Is it possible to add visual 'MODS' to the P-51 so it looks 'correct'?

[Mysticpuma]

Which I know sounds a little odd as it look fantastic...but....The aerial underneath by the wheel covers, the twin aerial on the back and the little squiggly (vhf?) aerial embedded in the tail?

 

I know in some paintschemes for other sims, it's possible to add a 'blank' alpha layer that disables textures and effectively renders parts of the mesh invisible and I wonder if this is at-all possible?

 

My main issue is I really like the P-51 from WW2 and these additional aerials just become such an eyesore :(

 

Is there any way to MOD or render invisible the aerial underneath, also one on the top and finally the 'squiggly' one embedded in the tail?

 

Just asking because apart from that...I love this P-51 ;)

 

Cheers, MP

[Swoop73]

I would be interested if anyone can find any info on the antenna embedded in the vertical fin. My own guess is that this is the rear radar warning antenna that is connected to that horn shaped object on the top left panel. Very doubtful that this was ever in a WWII Mustang but not going to lose sleep over it. Per MP's question, though, it would be great if slight tweaks like removing the belly and homing antennas could be done by the skinners.

 

I just got off the phone with Art Fiedler, a 325th FG Mustang ace, and he does remember some of them had a "homing" radio but it never got used. Hilariously, they were told by the brass..."We won't give you the frequency of the homing range because the enemy might get hold of it."

[Mysticpuma]

In Wings of Prey they had a P-40 with Cannons that protruded from the front of the wing...they looked awful. One skinner found a way to delete the cannon from the visible image (although the muzzle still flashed) by using an Alpha Channel. I just wonder if something like that is possible with the aerials?

 

http://forum.gaijinent.com/index.php?/topic/2647-new-skins-for-download/page-22

 

Cheers, MP

[Merlin-27]

I just got off the phone with Art Fiedler, a 325th FG Mustang ace, and he does remember some of them had a "homing" radio but it never got used. Hilariously, they were told by the brass..."We won't give you the frequency of the homing range because the enemy might get hold of it."

 

 

I'm pretty sure this was an operational wartime configuration in the Pacific. The AN/ARA-8 "uncle dog" homing radar is the device that used the twin wooden vertical antennas on the rear fuselage. The AN/APS-13 rear warning radar has the antenna fixed on the vertical tail surface. This was first used by the British and named "monica" At some point the Luftwaffe countered it and devised an airborne receiver to "home in on" allied aircraft using the rear warning radar. That may be the cause of the reluctancy to use it later in the war.

 

Interesting factoid: 4 modified AN/APS-13s were used to air-detonate the first atomic bomb over Japan.

[Swoop73]

Thanks, Merlin.... Interesting info.

 

Amazing how much of this stuff is available to purchase. You could probably build up a pretty neat Mustang cockpit using the "real" front ends.

[Merlin-27]

I am still very curious about this topic. Prior to the release of DCS:WWII it would be nice to have a proper P-51D model that would be flying over Normandy in '44. I don't believe too many had the twin antenna AN/ARA-8 or the HF radio antenna wire from the canopy to the tail. I know there has been an expressed reluctance to touch the P-51, but it is not quite right for the ETO. The rear-view mirror is another item of interest.

 

Yo-Yo, Wags or Luthier: Do you have anything you can say about future plans to address this?

[mslechta]

AN/ARA-8 was homing device but VHF and no HF and cooperating with VHF radio SRC 522 (4th chanel was usually preset for this purpose).

HF homing device was Detrola but beacos (system had ground beacons) were only placed in the US continental territory it was reason why this device was usually removed from aircraft and wire antena was for it (often missing on photos of WWII Mustangs).

(may be, some beacons were placed outside of the USA, my info comes from one source)

 

And, I would like to hear somethig about possibility to have P-51D "model 1944" in DCS WWII too. Without K-14 for instance and another "late" model equipment.

Thank You

[Merlin-27]

That's a good point. No K-14 until Sept '44. That may have to be overlooked for a while. Much more involved than removing things from the aircraft model.

[Zabuzard]

I would be interested if anyone can find any info on the antenna embedded in the vertical fin.

 

Thanks a lot, didn`t noticed that.

but there is no information about angle of cover of the radar and why it ring when there is no one behind me...

 

It is the Rear Warning Radar AN/APS-13 Monica

Coverage:

 

 

It is located at the tail section of the Mustang (the 4 spikes on each side) where the middle ones are the drivers and the outer the reflector and director:

 

 

The equipment operates at 420 MHz with a receiver IF of 30 MHz. Therefore it sends out 'radio waves' and measures which were reflected by an object.

That is the reason why it alarms you of an 'enemy' when your moving on the ground or near a mountain or if a friendly is nearby.

 

It was also often used as an rangefinder, e.g. for ground atacks at night or to arm the 'Little Boy' bomb at the right altitude.

 

Hope that helped