Piper PA-48 Enforcer by Piotr Dmitruk (Academy Conversion 1/72)

1/72 Academy Mustang conversion
Piper PA-48 Enforcer

by Piotr Dmitruk

Piper PA-48 Enforcer

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Background

The withdrawal of the P-51 Mustang from active duty resulted in the appearance of many of these aircraft on the civilian market. Cavalier Aircraft Corporation bought the rights to this famous design from North American, and after remanufacturing delivered “Mustangs” to many nations.

Cavalier believed that the Mustang still had potential for further developement as a light and cheap COIN aircraft, by fitting a turboprop engine. In 1968 the company fitted a Rolls-Royce “Dart” engine, as it was the only powerplant available, with plans to fit the more powerful Lycoming T-55. However Cavalier cancelled any work on this, and decided to sell the rights to the Piper Aircraft Corporation.

In 1970, the prototype Turbo Mustang III was delivered to the Piper factory at Vero Beach. In pursuit of contracts under the “Pave Coin” program, the Piper factory undertook a redesign of the Turbo Mustang.

The first converted aircraft was tested by the USAF in 1971 and fullfilled all expectations, but a production contract was not granted.

In September 1981 the USAF, under pressure from the US Congress, ordered two new aircraft. The fitting of the Lycoming T-55 engine and other modifications (lengthening of the fuselage by 19 inches, fitting of larger tail surfaces, removing of the ventral scoop, fitting of the Yankee ejector seat, wingtip tanks, removing the wing guns, and fitting ten underwing hardpoints) resulted in only 10% of parts in common with the F-51 D, and produced a new aircraft named PA 48 “Enforcer”.

The two prototypes never given any military designations, and were given civilian registrations: N481PE and N482PE. First flights took place on April 9 and July 8 1983 respectively, and evaluations were conducted at Elgin AFB and Edwards AFB during 1983/84. Again no orders were obtained and both prototypes were put in storage in late 1986.

Aircraft number N481PE is now on display at the WPAFB Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

Construction

Analysis of the dimensions and shape of the original Piper Enforcer (based on very useful site http://s96920072.onlinehome.us/AWA1/101-200/walk170_Piper%20Enforcer/walk170.htm ) led to the conclusion, that all change in length of this aircraft took place in rear part of the fuselage.

The front part remained unchanged in length and general shape. Also the propeller spinner, despite this, that it is narrower, kept the length of that from the Mustang. The horizontal tail-planes were altered entirely, and the vertical stabilizer, although it kept the outline of the prototype, had enlarged surface (in different way than in P -51H), but with an unchanged rudder.

So the major plastic surgery comprised:

Changing of shape of propeller spinner - I couldn’t change kit part because it was empty inside. And so I made resin copy (full inside), glued both parts of spinner, glued in injection needle as an axis, and having placed her in Dremel tool, I grinded the spinner to desirable shape. I also broadened four openings for propeller blades. I took these from Martin "Mauler” kit from CMK and slightly changed
Making of round opening behind the propeller spinner - Precise drilling with dental burrs, corrected with epoxy glue and abrasive paper.
Making of small NACA openings in the cowling - Similarly drilled with dental burrs
Drilling of exhaust pipe opening - Bored at an angle, with more and more larger bit. I made exhaust pipe with suitable diameter drinking straw. Her convex fairing was made with plasticard.
Lengthening of fuselage about 0,66 cm of (19 inches in original) - Inserted two pieces of plastic about suitable thickness and polished.
Removing of the ventral radiator scoop - Simply cut-off and blanked off with plasticard and epoxy glue.
Making of air inlets on the right side and the outlet on the left side. I made inlets with pieces of plastic . On the left side I made opening in the fuselage, put two metal strips obliquely in it, and covered with tear-shaped metal strip.
Removing the wing guns, their wing slots and armament covers - That was easy.
Making of fuel tanks on the wing tips - I took suitable fuel tanks from Airfix "Shooting star ” kit, made their resin copies, shortened suitably, cut out slots for wing tips, I bored openings on Pitot tube in port, and landing light in starboard, I added several panel lines and trinkets, and also fins from strips of metal.
Change of shape of vertical stabilizer - I glued on the leading edge the shaped piece of plasticard, serving as a template for later grinding, covered with epoxy glue, and I shaped profile with file and abrasive paper.
Making of horizontal tail-plane - Accidentally I saw, that similar shape, even with suitably shaped movable surfaces, had the tips of the longer wings from Me -209 kit from Huma. After cut-off and several changes I had the finished tail-plane.

The making of flaps in this kit should also belong to the “major plastic surgery” category. There are separated flaps, assumed to be glued in lowered position. This element does not fit nor to wings, nor to fuselage, but has big sink marks and one millimeter thick trailing edges. I left them closed, because it facilitated me the work.y I changed numerous panel lines, as were on the pictures.

When the fuselage was ready, there was a time for cockpit interior. This was easily to make through wide cockpit opening. One cannot use here nor basic set, nor resin, because interior of the "Enforcer ” differed considerably from standard "Mustang ”. I made from scratch the whole interior, inclusive of floor, internal structure, instrument panel, with sunscreen and gunsight. The "Yankee extractor” was made from resin copy of Martin "Mauler ”seat from CMK.

The canopy offered by Academy seems to be “armoured”, and is also of variable thickness. In original this would been about 12 cm thick on the right side to 20 cm on the left side. So I must made new. Then the lower, tin part of new canopy was to thin so I had thickened her with plasticard. There was clearly visible shelf at the very end of this part from inside- again done with plasticard.

Last but not least - the undercarriage. The wheel wells were poor, but mostly closed with internal undercarriage covers (you can use resin aftermarket parts, if you want), external covers were lousy too. The undercarriage legs required some improvement, but wheels were to be changed. I added clamps of disc brakes made from thin plasticard from inside, from outside I covered with epoxy glue the whole rim and bored several holes of suitable diameters.

I made from the underwing armament pylons from scratch and glued on them bomb racks - different on every pylon.

Painting and Markings

It was possible to reproduce from pictures painting scheme on almost whole airplane, with exception of parts of wing, horizontal tail-plane and fuselage lower surfaces. Since it is "wrap around ” type of painting scheme, I assumed similar pattern as on the upper surfaces.

The camouflage pattern of another restored "Enforcer ”could be confusing- it differs from N482PE, but it may be correct- I have only one picture of this airplane before restoration, in addition in protective cocoon.

I painted my model with Humbrol, Pactra, Tamiya, Model Master and Lifecolor paints. After coat of Future I put on decals, partly from stash, partly myself printed, and partly myself painted. After coat of dull varnish I stuck the masses of antennae, Pitot tube made from injection needles and wire, I made the landing light opening in right wingtip tank, lined with the BMF foil and filled with Micro Kristal Klear, I saw off the landing lights in the main wheel wells from old CD, similarly imitating the glass with a dot of Micro Kristal Klear. I made numerous lights using the warning lights set from CMK, putting under them tiny discs cut out from BMF foil, making them shine. Weathering was made with Tamiya Smoke and dry pastels.

Conclusion

As far as I know, there is no Piper Enforcer kit. There are several resin conversion sets, but they offer the only alteration of front part of the fuselage, and this is far to little. If someone wants to follow in my steps, I recommend choosing different kit. Taking under attention that a lot of changes will be made, both with shape and with surface, I chose the cheapest model.

However it turned out that I had to put in a lot of additional work with flaps and cockpit canopy, and the appearance of undercarriage leaves a lot to be desired. Anyway, I have next original model on the shelf, with no more effort than others put in improving of factory kits.

Alpha & Omega - Mustang Comparison

Several later pictures present the development of this type of airplane and my modelling skills through the last 15 years. The other kit is the conversion of P- 51A kit from Novo/Frog, on the A- 36 “Apache” type.