P-51 Tuskegee Airmen Model and Real

[milenio3]

Back again with another model vs real item.

This time, Dave Winfield's Tuskegee Airmen P-51 Mustang.

I was able to take the model to this weekend's Air Show here in San Antonio (Randolph Air Force Base),
and put it on the wing of the real Mustang that is used to promote the Commemorative Air Force
Red Tail Squadron initiative.

The photos were taken minutes after the airplane made some passes on the air show and landed.

While we were on that, some of the local Tuskegee Airmen Chapter arrived, and I took more photos
of the model in hands of the Tuskegee Airmen themselves.

The model is available at Dave's Paper Model Shop, and also in ecardmodels.com:
Here:
http://papermodelshop.com/html/p51_mustang_usa.html













Left to right: Theodore Johnson, Eugene Derricotte, James Bynum and Grandville Coggs.








Then, the pilot, Bill Shepard, invited me to climb to the wing as I handle the model. It was a treat!

Oh yeah, I was wearing the Tuskegee Airmen cap, so I guess that gave Mr. Shepard a little more confidence that I was OK.






Last photo: Bill Shepard, pilot and Squadron Leader. Eugene Derricotte, Tuskegee Airman. Me.

[SCEtoAUX]

That is realy great that you were able to meet some of those Tuskegee Airmen and show them one of Dave's models. BZ.

[MacSongLi]

Way to go Gerardo. This is fantastic. You're a lucky man to meet and greet those heroes.

The model looks great too!

Gary

[airdave]

I got the flikr photos gerardo.
Thanks

Nice to see these here too.
You are very lucky to be able to interract with these guys.

You look good up on that wing.
Did they see you do that?
lol

If you break something, leave my name out of it.

[Isaac]

Must have been a great moment



Isaac

[willygoat]

That is incredible!

I'm just gonna leave this right here. Do you have parking spaces for over-sized vehicles?

[sparrowhawk]

Wish I could have been there!
A few days ago I purchased a model of a Tuskegee Mustang, as the profits go to Hugo and because I hold a fascination for the Tuskegee airmen.
Any chance to see those pix in higher resolution somewhere?

[airdave]

Not sure if you are looking for more photos of the model itself
or just photos of the Airshow?

I just added a couple of Gerardo's photos to my Flikr album (P51B/C Mustangs)
here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/659362...57628745422659

In that same album, you will also find a few older photos of the same Tuskegee Airmen model
also built by Gerardo (last year).
Not sure if he built a second one, or if this is the same model.

[milenio3]

Originally Posted by airdave

I got the flikr photos gerardo.
Thanks

Nice to see these here too.
You are very lucky to be able to interract with these guys.

You look good up on that wing.
Did they see you do that?
lol

If you break something, leave my name out of it.

Oops, too late, Dave... Expect a bill for a broken wing.

Originally Posted by airdave

Not sure if you are looking for more photos of the model itself
or just photos of the Airshow?

I just added a couple of Gerardo's photos to my Flikr album (P51B/C Mustangs)
here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/65936213@N08/albums/72157628745422659

In that same album, you will also find a few older photos of the same Tuskegee Airmen model
also built by Gerardo (last year).
Not sure if he built a second one, or if this is the same model.

The model is the one that Dave re-designed. The photos of the finished model are in the forum here:

http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/gallery-announcements/26054-p-51-b-c-mustang-tuskegee-airmen-dave-winfield-s-new-version.html

And I was like... "Why, oh why didn't I give the model as a gift to Mr. Shepard? I always give away the models to their pilots." I guess I was so excited I forgot.

Thank you Doug, Gary, Isaac, Willygoat for your kind comments!

And special thanks to Sparrowhawk for your support to Hugo with Dave's models. I hope to see it built.

And of course, big thanks to Dave for the model.

Some more:

[3Turner]

Its unfortunate, but this P-51 has been reported in emergency landing today with extensive damage including the prop shearing off. :(

World War II-Era P-51C Mustang Makes Belly Landing at Dallas Executive Airport