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How does one say this gently? Chip's new P-82 adapts two P-51D fuselages from John Dell's design pretty much straight up, adding only an enlarged dorsal fin - and it ain't right! The P-82 fuselages were, first, adaptations of the P-51H fuselages (markedly different from the D), but even so nearly five feet was added to their length, mostly abaft the canopy, to accommodate increased fuel tankage, and they look nothing like the FG model. The FG model even uses a virtually stock D fin & rudder - the P-82's fin & rudder are the same only in raw outline; the P-82's rudder chord is much narrower, and the fin is taller. Finally, the cuffed Aeroproducts prop blades were simply reproduced from Dell's Ds; the P-82's prop blades are not cuffed but have a fat chord right down to their shanks.
I realize that mocking up a P-82 from existing design stock cuts down on the model development cost, but the P-82 is NOT two D fuselages, or even two H fuselages, but a wholly unique design. I know Chip will sacrifice authenticity for ease of construction, but this has nothing to do with ease of construction.
With the latest additions to the FG fleet being excellent reproductions (the Sikorsky seaplanes, the Martin B-10, the Buccaneer, etc.), bringing the FG line to (in my view) parity with lines like Schreiber-Bogen, this P-82 is a big step backward.
Is it too late to re-engineer the P-82?
Mark Baird
Alameda CA
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