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Beechcraft C18S American Passenger Aircraft - ICM 1:48 (48185)


Julien

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Beechcraft C18S American Passenger Aircraft

ICM 1:48 (48185)

 

18a.jpg

 

The Twin Beech, or to give the aircraft its proper title The Beechcraft Model 18, is a six to eleven seater twin engines low wing, tail wheeled light aircraft made by the Beech Aircraft Corporation is the USA. Between 1937 and 1969 (an impressive production run) over 9000 aircraft were built. During WWII many aircraft were pressed into service and may more were built for the allied war effort serving as transport aircraft, light bombers, trainers, and for photo-reconnaissances. The C18S was a variant of B18S with seating for eight passengers, which was made pre war.

 

The Model

This is now ICM's fifth release of their new tooled Beechcraft Model 18 kit. The plastic is as good as any main stream manufacturer, the fabric effects are good without being over done and the panel lines nicly restrained, with an overall good level of detail out of the box. There are two main sprues of parts, with two small spures, the upper and lower wings; and one clear sprue. Construction starts with adding the glazing to the main fuselage halves. There is a small strip for the 3 main cabin windows, with individual parts for all other windows in each side, Where the kit differs from others is that the main cockpit glazing is supplied as one part for each fuselage half, which wraps around from the side; but does not reach all the way to the middle. There is then a centre section which is added towards the end of the build.

 

18b.jpg

 

Once the glazing is in then the internal structure of the cockpit and cabin can be added. There is a rear bulkhead to the cabin to add along with the bulkhead separating the cabin from the cockpit. In the cockpit itself the instrument panel is built up, the lower part of this featuring the rudder pedals. A single seat is made up which attached to the right fuselage half at the very back of the cabin. Once this seat is installed the main fuselage can be closed up.

 

18c.jpg

 

Construction now moves on to the main undercarriage. The mounting for which come of the rear of the engine firewall. These are a complicated multi part affair and need careful studying of the instructions to make sure all of the parts are in the right places. Once these are complete for both sides they can be installed into the lower wing. It should be noted here that the upper and lower wings are each one part, which when complete add straight to the underside of the main fuselage.

 

18d.jpg

 

Once the engine firewalls complete with landing gear parts are mounted to the lower wing the engine faces are added to the front of the firewall and then exhaust parts are made up and added to the inside of the engine area. The bulkheads are added next to the rear of the landing gear wells. Once the one part ailerons are added to the lower wing the upper wing can be added. The top of the upper wing forms the floor of the main cabin and cockpit. As such two cockpit seats and 4 main cabin seats must now be built and installed onto the floor section. The pilots control columns are also added at this stage. The completed wing/cabin floor assembly can then be joined to the main fuselage. The next construction stage is to make up and install the tailplane assembly.

 

18e.jpg

 

To wrap up construction the tail wheel needs to be built up and installed along with the doors to the compartment. The main wheels are added to the gear legs already installed and the main gear door put in place. The propellers are then installed. If the spinners are to be used then a small amount needs to be trimmed off the hubs. Lastly the rear cabin door is added and the centre section for the main wind screen (though it might be easier to add this to the fuselage before the wing is added).

 

Decals

The decal sheet printed in house gives two options;

 

  • Falcon Airways, Biggin Hill, 1959
  • US Forest Services, Oakland, 1954

 

18f.jpg

 

Conclusion

This is a good kit and its good to see some civilian marking for it. Recommended.

 

bin.jpg

 

Review sample courtesy of logo.gif

 

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  • 5 weeks later...

Am I right in thinking the orange scheme aircraft was used in an episode of the A-team where our brave mercenaries were employed to combat elephant poaching in Africa? Obviously the whole show was filmed entirely on location in California, but throughout the episode this little Beech 18 in this colour scheme was seen buzzing around culminating in the final "battle" scene where it was used as an attack plane.

Not sure if anyone else remembers it (I only saw the episode recently), but the DUMBO name may tie in.

 

Just a little bit of idle trivia,

 

Jeff

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