P-51D Mustang in Scale and 3D

Gallery Article by Konley Kelley on Aug 20 2012

 

 

I love the P-51D Mustang.   It is the quintessential fighter plane.  We are fortunate to have many still flying today.  In WW2, no fighter came close to matching the Mustang's capabilities.  

Inspired by a DOGFIGHTS episode on the Military History Channel, I built a 3D model of a P-51D.   That was several months ago.  I put a teaser on the ARC website about it.  I didn't want to publish a full-blown article until I built a special scale model Mustang.  Don't get me wrong, I have built many a Mustang.  I've built all scales and given some away as gifts.  I was proud to make one for a 4th Fighter Group reunion several years ago.  One special Mustang remained to be made.  I wanted to make a model of Lt. Col. Richard Turner's ride, "Short Fuse."   I don't know a lot about this man but he racked up 19 1/2 victories so he must've been a helluva pilot.  It was the name of his plane that got my attention.  "Short Fuse" is also the name of my website and the brand for my artwork "Short Fuse Productions."  

I built the Tamiya 1:48 P-51D kit.  It was an excellent kit and I enjoyed the build.   Now that it is done, I can feature pictures of the "Short Fuse" scale model, 3D model and other Mustangs in 3D.  The magic of 3D is - once you have a 3D model built - you just need to create new texture maps.  I can make virtually any Mustang in 3D.

Using "Red Nose" from the CAF's Dixie Wing, I can show you pics of the 3D model wireframe, 1/2 wire - 1/2 rendered, and a final rendered image.  I also saw "Red Nose" in Memphis while on tour with the CAF's B-29 Superfortress "FIFI."  I snapped some pics.  

Click on images below to see larger images

"FIFI" is based in Addison, Texas at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum.  The CAF has partnered with the Cavanaugh to tour.  On many trips this year, "FIFI" has been escorted by the Cavanaugh's P-51D "The Brat III."   They've made many appearances together and sell rides.  One of my 3D renders was inspired by a pretty sunset shot of "FIFI" and "The Brat III" by aviation photographer Scott Slocum.  I came pretty close to replicating the image in 3D.

George Preddy was our top Mustang ace in WW2.  He is credited with 26.83 aerial victories.  One cool thing about his plane - you will see red/white striped art on the plane.  This is because Preddy's crew chief was a barber in civilian life.

Major James Tapp was the first ace over Japan while escorting B-29 Superfortresses on bombing missions.   I also modeled the B-29 Superfortress "Goin' Jessie" flown by Charles Chauncey, a friend of mine and fellow CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron member.

The DOGFIGHTS episode about the Tuskegee Airmen featured the story of Lt. Roscoe Brown's shoot down of an ME-262.  I made Lt. Brown's P-51D "Bunnie" in 3D.  I also combined it with a 3D B-24J Liberator model.  FYI - I've made a scale model of a Red Tails P-51C and have a nice feature on my website about the scale model and seeing the CAF's beautiful P-51C when she visited the Cavanaugh Flight Museum a few years ago http://www.shortfuse3d.com/ArcherTuskegeeAirmen.html

Finally, I've created an image of the profiles of all of my 3D P-51D Mustangs built to date.   It is pretty cool to see them like this.

Check out the CAF B-29/B-24 website for info on tour locations for "FIFI" and "The Brat III."  I might see you there.   You can also see these amazing planes when they are home at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas.

Commemorative Air Force B-29/B-24 Squadron website
www.cafb29b24.org

Cavanaugh Flight Museum
http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com


Please keep checking in on my website
www.shortfuse3d.com for new art and special features.  You can also see my art and post your own scale model/digital creations on my Facebook group "Modeling History in Digital Diorama."

Keep 'em flying!

Konley Kelley

Click on images below to see larger images

      

Photos and text © by Konley Kelley