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Post by 30sqnatc on May 31, 2020 18:27:19 GMT 12
On an unrelated thread I advised that I had picked up a Contrail Hudson vacuum kit. Dave Homewood asked 'Paul, when the Contrail kit arrives I'll be keen to hear what you think. Maybe they have improved the kit.' Comparing it with the drawing provided with the kit and the Classic Airframes components it looks OK for a vacuum formed & whitemetal kit. Definitely would require an experienced modeller to put it together. fullsizeoutput_190c by tankienz, on Flickr fullsizeoutput_190d by tankienz, on Flickr fullsizeoutput_190e by tankienz, on Flickr fullsizeoutput_190f by tankienz, on Flickr
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 31, 2020 18:34:10 GMT 12
That looks like the kit I remember, horrific! And I'd not trust their drawings. I had a couple of other independent sets of drawings which showed it was way out.
But compared with the Classic Airframes kit, the Contrail kit is junk.
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 13, 2020 19:26:57 GMT 12
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 15, 2020 20:26:53 GMT 12
First nacelle in place, engine cowling openings reduced in size, Twin Wasp R-1830 engine being cleaned up and bomb bay doors closed up url=https://flic.kr/p/2jc1jJT] [/url] fullsizeoutput_191f by tankienz, on Flickr
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Post by Damon on Jun 16, 2020 9:38:26 GMT 12
Nice start 30sqnatc,
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Post by davidd on Jun 16, 2020 11:45:37 GMT 12
What Lodestar identity/colour scheme is in your mind at the moment for this model 30sqnqtc? Just wondering! David D
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 16, 2020 18:13:24 GMT 12
RNZAF
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Post by davidd on Jun 16, 2020 18:43:05 GMT 12
I was afraid you were going to say that! Single-row nine-cylinder Wright R-1820 Cyclone engines required, differently shaped cowls and intakes, etc., also possibly exhausts. Most people would not notice but ..... Hoping that you will have right cowls, and just cheating a bit with the engines (front row only!) The number of cylinders on you engine I cannot quite make out - does it just have the one row of seven cylinders - rear row usually invisible anyway with cowls fitted. David D
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 16, 2020 20:15:53 GMT 12
Now I'm confused. Last night I checked NZDF Aircraft Serials which states RNZAF Lodestars were C60A with Wiki claims had R-1830 Twin Wasps. I just checked RNZAF Short History claims 1000 hp Wright Cyclones, and RNZAF the First Decade 1937-46 details RNZAF Lodestars as Lockheed C-60A-5-LO Lodestar. Checking rzjets.net/aircraft/?page=4&typeid=315 all of that model are listed with R-1830 engines Any ideas? I do have a variety of cowls from Classic Airframes Hudson kit
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Post by Bruce on Jun 16, 2020 21:14:17 GMT 12
Pretty certain all of ours were Wright powered.
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Post by davidd on Jun 16, 2020 23:30:40 GMT 12
Yes, afraid all ours powered by the Wright Cyclone Nine G-205A, also known as the R-1820-87. I think only P&W powered Lodestar seen in this country an aircraft purchased in the USA by one of our aerial topdressing companies, in 1955, cannot recall which one off top of my head. At approx. same time, one of two DC-3s purchased in Australia by NAC (which soon became ZK-BKD or BKE), arrived at Harewood for conversion to the standard NAC specification. It was, unusually for NZ, fitted with Wright Cyclones, but NAC and the topdressing company had arranged to "swap engines" so that each got what they wanted, a P&W powered DC-3 for NAC, and a Wright-powered Lodestar for the topdresser. Lodestars could be powered by three main engine types:- R-1820 Cyclone Nine, R-1830 Twin Wasp, or the P&W R-1690 Hornet (like the Cyclone, a 9-cylinder single-row radial, now all-but-forgotten in history). All the main production of C-60As procured for USAAF were powered by the R-1820-87 Cyclone, and it was from this group of 325 aircraft that the RNZAF's nine C-60As were diverted in 1943 (plus a tenth for Union Airways); I think all the RAAF's aircraft also came from this contract. And yes, it would seem that whoever compiled the Wiki article on the Lodestar got this particular detail badly wrong! Don't know why, every other reference I have seen confirms that the C-60A had the R-1820-87, including all RNZAF documentation I have seen. David D
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 16, 2020 23:55:40 GMT 12
Great and thank you. I'll redirect my engine, cowling and intake efforts.
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 17, 2020 19:51:10 GMT 12
For a nine cylinder engine can I use the engine in the Ventura kit if I modify the shape of protruding gearbox (?) and remove the distributors (?). I've already removed the engine from the Ventura engine mount and reduced the diameter so it can fit into the nacelle.
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Post by davidd on Jun 17, 2020 22:21:28 GMT 12
Guess that might work, just look at close ups of the "noses" of the different engines. As you have already noticed, the Ventura's P&W R-2800s had a front-mounted duplex magneto feeding two separate distributors, whereas the Wright R-1820 had all the electrical gear hidden down the back of the engine. You could perhaps Google these two engines and study the respective differences of the reduction gearboxes, which gave each type their distinctive shapes. Possible that the R-1820 had a slightly greater overall diameter than the longer R-2800, but could be wrong - this could affect the cowling diameter too. David D
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 18, 2020 20:18:54 GMT 12
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 21, 2020 22:35:44 GMT 12
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 27, 2020 21:34:15 GMT 12
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jul 3, 2020 21:44:01 GMT 12
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dmc
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 1
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Post by dmc on Jul 5, 2020 20:32:10 GMT 12
Hi Paul
Traced you down and managed to get through the enlistment process. There seems to be a bit more interest on here about a Ventura/Lodestar conversion. Is there room for another?
Dennis (BM)
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jul 5, 2020 21:26:37 GMT 12
Sure
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