Lockheed Lodestar from the Ventura 1.48 kit

[silverbird]

Hello NZ!
A couple of us (on the Britmodeller forum) are looking at the prospect of making a decent Lodestar L18 from the big Revell 1.48 PV1 Ventura kit.
Some links came up to a really interesting discussion on here, and some great reference material incl.
I'm wondering if any good builds emerged and any Work in Progress build threads were pasted on here.
I'll need to go back to the link and find names to flag up, but I'll look forward to hearing any and all information on this

[30sqnatc]

I started the original thread asking the question is it possible. I believed it is but have not started as I have been actively watching the Britmodeller discussion hoping one of you would take the plunge and make a start first. I note there is recent renewed interest on that forum and I was considering making it my next project so being a polite guy 'After you, I'll follow close behind'.

[silverbird]

Well, I've got an ongoing Lockheed Twins project going on (for some time!!) and I'm currently working on the 1.72 MPM Lodestar kit which basically supplies the Hudson wing and many other parts, and a little brass etched extension for the TE.
I thought it was a bit of a shortcut, but reading through your thread it seems like this is a good replica of what Lockheed actually made.
Right now I'm trying to adapt the engine cowlings to take the P&W Twin Wasps that are included on the mouldings.

I've got 2 of the big PV1 kits and the first one is getting a kind of civvie makeover.
But the idea of a proper L18 is very appealing. I think there will be an attempt, and it's information gathering and "thought experiments" at the moment.

[30sqnatc]

On the !/48 Ventura to Lodestar thread I initially guessed the required changes were:

- fill in front MG nose ports
- fill in existing Ventrua windows
- fill in edges of former bomb bay
- fill in turret aperture
- cut new cabin windows
- scribe new nose freight door and main cabin door
- build up lower fuselage behind ventral gun
- cut off fuselage tailcone and build replacement
- relocate tailwheel
- make new engine nacelles (or pinch from a kit with similar engine) and exhausts
- make new main landing gear faring
- remodel the rear cockpit wall

On Sunday I laid out the Revell Ventura and a Classic Airframes Hudson III/IV/V/VI/PBO-1 pieces to compare them. The only thing that really stood out additional to the original list was the engine nacelles which are significant different more than I realised in width, shape and depth. These differences are both above and below the wing and I believe are clearly more than just different interpretations by the two manufacturers. I have not yet compared against drawings.

Above the wing:

- Ventura 60mm depth (inner wing depth), 51.35 mm maximum width. Height is about the same.

- Hudson 56.5mm depth (inner wing depth), 49.27 mm maximum width.
The photos show the under wing differences.

Below the wing the differences are more significant as shown in the photos as the width, height and overall shape are larger on the Ventura. As an example at the rear of the wheel aperture of the Ventura is twice the height of the corresponding location on the Hudson nacelle. The Hudson and Ventura nacelle depth are the same (just looks shorter on the Ventura due to the flap extension).





I really think using a Hudson wing and adding the flaps would be the easier route than rebuilding the Ventura nacelles and engine cowlings. The obvious problem with this option is the cost and rarity of the Classic Airframes Hudson. Are there any reasonably priced vacuform Hudson kits available? There is one on Ebay at the moment. Both the US purchase price and US postage are extortionate.

[silverbird]

Excellent bit of research and comparison there... Thanks for that!
I like your thinking on the wing /nacelle problem but scarcity is the big snag.
The PV1 was fitted with the big P&W 2800 double Wasps from the start so I guess bigger everything was required.
And the civil makeover types like the Howard 500 have these big motors, and many pictures of them appear online titled Lodestar.
There's MUCH confusion on the net, and even in books.
What you have posted here will be most useful 👍

[Jimmy07]

I have a spare Lodestar fuse in 48th if it was wanted? I bought a couple of them a few blue moons ago, not cheap, but only have one Classic Airframes Hudson kit (another VERY not cheap kit!) Which it is designed for.

I remember somewhere on the interwebs there was some great reference to the design of how the Lodestar was upgraded into a Ventura- which some clever John could backwards engineer the Ventura kit into a Lodestar. It was definitely in the too hard basket for me. The Hudson is a better candidate than the Ventura as far as kit butchering goes.

Should make for a great Fieldair dung duster.

[30sqnatc]

Wow is this Classic Airframes Lodestar fuselage? I was not aware they made this.

Paul

[Jimmy07]

This is a resin aftermarket fuse to fit the CA Hudson kit. From Lone Star models in the states. I believe the Hudson wings, engines and tail section were virtually identical to the Lodestar. Happy to be corrected here.

Jim

[30sqnatc]

Thanks for reply. That explains why I'd never heard of it. Yes it appears the Lodestar bits and pieces were from the Hudson linage and trying to modify a Ventura as we had been discussing would be a major undertaking.

See my PM response to you.

Paul Napier