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I don't think anyone will forget the first time they saw a Mustang in person. You don't realize it until then, but books, TV, and magazine pictures just aren't the same as experiencing those magnificent lines with your own eyes. It really is one of the most beautiful machines ever designed.

This was especially true for me, as a 6 year old seeing a sinister looking Mustang in dark camouflage, red and black accents, and sporting the coolest looking sharkmouth I had ever seen. It was a sight to behold for those young eyes!

That particular Mustang came out of the Cavalier Aircraft Corporation facilities in 1968 as a Cavalier Mk.II, Serial 67-22581. It was subsequently delivered to the Bolivian Airforce, and flown as FAB 523. In 1977, it was recovered from Bolivia, brought to Canada, and registered as C-GMUS. Ross Grady acquired the aircraft in 1978, and flew it for nearly twenty years on the airshow circuit as the famous and instantly recognizable “What's up Docâ€, retaining much of its Bolivian markings and colours. This is how I remember it, the first P-51 I ever laid eyes on, and for me, the most memorable.

This is a build I have wanted to do for a long time, a trip down memory lane. Memories of my Dad and airshows and airplanes and that P-51 with the stuffed Bugs Bunny in the back. She flies in different colours now, long since sold by Ross, but I'd like to pay a little homage to him and his old mount.

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Edited by r0t0rdr1ver
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I'll be starting with the magnificent Tamiya P-51D kit, and will incorporate a little bit of aftermarket I have collected. I think I have most of what I need, uncuffed props, tall tail, etc. I just need to find a set of wheels with circumferential tread.

 

Tamiya already provides the correct tail section, shrouded exhaust, and Dallas canopy. Machine guns will be omitted and some antenna scratchbuilt to match my references.

 

I still have some sleuthing to do, and hopefully someone here can help with a few items such as cockpit colours and details (especially the rear seat), wheel well colour, and a few other details which we'll get to as we go.

 

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Edited by r0t0rdr1ver
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:wub:

SUPERB photos.... look forward to this!

Rock On... :thumbsup:

  

 

One sweet looking 'stang!  :popcorn:

Torben

  

 

Oh man, those pictures are a sight for sore eyes, great subject, have lots of fun building...!!

 

Jack

  

 

Boy...do I have photos of this Mustang! Love the BxW image, second from the top.

Mark Proulx

  

 

Come in it's broken...I mean it's open.

I want my bike back! I'll give you broken back!

What's the blue pill for judge? I'm not sure, they're afraid to tell to me.

What's up Doc.....the movie.

Dan

Thanks very much Gents, very excited about this one myself.

 

Mark, I look forward to any guidance or details you can share! Hopefully Scooby will join us also, he used to do maintenance for Ross, and I'm sure could help with a lot of the finer details as well. Cheers.

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I've begun a few of the sub assemblies, and have closed up the gun bays. I'll ba adding a bit more detail to the engine and wheel bays as well.

 

I need to figure out colours for the engine, engine bay, wheel wells, and cockpit. Not sure if there were any differences here from the standard colour call outs. If only I had the forethought to do a walk around all those years ago!

 

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This is the first Mustang I ever saw up close! Ross used to visit us at the Springbank Airport in the summer as well as down in Okotoks! I've often wondered what happened to Ross - last I heard this a/c was sold down in the States and I think is now flying out of Kissimmee Florida. Looks like a great project!

Cheers

Alan

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This is the first Mustang I ever saw up close! Ross used to visit us at the Springbank Airport in the summer as well as down in Okotoks! I've often wondered what happened to Ross - last I heard this a/c was sold down in the States and I think is now flying out of Kissimmee Florida. Looks like a great project!

Cheers

Alan

That's really cool Alan, seems there are quite a few people here on LSP that have a connection with Ross and his Mustang.

 

I found a video on YouTube of Ross at Abbotsford back in 1994. Only a couple minutes of footage, but nice to see. Cue the P-51 at about 9:55. Cheers.

 

https://youtu.be/_KMjt3o20yQ

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How do you plan to do the Cavalier conversion?

 

For interest sake, I have original photos of the four Bolivian P-51 Mustangs that were imported into Canada, among them What's Up Doc? (a later marking BTW). Each was similarly painted and they are lined up outside the Echo Bay Mines Hangar at the old Edmonton Municipal Airport. Three were Cavalier conversions. Also among the photos, a formation take off of Bolivian P-51's out of Edmonton. Now that is something you wont ever see again here!

 

Mark Proulx

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How do you plan to do the Cavalier conversion?

 

For interest sake, I have original photos of the four Bolivian P-51 Mustangs that were imported into Canada, among them What's Up Doc? (a later marking BTW). Each was similarly painted and they are lined up outside the Echo Bay Mines Hangar at the old Edmonton Municipal Airport. Three were Cavalier conversions. Also among the photos, a formation take off of Bolivian P-51's out of Edmonton. Now that is something you wont ever see again here!

 

Mark Proulx

 

To be honest Mark, I'm not a Mustang expert, let alone an expert on the Cavalier conversions.

 

The biggest unknowns for me at this point (and the ones holding up my build) are:

  1. The cockpit itself. I know that a lot of the military hardware was stripped out, and a backseat added, but I have absolutely zero references to help me with this. I just recently discovered that the cockpit color is a light grey of some sort, but that's all I know. If I can find references, I will scratchbuild the cockpit to reflect any changes.
  2. Color of the wheel wells. They are not green in color...could be silver, grey, or unpainted aluminum, but hard to tell from my old photos.
  3. Other potential color variations from standard, behind/beneath the panels. Merlin engine and accessories, oil/coolant tanks, panel/structure color...green, unpainted aluminum, black, zinc chromate? No idea...!
  4. Did C-GMUS have a baggage door?
  5. Armament. I know the guns were removed. Some photos I have show fairings applied to the wing leading edge where the gun muzzles were, and others show the gun muzzles. Were the shell ejector chutes removed?

I do have a resin piece to help with the tall tail, and some drawings to help with panel lines, etc, and Jerry Rutman's cuffless prop blades to depict the correct prop for this aircraft.

 

As for any other changes that should be made, I could use help and input there for sure.

 

I would love to see the photos you have or any other references if you don't mind sharing them Mark!

Edited by r0t0rdr1ver
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We are going back a few years now, so memories can be a little circumspect. Having said that, I did have an opportunity to sit in one of these Mustangs many years ago when it was hangared in YYC (It wasn't Grady's). I distinctly remember the cockpit as light grey with black consoles and panel.

 

HTH

 

Mark Proulx

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Thanks Mark, much appreciated. I've spent hours trying to find a few reference shots of ANY Cavalier cockpit, but have come up short. I'll keep trying.

 

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm desperate for some more information and photo reference.

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