This Mustang has been a long time coming!
It was suggested last year by my friend Ray.
At first, I scoffed at the idea, once I got a look at the complicated paint scheme.
Personally, I didn't like the mish mash of themes...but after working on the kit for some time,
I have grown accustomed to the various WW2 tributes that make up the paint scheme.
(And the history of this aircraft and its owner/pilot make it a lot more interesting.
Please read the follow-up post/article (below) for more information.)
Anyway, I finished this model some time ago, but haven't released it until now.
Waiting on a test build, making a few adjustments, and releasing a few other kits in the meantime.
But now, here it is!
From the 1974 Reno Air Race #33 "Miss Suzi-Q" as flown by owner Ken Burnstine.
(shown prototype built by Gerardo Escobedo)
Available now at http://ift.tt/1ydbr7D
and here, at ecardmodels.com: 1/33 North American P-51D Mustang Air Race #33 Miss Suzi-Q Paper Model
The story of Ken Burnstine (the owner and pilot of Miss Suzi-Q) is an interesting one.
Edited from three publicly posted articles found online.
Miss Suzi-Q Pilot Ken Burnstine was quite possibly the most colorful character ever to come to Reno Air Races.
Burnstine was a Marine Intel officer who claimed to have been a Marine Aviator (Fighter Pilot), although this is in dispute.
Records indicate that he was never assigned to flight school, never received any training, and never graduated.
He served in the same unit as Lee Harvey Oswald, and was even looked into as part of the greater JFK conspiracy investigation.
He made his fortune selling and transporting armaments to Central/South America.
He started his own charter airline out of Fort Lauderdale (Florida Airways) which he also used to smuggle drugs.
(Many Florida Airways aircraft had crashed and were found to be carrying drugs)
His mansion in Miami was guarded by two African lions, and posted a sign at the gate that said "Trespassers will be eaten".
One of those lions escaped in 1974 and attacked a small child.
Burnstine owned and raced two P-51 Mustangs: N69QF Miss Suzy-Q, and N70QF Miss Foxy Lady.
In spite of his win at the '74 championship at Reno with Suzy Q, he never had much success in the three years he actively raced.
He was known to cut a lot of pylons in Foxy Lady.
The FBI/DEA had been after Burnstine for a number of years, and arrested him late in 1974 ...charged with 15 counts of drug smuggling.
Much of his assets were seized, and he ended up selling N70QF to Gary Levitz in 1976 to help pay for his legal defense.
Burnstine was arrested in December 1974 and charged with drug smuggling...he was convicted in February 1975 and sentenced to seven years in prison.
As part of a plea bargain he became an informant in several drug cases and provided a list of names of drug associates (rumored to include several powerful Florida businessmen and politicians).
He also agreed to testify, if and when others were brought to trial.
The 1976 Mojave race was about a week before a trial, which would be Burnstine's first "star witness" appearance.
Burnstine (with a passenger in the back seat) flew N69QF to Mojave two days prior to racing.
When arriving over Mojave at 10,000 feet, Burnstine requested to come down on the course for a couple of practice laps...more than likely just having fun.
The aircraft was witnessed to do a "roll over in a split-s", make two complete rolls, and then it impacted the ground roughly wings level but at a definite nose-down attitude.
Everyone on race frequency heard Burnstine say "No (pause) Oh no!" as the aircraft was entering it's second roll.
The impact area was spread over the size of a football field.
Because he was a government witness, the FBI took over the investigation from the FAA, treating it as a possible witness tampering.
But results of the examination of the wreckage did not indicate any foul play or sabotage was involved, so the case was closed as unfounded, and the crash was labeled as an accident.
Burnstine's body was too badly damaged for toxicology tests to be performed.
Two pistols (sidearms) were found in the wreckage, and Burnstine's body was found with two shoulder holsters inside his flight suit.
It was suggested last year by my friend Ray.
At first, I scoffed at the idea, once I got a look at the complicated paint scheme.
Personally, I didn't like the mish mash of themes...but after working on the kit for some time,
I have grown accustomed to the various WW2 tributes that make up the paint scheme.
(And the history of this aircraft and its owner/pilot make it a lot more interesting.
Please read the follow-up post/article (below) for more information.)
Anyway, I finished this model some time ago, but haven't released it until now.
Waiting on a test build, making a few adjustments, and releasing a few other kits in the meantime.
But now, here it is!
From the 1974 Reno Air Race #33 "Miss Suzi-Q" as flown by owner Ken Burnstine.
(shown prototype built by Gerardo Escobedo)
Available now at http://ift.tt/1ydbr7D
and here, at ecardmodels.com: 1/33 North American P-51D Mustang Air Race #33 Miss Suzi-Q Paper Model
The story of Ken Burnstine (the owner and pilot of Miss Suzi-Q) is an interesting one.
Edited from three publicly posted articles found online.
Miss Suzi-Q Pilot Ken Burnstine was quite possibly the most colorful character ever to come to Reno Air Races.
Burnstine was a Marine Intel officer who claimed to have been a Marine Aviator (Fighter Pilot), although this is in dispute.
Records indicate that he was never assigned to flight school, never received any training, and never graduated.
He served in the same unit as Lee Harvey Oswald, and was even looked into as part of the greater JFK conspiracy investigation.
He made his fortune selling and transporting armaments to Central/South America.
He started his own charter airline out of Fort Lauderdale (Florida Airways) which he also used to smuggle drugs.
(Many Florida Airways aircraft had crashed and were found to be carrying drugs)
His mansion in Miami was guarded by two African lions, and posted a sign at the gate that said "Trespassers will be eaten".
One of those lions escaped in 1974 and attacked a small child.
Burnstine owned and raced two P-51 Mustangs: N69QF Miss Suzy-Q, and N70QF Miss Foxy Lady.
In spite of his win at the '74 championship at Reno with Suzy Q, he never had much success in the three years he actively raced.
He was known to cut a lot of pylons in Foxy Lady.
The FBI/DEA had been after Burnstine for a number of years, and arrested him late in 1974 ...charged with 15 counts of drug smuggling.
Much of his assets were seized, and he ended up selling N70QF to Gary Levitz in 1976 to help pay for his legal defense.
Burnstine was arrested in December 1974 and charged with drug smuggling...he was convicted in February 1975 and sentenced to seven years in prison.
As part of a plea bargain he became an informant in several drug cases and provided a list of names of drug associates (rumored to include several powerful Florida businessmen and politicians).
He also agreed to testify, if and when others were brought to trial.
The 1976 Mojave race was about a week before a trial, which would be Burnstine's first "star witness" appearance.
Burnstine (with a passenger in the back seat) flew N69QF to Mojave two days prior to racing.
When arriving over Mojave at 10,000 feet, Burnstine requested to come down on the course for a couple of practice laps...more than likely just having fun.
The aircraft was witnessed to do a "roll over in a split-s", make two complete rolls, and then it impacted the ground roughly wings level but at a definite nose-down attitude.
Everyone on race frequency heard Burnstine say "No (pause) Oh no!" as the aircraft was entering it's second roll.
The impact area was spread over the size of a football field.
Because he was a government witness, the FBI took over the investigation from the FAA, treating it as a possible witness tampering.
But results of the examination of the wreckage did not indicate any foul play or sabotage was involved, so the case was closed as unfounded, and the crash was labeled as an accident.
Burnstine's body was too badly damaged for toxicology tests to be performed.
Two pistols (sidearms) were found in the wreckage, and Burnstine's body was found with two shoulder holsters inside his flight suit.
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