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Post by harrysone on Aug 21, 2019 9:35:07 GMT 12
...I have a Mach 2 Convair 440 kit that I'm contemplating converting to a CV-580  ! There is MUCH WORK TO BE DONE and that is just putting it quietly! The building instructions for the kit are non-existant, surprisingly the basic building blocks (the Mach 2 molds) are basically good (despite the often poor quality of some of the molded content), this conversion will necessitate some surplus P-3 engine parts and electra/C-130 props (which again fortunately I have!). Fortunately, In the past few weeks Roden has released a really good 1/144 Convair 340...I have been able to practice the conversion on a smaller scale (using minicraft electra parts!). The nacelles for the Convair are obviously a different shape, however reference to drawings, a bit of plastic scrap and filler have seen to this...  IMG_3050 by Harry Follas, on Flickr  IMG_3051 by Harry Follas, on Flickr Probably just going to park this smaller kit to one side for the time being as I now go after the "Main Event" with the Mach 2 kit. Currently looking at putting a full interior into it...but will need to eliminate the provided "transparencies" (opaques?) for the cabin windows |
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Post by ZacYates on Aug 21, 2019 10:29:06 GMT 12
The members of Britmodeller seem to have nothing but scorn and mockery for Mach2 kits but I am excited to follow along with your build and have every confidence in your abilities.
In fairness I've never tackled a Mach2 kit but that's only because I've not found the right subject as opposed to being scared of the effort involved. I'd love to have a go. Maybe the Ryan X-13 one day...
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Post by harrysone on Aug 21, 2019 11:06:43 GMT 12
accuracy of major components for the Mach2 Convair stack up well against scale drawings actually, that's the main thing...some of the smaller bits seem to have been attacked by 'Mr. Blobby' of course and will require replacement  CV440 by Harry Follas, on Flickr |
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Post by saratoga on Aug 21, 2019 17:40:30 GMT 12
Mach2, great choice of subject, horrendously poor execution. Open box, marvel at plastic, through plastic away(in an environmentally(!) friendly manner), find lump of wood, carve to suit, vow never again..
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Post by harrysone on Aug 22, 2019 8:31:12 GMT 12
Yep, well versed with all the negatives about Mach 2 kits expressed on the online forums over the years...however I'm of the opinion that so long as the dimensions & shapes are appropriately correct..you have the basic raw materials...my expectations aren't too high, heck though can't be any harder than building a vac-form model in the same scale. On the other hand I have already junked the pilot seats and control columns...one of each were either full of air bubbles or mal-formed blobs! Fortunately I've got quite a spares box with many spare seats that can be used & I have used a couple of spare Lockheed Hudson control wheels for the cockpit  . Also the number of ejector pins on the inside of the molds are unbelievable! It will require a serious grinding session with the Dremel Tool before I even get started!! To construct the pax interior, I'm going to be using resin pax seats for the Valom Twin Pioneer Kit. I have 3 packets of these totaling 51 seats, I may just install 30 or so an put 'crayfish pots' in the front half of the cabin .  IMG_7992 by Harry Follas, on Flickr The glass in the windows will be replaced using cut down pieces of CD case plastic (a technique I learned from Lars of Khee-Kha kits when doing glazing for the Cessna 185s). Poss do this or CIE  IMG_7456 by Harry Follas, on Flickr |
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Post by harrysone on Aug 23, 2019 9:03:41 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 23, 2019 9:58:40 GMT 12
Feel free to start a thread in the Civil board Harry.
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Post by harrysone on Aug 23, 2019 10:14:59 GMT 12
Might be a little wet-weekend project Dave, I'll need to get some particulars together Although perhaps I can re-post some of the above & see if it works as a catalyst... |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 23, 2019 10:26:53 GMT 12
No rush, although I reckon this weekend will be somewhat wet |
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Post by harrysone on Aug 24, 2019 11:02:19 GMT 12
...bit of progress with the Mach 2 "580". I have done a basic cabin interior. I had to grind off all manner of ejector pins and towers to fit the interior! While the windows have been replaced by very clear CD plastic, you still can't actually see too much inside. The cockpit is pretty basic, again not too much will be visible through the cockpit glass. chucking some lead in the fwd cargo hold, I have got the fuselage together okay and major components, the fit of these to the fuselage is not that desirable & will require much lilliput 'bog'. You can see the gap that exists between the vertical tail and the fuselage.  IMG_3055 by Harry Follas, on Flickr  IMG_3058 by Harry Follas, on Flickr  IMG_3060 by Harry Follas, on Flickr |
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Post by agile on Aug 25, 2019 10:38:37 GMT 12
A dedicated CV-580 photo thread is a great idea - it's an underrated workhorse. The most photogenic to my mind is KFL, the big Toroa. I only have a couple of CV-580 pics because when I went over to the Chathams for work it was dark and I had a zillion other things on my mind, but I do have a couple relevant to your build, Harry. This was taken at Waitangi on the way home...  ...and if you look closely you can see a critical piece of GSE that might save you some ballast:  This yellow and red pole was carried down the aisle with great ceremony after we had all boarded the aircraft and wandered to the seat of our choice, and stowed somewhere in the murky rear of the cabin. Naturally it reappeared before we were allowed to leave our seats in Wellington. |
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Post by harrysone on Aug 25, 2019 15:39:40 GMT 12
Ha! Nice, no worries there though, this one will not be a tail sitter! It is coming along though, actually its begining to resemble one of Air Chatham's 'part-out jobs sitting at NZAA by runway 23 . Its a large model in 1/72! Awaiting engines at the moment, I have extended the verical stab, I still need to widen the horizontal stabs. The Mach 2 kit fit is not too bad, the only serious bit of filler used so far is the wing/fuselage junction under the port wing. Quite a bit of sanding required however, the moldings seem to have almost a pebbly texture in places...weird!  20190825_144558 by Harry Follas, on Flickr  20190825_144502 by Harry Follas, on Flickr  20190825_144334 by Harry Follas, on Flickr |
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Post by harrysone on Aug 26, 2019 22:37:51 GMT 12
...starting to install the 2nd hand Hasegawa P3 engines. The slimmer nacelles need to be faired in to the wider Convair firewalls, I will also be installing a set of square C-130 props to replace the rounded Orion props  Mach2_CV580 by Harry Follas, on Flickr |
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Post by harrysone on Aug 28, 2019 15:44:03 GMT 12
Well, I'm not going to knock Mach 2 too much It certainly looks like a Convair ! I still need to lengthen the Horizontal stabilizers for the conversion & more fairing & shaping however the Allison Engines and resin props have come up well  IMG_1157 by Harry Follas, on Flickr  IMG_1161 by Harry Follas, on Flickr  IMG_1159 by Harry Follas, on Flickr |
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Post by harrysone on Sept 15, 2019 21:41:43 GMT 12
...A bit of progress on the CV-580 some detailing and first primer coat, looking good so far...I had to raise the nose oleo on the original (looked like it was low on gas/hydraulic) as the new props were very close to the ground.  Untitled  Untitled I have finally tracked down some white primer now, & back from holiday...so should be able to carry on with this build. |
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Post by harrysone on Sept 15, 2019 21:49:06 GMT 12
...in the meantime "Mini-Me" has actually progressed (needed less paint!). The 1/144 kit here will probably wind up in Chathams Pacific (white) livery  convair_mini |
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Post by harrysone on Sept 19, 2019 9:32:49 GMT 12
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Post by harrysone on Sept 21, 2019 10:40:46 GMT 12
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Post by harrysone on Sept 21, 2019 10:43:12 GMT 12
this one shows the sheer size of the props & Allisons vs the Garrets on the Jetstream 31. With practically 4,000 hp aside, the Convair 580 is a BIG turboprop!  |
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Post by harrysone on Sept 26, 2019 8:24:26 GMT 12
The Convair is nearing completion, the airline font was a victim of the dastardly curling decal syndrome yesterday, I'll need to reprint!  Untitled  Untitled |
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! There is MUCH WORK TO BE DONE and that is just putting it quietly! The building instructions for the kit are non-existant, surprisingly the basic building blocks (the Mach 2 molds) are basically good (despite the often poor quality of some of the molded content), this conversion will necessitate some surplus P-3 engine parts and electra/C-130 props (which again fortunately I have!).
. Also the number of ejector pins on the inside of the molds are unbelievable! It will require a serious grinding session with the Dremel Tool before I even get started!!
