This model P-51 Mustang adds a whimsical touch to your yard or garden Of the various whirligig projects I have

designed, the airplanes from World War II are my favorites. The P-5 !ustang was originally designed and "uilt for the #ritish air force. It first saw action in $%&. 'ater, the P-5 was used in the (merican air force. The project in the photograph was painted to refl ect an (merican version. !any veterans feel it was one of the "est all-around fighter airplanes of WWII. (fter the war, the P-5 remained in )* service into the $5&s and served as a com"at fighter in the +orean War. #y the time the war ended in $%5, over 5,&&& airplanes were "uilt. ("out 5& remain airworthy today. This P-5 !ustang whirligig is an easy project to ma,e for your yard. -ou can follow my paint scheme or customi.e the whirligig with your own design. The "ody swivels to face into the wind, and the /-"lade propeller assem"ly spins in even the slightest "ree.e. I made the fuselage from 01-thic, pine. The hori.ontal sta"ili.er and wing are "oth 2 1thic, e3terior plywood. The propellers are cut from 41-thic, plywood. The drawings on the following pages should "e enlarged 5&&6 to ma,e the whirligig to the original scale, using the stoc, listed in the materials list. Step 1: Transfer the patterns to the stoc,. 7nlarge the patterns and trace them onto the stoc,, using car"on paper. 8lip the half-patterns over when tracing to ma,e the full wing and sta"ili.er peices. Step 2: 9ut out the pieces. I use an Olson :%5;P<T "lade to cut the 01-thic, and 21thic, stoc,. 9ut the 21-thic, parts first. Then cut the profile of the fuselage. The slots in the fuselage must match the thic,ness of your plywood. #ecause plywood thic,nesses vary, measure your plywood, and cut the slots in the fuselage to match. Step 3: 9ut three propellers from the 41-thic, plywood. I use an Olson :%55P<T "lade.

Step 4: (ssem"le the whirligig "ody. Insert the hori.ontal sta"ili.er and the wing in the slots in the fuselage. <lue them in place using water-resistant glue. Step 5 ( lic! image gallery "or a larger #iew$: (ssem"le the propeller hu". <lue the propeller "lades into the slots in the hu". *and the surface of the plywood if the fit seems too tight. *lip a piece of scrap wood under the hu" to raise it off the ta"le, and secure each "lade with two "rads, one on each side of the hu". ( "rad pusher simplifies this tas,. (lthough not included in the parts ,it, you may also wish to drive 5=>1 galvani.ed wire "rads in to help secure the "lades in the hu". Step %: (dd the "ushings. Insert one nylon-flanged "ushing into the ?1-diameter hole on each side of the propeller hu". @rill a A=;%1-diameter hole 41-deep in the front of the fuselage and attach the hu" to the fuselage with a 51 3 :; roundhead screw. Tighten the screw, "ut "e sure the hu" spins freely. Step &: @etermine the "alance point. Best the project on your finger to determine the "alance point. !ar, 21 forward of the "alance point, and drill a ?1- diameter 3 ?1-deep hole in the "ottom of the fuselage. The location of this hole may "e different from that shown on the drawing. Step ': (dd the fi"erglass rod. <lue the ?1-diameter fi"erglass rod in the hole in the "ottom of the fuselage. When you remove the whirligig from the post, you do not want the rod left protruding in case a child would fall on it. Step (: Paint the project. )se the reference photo and color recommendations on the patterns as guides, or do some research to find other paint schemes. Prime the project with a Cuality e3terior-rated primer. Then paint the topcoats with e3terior paint. Transfer the detail lines either freehand or "y using graphite transfer paper. Then paint the accents. I use a "lac, paint mar,er to outline the windows. Paint the sta,e green to "lend with your lawn. -ou may wish to finish "y "rushing a coat of polyurethane over the final coat of paint. 9autionD polyurethane may react chemically with some paints, especially the paint mar,er. If you apply polyurethane, test on a painted piece of scrap wood first. Step 1): @isplay the project. It can "e mounted on a dec, railing, a fence post, or simply on a 51 3 %1 or %1 3 %1 wood post that has "een pounded in the ground. @rill a 5= ;1 hole 0 1 deep in the top of the post. *lip the 5= ;1 nylon-flanged "ushing in this hole. ( 5= ;1-diameter round "ead or a "all "earing Enot included in the parts ,itF can "e dropped into the hole to act as a "earing surface. (fter the project adjusts to the humidity, the hu" may swell, so it may "e necessary to adjust the screw after a few days.

Materials:

Tools:

21 3 1 3 /&2 1 e3terior plywood Ehori.ontal sta"ili.er G wingsF 0 1 3 A2 1 3 5% 5=>1 pine EfuselageF

Olson :%55P<T G :%5;P<T "ladesH or "lades of choice @rill with A=;%1, ? 1, and 5= ;1-

0 1 3 5 5=>1 3 /1 Epropeller hu" optional, if ordering propeller pac,age listed "elowF =>1 3 5/=>1 3 51 plywood Epropellers - optional, if ordering propeller pac,ageF *ingle 7ngine, /-#lade Propeller Iardware Parts Pac,age E!eisel Part :5&5/**WFH <raphite transfer paper E!eisel Part :$/;AFH 5=>1 3 : > gauge "rads E!eisel Part : ;&$FH *andpaper, >& G 5& grits 73terior wood glue *tain "loc,ing primer White e3terior primer 73terior paintD white, "lue, "lac,, yellow, G silver Polyurethane EoptionalF

diameter "its #rad driver E!eisel Part :A&> , optionalFH *lotted screwdriver Paint "rushes

*SP+ ,-. S/01 +S: ( propeller hardware parts ,it, including all "ushings and shafts, a pre-cut hu" and =>1 e3terior "irch plywood for propellers, is availa"le for J5.$$ Eorder part :5&5/**WF. Other availa"le materials listed a"oveD :$/;A <raphite Transfer Paper J %.&& for 5 sheets, : ;&$ 5=>1 3 : > gauge wire "rads, J .5$K .A5o. "o3, plus *GI fromD !eisel Iardware *pecialties, P.O. #o3 A&, !ound, !L 55/;%, >&&-%% - $>A&, www.meiselwoodho""y.com