P-51D Paint Process

[DaveM2]

All

Were P-51D-20-NA Mustangs painted (in a general sense) at the factory, or did they just receive national markings and some form of protective lacquer prior to being shipped / delivered to fighter groups?
(I know they were all 'cocooned' prior to embarking on ships)

Particularly interested in those heading to the ETO.

TIA
Dave

[Revi16]

Not sure which paint you are referring to? The wings (or laminar flow portion) were painted silver, but the fuselage was bare aluminum. The National markings, stencils and anti-glare panel were applied at the factory.

Anything else would be Depot or Squadron level.

Factory Fresh -5NA, -10NA
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvRa1s-gI...g_44-13366.jpg
https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.c...g_44-14214.jpg

[Buckeye30]

Revi. This is the special wing treatment for P-51s, the photo shows the primed areas; final finish was sprayed aluminized lacquer over the grey primer. The heat-resistant panels round the exhausts didn't require treatment and usually look darker. Fabric surfaces were aluminized dope, rest of airframe aluminized lacquer ( min. 2 coats) or 1 coat camouflage.

Nick

[Revi16]

Originally Posted by Buckeye30

Revi. This is the special wing treatment for P-51s, the photo shows the primed areas; final finish was sprayed aluminized lacquer over the grey primer. The heat-resistant panels round the exhausts didn't require treatment and usually look darker. Fabric surfaces were aluminized dope, rest of airframe aluminized lacquer ( min. 2 coats) or 1 coat camouflage.

Nick

Great diagram that shows "wing prep". Aluminized lacquer (silver paint) wasn't sprayed on rest of airframe.
http://147084544c678448852d-ddcc5320...971.1612224268

[Broncazonk]

Great question. Excellent thread. I hope more information is out there.

The early P-51Bs that went to the ETO were all green. By the time the 'D's arrived the bare aluminum Mustangs were the norm. Was this a, "weight of the paint" calculation that drove the change or was it a rush to get the aircraft shipped?

Thanks!

Bronc

[Buckeye30]

Revi. These are 2 sections from the P-51D/K/Mustang IV manual, you should be able to read the relevant paragraphs; I always thought most of the exterior was a mix of aluminized lacquer and aluminium paste.
Let me know what you think would you.
Thanks
Nick

[Revi16]

Originally Posted by Buckeye30

Revi. These are 2 sections from the P-51D/K/Mustang IV manual, you should be able to read the relevant paragraphs; I always thought most of the exterior was a mix of aluminized lacquer and aluminium paste.
Let me know what you think would you.
Thanks
Nick

I'm not sure if we are talking about the same things or not? My point was that the exterior surfaces of alclad (fuselage, etc) do not require any coating. (The alcad of the aluminum is the coating.)

The asterisk written in pencil on both of your documents appear to explain just that.

[Buckeye30]

Thanks Revi. What confuses is "Exception 1" referring to 2S, 3S, 52S and 53S as not requiring treatment, are these fuselage stations ? ---as above this is a note about Alclad and primer.

I know that Spec. 3-100F (Oct. 9 1935) includes " no additional paint coating required on exterior surfaces of Alclad skin". T.O 07-1-1 ( Dec.26 1943) says-
"The exterior of metal fuselages and metal airfoils do not ordinarily require paint as a protection against corrosion".
So you are quite right in your last comment and I apologise for mine.



Nick

[Revi16]

Originally Posted by Buckeye30

Thanks Revi. What confuses is "Exception 1" referring to 2S, 3S, 52S and 53S as not requiring treatment, are these fuselage stations ? ---as above this is a note about Alclad and primer.

I know that Spec. 3-100F (Oct. 9 1935) includes " no additional paint coating required on exterior surfaces of Alclad skin". T.O 07-1-1 ( Dec.26 1943) says-
"The exterior of metal fuselages and metal airfoils do not ordinarily require paint as a protection against corrosion".
So you are quite right in your last comment and I apologise for mine.



Nick

"Exception 1: Exterior surfaces of alcad, 2S, 3S, 52S, 53S require no primer....."

Aclad is aluminum. 2S, 3S, 52S, 53S are types of stainless steel, nothing to do with fuselage stations. As an example, stainless steel panels were used around the exhaust manifolds, inside landing gear doors.


http://www.ipmsstockholm.se/home/wp-..._p51_e_011.jpg

[Buckeye30]

Thanks Revi, much appreciated.
I found this in the P-51A manual, the codes show "s" for steel parts as you say.
Regards
Nick