High Resolution P-51B-5-NA "Bird Cage" Mustang "The Verna Q"
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This skin project represents the P51B-5-NA Mustang "The Verna Q" 43-6322, 
in factory applied Olive Drab camouflage that was flown by Capt. Frank 'Pinky' O'Connor, 
Commanding Officer of the 356th.Fighter Squadron, 354th.Fighter Groups, 9th Air Force 
based at Boxted, England. Circa: April 1944.

General Historical Notes:
This skin represents the Olive Drab P51B-5-NA "Bird Cage" Canopy Mustang 
as it was supplied to 'The Pioneer Mustang Group" early November 1943. 
These particular "B" Model Mustangs equipped with the Rolls-Royce Merlin 61 engine were manufactured 
at the California Inglewood plant. 
When the 354th.Fighter Group became operational in December 1943. Mustangs recieved their
European Theatre of Operations 'Codes', 'Indentification Strips' and later individual Pilot's
'nicknames' and 'victory kills' markings

Pilot and Aircraft Story:

P51B-5-NA, 43-6322 was coded 'O' for O'Connor, CO. for the 356thFS, 354thFG.
This long lived P51B was one of the most effective Mustangs ever used by the 356th.FS.
For it's pilot scored a fair portion of his 10.75 victories (and two probables & three damaged) with it.
Capt.Frank 'Pinky' O'Connor flew at least three B-model Mustangs marked in this fashion between
November 1943 and August 1944, all of which were named after his wife.
He recieved his first D-model in late summer/early autumn of 1944.
In which he was shot down by defensive flak on November 5th. whilst strafing the airfield
at Schwabisch Hall. His Mustang (P51D-5 44-14016) had been squarely hit by flak,
forcing the CO. of the 356.th.Fighter Squadron to pull up in a zoom climb
from low level and bail out. Upon landing, O'Connor only survived the attentions
of an angry civilian mob through the timely arrival of a Luftwaffe Sergeant
sent from the base he just attacked! He was duly packed off to become a POW.
With the lost of Maj. O'Connor, Capt.Earl Depner took over the reins of  the 356th.FS.

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Skinner's Notes:
This skin was developed from the colour plate profile found in
Osprey's Aviation Elite Series #7
"354nd. Fighter Group" by William N.Hess
Created for the Emil's 9thUSAAF/2nd.TAF ETO Campaign by David'Skylark'Phillips

August 02,2008 Upgrade Log....
Upon review I felt that this skin deserved to be upgraded to be more historically correct.
Upgrade list
1) Interior cockpit detailing, gunsight and pilot seat back...
2) Detail panels and weathering of the main wing's top and underside...
3) Added left wing landing light and identification lights...
4) Reworked weathering of main wing leading edge details...
5) Rearranged vertical tail aircraft coding...
6) Matching cockpit wing viewed details...
7) Complete weathering of all surfaces...
Hope that you'll enjoy your flight in Capt.O'Connor's P51B Mustang

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Original Modder's Notes: 
Due to the increasing number of files required, in order to minimize the download size, 
the pcx files are not included. However, do not fear, the zip file contains a batch file, P51BHRTPC-PCX, 
for converting tpc to pcx for those who want to try their hand at skinning. Simply place this file and 
the accompaning file, gpmTpc2Pcx.exe, in your folder containing the tpc files and execute. 
This batch file is courtesy of John "Chompy" Masters who also created the 3d model. Much thanks to you John!


USE.
Simply extract all the files into your EAW folder, or install into your skin manager program as it's instructions 
reccommend. To uninstall, just delete the files listed below.

The new High res 3dz set for the P-51 B is based on the same 3dz's from the P-51 D, 
with a few changes to get the look right.
1.  Wide view armour added
2.  "Deflection" type gunsight/instrument panel
3.  High res wingview added.

The new 'Damaged Torn Off Wings' (TOW) and 'roughly torn off' wing stub have been added to the aircraft 
to give more realistic looking damgage FX. 

(Note: Due to time constraints, I have not updated the pcx files to match these damage pcx files created by Chompy. 
If you wish them to match the current scheme, the pcx files are made available for your use.)

The only changes to the main file set (when compared to the D's files) are the inclusion of separate 
TOW damage PCX's.  The Complete file list and their uses are as follows-

PP51bA.3dz = 3dz file for the Left rear fuselage and tail
Pp51bB.3dz = 3dz file for the Right rear fuselage and tail.
Pp51bC.3dz = 3dz file for the Cockpit area.
Pp51bE.3dz = 3dz file for the Right wing.
Pp51bF.3dz = 3dz file for the Front fuselage, left and right
Pp51bG.3dz = 3dz file for the Left wing.
Pp51bH.3dz = 3dz file for the Gunst type transparent shadow.
Pp51bL.3dz = 3dz file for the Left Torn Off Wing (TOW).
Pp51bM.3dz = 3dz file for the Medium Distance Model (MDM).
Pp51bP.3dz = 3dz file for the Propellor.
Pp51bR.3dz = 3dz file for the Right Torn Off Wing (TOW).
Pp51bS.3dz = 3dz file for the Long Distance Model (LDM).
Pp51bU.3dz = 3dz file for the High res Wingview.
Pp51bV.3dz = 3dz file for the Cockpit - left side.
Pp51bW.3dz = 3dz file for the Cockpit - right side.
Pp51bY.3dz = 3dz file for the in cockpit view of the prop.
Pp51bZ.3dz = 3dz file for the Gunsight and seat.

Pp51bFRT.pcx = file for the FRonT fuselage L and R (F.3dz)
Pp51bLEX.pcx = file for the Left wing (G.3dz)
Pp51bLTW.pcx = file for the Left Torn off Wing (L.3dz)
Pp51bMEX.pcx = file for the MDM and LDM (M and S.3dz)
Pp51bREX.pcx = file for the Right wing (E.3dz)
Pp51bRTW.pcx = file for the Right Torn off Wing (R.3dz)
Pp51bTEX.pcx = file for the cockpit, shadow, prop and cockpit prop (C,H,P and Y.3dz's)
Pp51bTLL.pcx = file for the TaiL Left and rear fuselage (A.3dz)
Pp51bTLR.pcx = file for the Tail Right and rear fuselage (B.3dz)
Pp51bTRA.pcx = transparency file for the TEX file
Pp51bV.pcx   = file for the cockpit (V and W.3dz's)
Pp51bVTR.pcx = Transparency file for the cockpit (clear glass gunsight mod)
Pp51bWNG.pcx = file for the High res wingview (U.3dz)
Pp51bX.pcx   = file for the cockpit guages (X.3dz) 

The X.3dz (guages) is not included.  It's the only file I haven't altered!!

As always, there are still a few rendering issues that I have been unable to solve.  
This 3dz is optimized for D3D, but if there is demand, I can work on a separate Glide 3dz.

Thanks to All who helped with the original P-51'B' & 'D' HR models, 
Salty for the great textures which make up the base skin and the MEX, for the aircraft/pilot info at the top 
of the page, and for great construction and skinning detail help. 
Mr J for his Malcolm hood version of the D (the C.3dz uses this) and for his transparency ideas on non-TEX files,
JWC for the wide view armour idea,
Peregrine for the Deflection gunsight idea.
Migge for the cockpit and guage textures
Sorry, thanks and S! to anyone I forgot.

Feel free to send any comments, questions, feedback etc.

John "Chompy" Masters,
4th January 2003.
jdmasters@ozemail.com.au
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~jdmasters/

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Cheers mate
David 'Skylark' Phillips 
