Mustang P-51D

[Ducati Boy]

Does anybody have any pictures of where the ground power input point is on a Mustang? I need to know so I can hide the input for the electric motor driving the prop on a 32 scale model.
Also anyone got a photo of a 1944 era ground power unit (Trolley acc)??

[Dan4th]

Don't hold me to this, Pat, but I'm
fairly certain it's port side just behind
the wing, halfway up the fuselage......

A 4 X 5 inch door, roughly...

Sorry, no pics of power supply........

Danf.

[Dougs]

pic of a spitfire one comming up cant post at mo got net nanny at work

done

[Xplumberlives]

D.B.

What you need is at the bottom of THIS page!

http://www.warbirdalley.com/p51.htm

[Ducati Boy]

pic of a spitfire one comming up cant post at mo got net nanny at work

done

Dougs, Thanks for the input, I think the engine powered version is an early type form beginning of WWII Battle of Britain era, pre-P-51D era. The other one is a Trolley Acc(batteries in a box) but I am not sure if that was in service at the P-51D era either.

XP Thanks for the link, but all I found was general info on the Mustang, but no pics of either the power input connection point or of the means of providing power. Got lots of pictures and books on the original RAF Mustang and subsequent USAAF P-51 series, but alas no pics of either.
D4th Thanks for that, I think you may be right, but all the pics and line drawings I have, none show that door clearly.
What I am trying to do is build a replica of the power input device (or trolley acc) to contain a small 1.5v battery and to camoflage the power leads to the electric motor to drive the prop. I need to know the correct point of entry to the fuselage at the correct place on my 32 scale model.

Anybody got any definite info??

[Xplumberlives]

D.B. The Mustangs Ive seen around the display circuit all seem to have a self start ability, would you like me to enquire of a chap who owns one in Essex?

[Dan4th]

Meanwhile, I'll keep looking over
the next few days.........

Danf.

[Ducati Boy]

D.B. The Mustangs Ive seen around the display circuit all seem to have a self start ability, would you like me to enquire of a chap who owns one in Essex?

Yes please mate. Most prop fighters had self-start ability, but to minimise battery drain and maintain maximum battery voltage for long combat missions/emergency in flight use, a ground power source (trolley acc nowadays) was and still is used on start-up. However, I could be wrong maybe Yanks didnt do that. Modern display a/c don't have the same demands so I suppose they can rely on internal battery only. By all means ask your contact what they used to do back in '44/45. Maybe the yanks had their own starter trolley.

[Xplumberlives]

I'll get back to you!

[Dan4th]

Here you can see the open door to the
plug and the male hookup in green just
to the south-southeast of the star:::::::::::::

Looks like about 5X5" with a piano hinge.



I expect there might have been a number of
configurations even within the type, but this
is right where I had expected to find it.

I will keep looking for more......

Danf.

[Xplumberlives]

Good work Agent West!

[Ducati Boy]

Thanks D4th,
The base model I have does indeed have a panel marking exactly as shown on your P-51D pic.

It will take some work to get the internal wiring to it, but it can be done with the ace cordless tool I bought from Maplins (UK version of Radio Shack sort of.) Anyone looking for a Dremel type mini drill, but with with zillions of attachments for a bargain price should take a look at it. Its made by EVERISE code No. N21FY includes two rechargeable battery units and 214 accessories all for £29. An additional kit of accessories is available for £9.95p and has 400!!!! items code No. N63BX.

Now who can tell me for sure which of the power sets is the correct one in use by USAAF units in 1944 D-Day era, or did they have there own version.

[Dan4th]

What I'm finding out is that they used, when
required, a fairly standard 24 Volt Battery Cart
which could have been any number of types
as long as the voltage and connector are right.....

Haven't seen anything anywhere about a ground
generator unit, though.....

These were fairly ubiquitous, too, with some
being truck-mounted, others trailer-mounted
or cart-mounted.

90 percent of the time, though, if a Mustang
needed a boost, the simple battery cart would
have done the trick.

(...unless, of course, the aircraft's own batteries
were fried....)

Danf.

[Ducati Boy]

What I'm finding out is that they used, when
required, a fairly standard 24 Volt Battery Cart
which could have been any number of types
as long as the voltage and connector are right.....

Haven't seen anything anywhere about a ground
generator unit, though.....

These were fairly ubiquitous, too, with some
being truck-mounted, others trailer-mounted
or cart-mounted.

90 percent of the time, though, if a Mustang
needed a boost, the simple battery cart would
have done the trick.

(...unless, of course, the aircraft's own batteries
were fried....)

Danf.

I think you are right. These accumulator trolleys were probably locally manufactured by the squadrons on their home station, where they wouold be re-charged by the unit battery servicing room. However, if operating in a Belgian field on deployment, the trolley would likely have had the generator set attached, to top up the trolley accumulator's batteries after a number of aircraft start ups had depleted the charge. SOP was to start engines from a trolley accumulator, so the aircraft battery would rarely drop below usable as it would be constantly charged during flight by the aircraft engine driven generator. I reckon I will probably go for the normal trolley without generator as I believe the P-51 outfit represented by the kit probably operated from a permanent UK base until after D-Day. Still haven't found a photo of a Mustang attached to a trolley yet.

[Dan4th]

Still haven't found a photo of a Mustang attached to a trolley yet.

Me Neither!

Danf.