Speaking of replica fighter planes...

I'd much rather have the FW-190

 

It just goes to show what can be done with today's technology. At one time you couldn't dream of building a P-51, and now you can buy a kit for an exact replica. This pretty much puts an upper limit on the price of a real P-51. Were I in the market for one (wayyyy out of my price range for sure), I wouldn't really care if I had an exact replica or the real thing. If is is the same thing and flies like it that's fine by me. While the guys over in the vintage section decry replicas of great Ferrari's (like a GTO) I don't have a problem with an exact replica of a Mustang or an FW-190.

I understand that Jack Roush is making Merlin pistions and other engine parts (Sparky, can chime in here on availability of parts for Merlins better than anybody else I'm sure). Anyway there really isn't anything that can't be reproduced today and if there is a large enough demand for the parts, they can be done for a very reasonable price. We can gin up a model on CAD, send it out and have it milled from stock for not much more than a casting would be, and it will be stronger too.

Isn't science wonderful....

 

Absolutely. Plus, if you really want to FLY the thing, you don't have to worry about some of the things that come to mind when considering pushing a 60+ year old airframe. Yum yum, count me in. Eventually, anyway. Hopefully

 

Yup.....me too.....

 

I'm thinking P-38 Lightning

 

F-82 Twin Mustang anyone ?

 

As I understand it the F-82 was a very different airplane the the P-51. The fuselages were different, the engines were Allisons, the landing gear was different.... It goes on and on. Not much interchangeable, so you wouldn't be able to build a couple of P-51 replicas fuselages and try to make an F-82.