back together the European Combatants in the shape of The North American P-51, in one of the last of the D model aircraft and using the later Aeroproducts propeller to give it the K designation and from our friend at Flight Replicas, the final production version of the Bf 109, also the K series (Kurtfurst),
powered by the DB 605D engine with 1,973 HP this was introduced in the autumn of 1944. Externally very similar to the later models of the Bf 109G series, a large number of internal changes and aerodynamic improvements were made to improve its effectiveness and to correct existing issues. This meant it was a good match for the latest Allied and Soviet fighters. The Bf 109's outstanding rate of climb was superior to all Allied counterparts including the P-51D Mustang, Spitfire XIV and Tempest V.
These aircraft are modelled in stunning high detail and accuracy and give the user an appreciation of These top-of-the-line fighters that were very closely matched in many aspects of performance, and were regarded as the equal of one another when flown by pilots of equal skill. So sharpen those skills, you'll need them.
************************************************************
The aircraft in the package are as follows:
P-51:
P-51K-1-NT 'Dot Darlin/Our Mom' (s/n 44-11360)
The personal mount of Lt. Carl E. Decklar, assigned to the 354th FS, 355th FG, based at Steeple Morden, in Cambridgeshire, England.
P-51K-5-NT 'Nooky Booky IV' (s/n 44-11622)
The famed personal mount of Maj. Leonard 'Kit' Carson, assigned to the 362nd FS, 357th FG, based at Leiston, in Suffolk, England.
P-51K-5-NT 'Rusty' (s/n 44-11623)
The personal mount of Capt. Llyod J. 'Jeff' French, assigned to the 503rd FS, 339th FG, based at Fowlmere, in Cambridgeshire, England. Aircraft later reassigned to Lt. William "Bill" Preddy (brother of Maj. George E. Preddy), who kept the aircraft's nickname.
P-51K-5-NT 'Donna-Mite' (s/n 44-11624)
The personal mount of Lt. Leroy C. Pletz, assigned to the 352nd FS, 353rd FG, based at Raydon, in Suffolk, England.
P-51K-5-NT 'It's Super Mouse/Sweet Sue' (s/n 44-11626)
The personal mount of Lt. Robert V. Dodd, assigned to the 328th FS, 352nd FG, based at Asche, Belgium.
Bf-109K-4:
(pilots and serial numbers are difficult to come by for Bf-109K-4's, and so
most of these aircraft are generally anonymous except for their Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) and Gruppe, identifiable by the fuselage markings. However, these particular aircraft were chosen as being highly illustrative of the the many different camouflage styles in effect by the end of the War, some due to official policy, some for tactical, some for paint supply reasons, and some due to the wide dispersal of the manufacturing of the main components.)
JG 3 "Yellow 2"
From the 332xxx batch of aircraft. Pasewalk, March 1945.
Thought to be s/n 332506, shot down on March 18, 1945
JG 27 "Chevron"
From the 333xxx batch of aircraft. Thought to be s/n 330255, found
by British troops at Wunstorf airfield in April 1945, after the aircraft had
made a wheels-up forced landing.
JG 53 "Black 8"
From the 331xxx batch
of aircraft. Found at Echterdingen by US troops at War's end.
KG 6 "White 1"
Found at Graz, Austria at War's end.
KG (J) 6 "Black 12"
Found at Praha-Ruzyne at War's end, with one of the final official paint schemes applied to the K-4.
JG 4 "White 4"
From the 334xxx batch of aircraft.
Leck airfield, May 1944
*************************************************************
Warbirdsim P-51K Mustang
History
By the start of 1944, North American Aviation was producing P-51B models both at its Inglewood, California plant and at itsDallas, Texas plant (where they were designated P-51C), in order to keep up with demand. By the middle of '44, both factories were running at their max capacity, now with the production of the brand new P-51D. Throughout this production NAA's propeller of choice was that of the 4-blade Hamilton Standard cuffed type, as all P-51B's, C's, and D's would use. The wartime manufacture of these props was not keeping up with the demand for them, however, and an alternative option had to be found. (Note: While North American had re-designated the P-51B for its Dallas production as the P-51C, they did not do so with the P-51D. They were only identified separately through the final suffix of their production block title: -NA for Inglewood production, and -NT for Dallas production.) As a result, the Aeroproducts company was contracted to supply 4-blade, 11" diameter propellers to the Dallas plant. In order to facilitate the Aeroproducts blades a new spinner assembly had to be designed, which kept the same outward profile as that of
the spinner used with Hamilton Standard units, but was of completely different construction and assembly in order to support the different propeller and propeller hub design.
Despite the fact that the rest of the aircraft remained identical to the P-51D, the required indication of separate production from the P-51D resulted in the new designation of P-51K.
Both individual propeller types are easy to identify from each other, due to their separate profiles. While the Hamilton Standard blades appear broad, with cuffs at their base, the
Aeroproducts blades, which don?t have cuffs, appear narrower and more pointed. (Note: The cuffs on the Hamilton Standard propeller blades were designed to produce more airflow close to the airframe, pulling more cool air into the carburetor and radiator intakes. It would be found that the presence of the cuffs was not necessary, with very little to no benefit, and as with the Aeroproducts prop blades fitted to P- 51K's, the Hamilton Standard prop blades introduced on P-51D's in the summer of 1945 (too late to see action in WWII, but service post-war)
were of new design, without cuffs.) With the rest of the aircraft being identical, the propellers could be swapped between variants in the field ? Hamilton Standard props on a P-51K, or Aeroproducts props on a P-51D (though rare). Several noted P-51K's were refitted in the field with Hamilton Standard propellers, and associated nose cone of
course , based on what was available for replacements at the time of need.
Another point worth mentioning, is in reference to the canopy shapes seen on P-51Ks (and Dallas-produced P-51Ds), as opposed to those seen on Inglewood-produced P-51Ds. Although the intention for both production facilities was to produce the exact same end product, for items like the canopies the factories relied on different sub-contractors to do the work. While the canopies produced for the Inglewood plant were manufactured identical to the NAA form drawings/blueprints, the Dallas sub-contractor, utilizing a different manufacturing process, had slightly different results. Although the intention
was to form the same shape, the 'Dallas canopies', for which they would be known amongst the modeling world, had less curvature past the point of the pilot's head, resulting in a 'slick-back' profile. The 'Dallas canopies' also changed just as the Inglewood canopies did, developing over time, but remained separate in shape to that of an equivalent Inglewood example. Total P-51K production numbers and variants are:
200 P-51K-1-NT (P-51D-5-NA equivalent))
400 P-51K-5-NT (P-51D-10-NA equivalent)
600 P-51K-10-NT (P-51D-15-NA equivalent)
300 P-51K-15-NT (P-51D-20-NA, and later P-51D-25-NA equivalent)
Details of the variants Included in this product are:
P-51K-1-NT 'Dot Darlin/Our Mom' (s/n 44-11360)
The personal mount of Lt. Carl E. Decklar, assigned to the 354th FS, 355th FG, based at Steeple Morden. 'Dot' was in reference to Lt. Decklar's wife, Dorothy. The aircraft is depicted in its final markings/configuration of the war. Nearly identical to the P-51D-5-NA, except for the installation of the Aeroproducts propeller and factory installed dorsal fin fillet, the P-51K-1-NT had all of the same early features, including the early instrument panel layout and the early main switch panel and white recognition light on the spine of the aircraft. Although the aircraft was produced with an N-9 reflector gun sight installed, and the Aeroproducts prop blades, in the field the aircraft was modified with the installation of the K-14 computing gun sight, and a set of Hamilton Standard prop blades and spinner. The aircraft has also been upgraded in the field with the installation of the AN/APS-13 tail warning radar, and the pilot has chosen to have a Spitfire mirror fitted atop the windscreen (a popular choice). As was also common practice, the exhaust shrouds have been discarded.
P-51K-5-NT 'Nooky Booky IV' (s/n 44-11622)
The famed personal mount of Maj. Leonard 'Kit' Carson, assigned to the 362nd FS, 357th FG, based at Leiston. The aircraft is depicted in its final markings/configuration of the war. With the exception of the propellers, the P-51K-5-NT wa identical to the P-51D-10-NA. These early aircraft retained the fabric elevators, circular gun camera port, early dorsal fin fillet, and other details of the first production variants, butfeatured the redesigned P-51D instrument panel, and had the white recognition light on the spine of the aircraft deleted with the main switch panel redesigned as a result. Based on pilot preference, a P-38 mirror has been liberated and mounted to the canopy. The aircraft has also been upgraded in the field with the installation of the AN/APS-13 tail warning radar (which wasn't installed at the factory until much later variants). Also, common amongst the 357th's lead pilots aircraft, 'fowl weather' lights have been installed on each side of the fuselage, a depot-level modification. These lights, which were the standard amber recognition lights, were used by lead aircraft to help in getting the formations formed up during bad weather conditions. A toggle switch has been field-installed on the main switch panel, next to the three recognition lights switches, to provide control of these lights. All P-51K-5-NT's were manufactured with N-9 reflector gun sights installed, from the factory, though 'Nooky Booky IV' sports a field-installed K- 14 gun sight.
P-51K-5-NT 'Rusty' (s/n 44-11623)
The personal mount of Capt. Llyod J. 'Jeff' French, assigned to the 503rd FS, 339th FG, based at Fowlmere. Aircraft was later reassigned to Lt. William R. ?Bill? Preddy (brother of Maj. George Preddy) who retained the aircrafts name. The aircraft is depicted in its last known configuration, as seen in early 1945. The aircraft remains almost completely stock to its original production standard, with the exception of a K-14 gun sightinstalled in the field, and the exhaust shrouds have been removed.
P-51K-5-NT 'Donna-Mite' (s/n 44-11624)
The personal mount of Lt. Leroy C. Pletz, assigned to the 352nd FS, 353rd FG, based at Raydon. The aircraft, recreated from its only known photograph, is quite fresh, with just general wear from flying a few missions. Like 'Rusty', this aircraft is also just about completely stock to original production. However, the pilot has chosen to have a P-38 mirror fitted to the canopy. The N-9 gun sight has also been removed and a K-14 installed.
P-51K-5-NT 'It's Super Mouse/Sweet Sue' (s/n 44-11626)
The personal mount of Lt. Robert V. Dodd, assigned to the 328th FS, 352nd FG, based at Bodney. The aircraft is depicted in its final, known configuration, while assigned to Lt. Dodd. This aircraft is one of the most modified. At the time frame depicted, the aircraft?s original Aeroproducts propellers were replaced with a new set of Hamilton Standard prop blades and shiny bare metal spinner. The pilot chose to have dual Spitfire mirrors fitted, which were mounted with brackets designed and used by 352nd FG crew chiefs. The aircraft has also been upgraded in the field, with the installation of the AN/APS-13 tail warning radar, and the N-9 reflector gun sight has been removed in favor of the K-14. The aircraft also sports bomb aiming stripes, applied to the wings while in service.
A few of the P-51K features:
- All work based on original P-51D/K factory blueprints, maintenance and assembly manual, pilot manuals, NAA-issued production block modification summaries, correspondence with P-51 pilots, restorers, maintainers, researchers, and modelers, and literally thousands of period and modern photos.
- Accurate reproductions of the P-51K-1-NT and P-51K-5-NT, with every detail that made them unique from other production variants.
- Simulated 2 Stage Supercharger, with an engine that will blow if over-heated (for Acceleration users).
- Only all original hardware and production finishes and details throughout, including; factory-authentic patchworks of chromate yellow and interior green primers throughout, inspection stamps, stencils, and placards (using period-correct type faces), correct instruments and radio installation per variants, a correct depiction of the factory filled, sanded, and silver-painted wing surfaces, correct wheels/brakes/tires, static ground wire, relief tube and all over-flow ports, 'Dallas canopy', and internal plumbing with correct identification markings.
- Complex, 'by the book' flight dynamics, designed using original pilot manuals and correspondence with P-51 pilots.
- Simulated fluorescent/UV cockpit and gauge lighting.
- Droppable long-range tanks, which remove weight and fuel from the aircraft when released.
- Sounds recorded from inside and outside of the restored P-51D 'Jumpin Jacques', through various in-flight and ground conditions - with the distinctive gun port whine incorporated.
- An early K-14A gun sight installation is accurately depicted, with the gun sight controls mounted under the right-hand side of the instrument panel shroud, as they would have been when installed as a field modification, complete with an early-issue twist-handle throttle lever.
- The K-14A gun sight features both the fixed and the gyro-computing reticules. The K-14 is also removable, providing a more unrestricted view.
- The inner ?clam-shell? gear doors are connected to the hydraulic release handle in the cockpit, which when pulled following engine shut-down, will cause the doors to fall open.
- Period-accurate pilot, wearing an A-11 leather flying helmet, B-8 goggles, A-14 oxygen mask, B-3 (Mae West) life jacket, flight suit and B-10 jacket, and an S-2 parachute.
- Tail wheel control connected to control stick position (stick forward to unlock tail wheel).
- Designed with multiplayer use in mind (drop tanks only display if selected by user in-game).
- Parked configuration: With engine off and parking brake set, the pilot is removed from the cockpit and chocks are put in-place.
**********************************************************************************************************
A few of the Bf-109K-4 features:
Highly refined flight dynamics: can and must be flown 'by the book';
Airspeed effects flight control effectiveness;
Realistic inertial starter sequence;
Working weapons system, including accurate rate of fire and number of rounds;
Accurate blue tracer rounds;
Folding Revi 16B has collimated gunsight;
Eight different researched paint schemes;
Accurate and challenging ground-handling characteristics;
Photo luminescent gauges;
UV cockpit lighting;
Droppable Drop Tank, that removes weight and fuel from the aircraft.cfg for realistic performance change;
Visual in-cockpit fuel flow check for drop tank;
Fuel can be dumped when necessary;
Working MW emergency boost system, to bring horsepower up to 2000 hp;
Working oxygen breather gauge;
Canopy can be jettisoned;
Working emergency gear extension;
Wing slats that function automatically depending on airspeed and AoA;
Wing slats are audible, as per real aircraft;
Authentic Bf-109 sounds;
29 page Manual with detailed info about both real and FSX operations;
Tested in multiplayer;
Cockpit familiarization via authentic illustrations - you learn as the real pilots learned about their Bf-109K-4's.
Paint kit included, in the main aircraft folder. |
