Lockheed PV1 and Lodestar in 1.48 (Civil) )

[rob Lyttle]

With a couple of almost dones waiting for the last few tweaks, I'm casting around for a new building adventure, and I'm drawn back to these Lockheed Twins. 

I love 'em ‼️😍

I spent some time last year doing several in 1.72,:- Academy Ventura, MPM Lodestar and Hudson, and even the ancient Airfix Hudson which became an L14 Super Electra. 

A lot of information gathered along the way, and plenty of input and refs from the BM community 👍

What I also have in this style is a couple of the big Revell 1.48 PV1 Ventura kits. 

They're a great big box of modelling joy, and for some reason they don't seem to have taken the kit scene by storm. 

They turn up in toy shop chains and online for "cheap-as-chips" money. 

Well, suits me ‼️

 

I've started into the first one and then left it in limbo while I cracked on with the little ones, and drifted on to other things. 

It's going to be a fairly straightforward Ventura build. 

If you think of all the warsurplus airframes flooding onto the civil scene and becoming available at a bargain price, plus all the vast aviation and maintenance expertise looking for a job, it must have been a remarkable time. 

(I suppose I'm thinking about the Americas now, and Australia and New Zealand. Africa and Asia too. 

Everywhere really except for the UK, which seems to have crushed almost all opportunities, either to make them or fly them ‼️😶) 

 

A lot of the PV1 Venturas were civilised by specialist companies and made over into executive and private aircraft, and their products often had many changes. 

Howard Venturas in particular featured basically a new fuselage, and some have ended up with tricycle undercarriage. 

Some were altered much less however, and still had features like the ventral gun bulge and top turret Reinforcement plates, and the bomb bay doors. 

And that's the kind of Ventura I'm having a go at. 

My 1.72 Academy PV1 got done in the same style - I even left the long-range tanks on.

 

 

So, I'm going to do a bit more on the big one in the same way, get those big Fowler flaps going, and bare metal finish. 

 

I'll dig out some pictures from the Flickr archives to show what I've done so far, 

 

And then I'll outline what I have in mind for the second kit. Still only a pipe dream 🌄🎠🎠🎠

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

"I am quire ready for another adventure!"

-Bilbo Baggins

 

[rob Lyttle]

It was over a year ago that I started into this one, and the first thing was to make some doors and windows. 

In the spirit of a "quick and easy" civil conversion of the airframe, I put the line of windows where it seems appropriate, within the panel lines. 

That's higher than the Lodestar window level. 

Also took out the emergency exit panels for ventilation, delete the military doors and cut a new passenger door at the back. 

 

The front nose sections have been glued onto the main fuselage sides and the bomb bay doors are in place, except one which will be open for luggage and cargo. 

I foiled the sides, cut the apertures, and made some clear styrene widows. 

 

Here's an inside view showing the blanking off of the turret opening. 

 

This all took some time! 

But not as much as the next stage. 

Because, here's the thing...... 

 

 

I BUILT AN INTERIOR ‼️😯

 

Dado rails, toilet door..... 

That's only the start 😃

[rob Lyttle]

14 hours ago, rob Lyttle said:

 

 

I BUILT AN INTERIOR ‼️😯

 

 

 

 

Wing brace incorporated amongst the flooring, and a fire extinguisher thrown in for good measure 😎

 

And then I glued her up ⚠️

[rob Lyttle]

This is all very much an abridged version of what I was doing a year ago and more. 

The stages, as I remember them 🤔? 

 

Anyway, the transparencies went on, cockpit, nose, astrodom and ventral gunners position. The bomb aimer's window is part of the fuselage underneath. 

And much foiling to complete. 

Did I mention the front cargo door....? 

I cut the door hatch quite early on. 

Washroom windows made..... I see I've glazed one of them, I think with pva white glue. 

So..... long story short, and this is what is sitting on the cutting mat now, 

 

 

 

 

And that's basically where I'm picking up the build. 

Of course, I scratch built a complete washroom installation with the toilet roll and taps on the stainless steel sink, decal wallpaper and curtains, and then I closed up the fuselage. Take my word for it though, it looks fantastic....... Better than Moa's for sure...... 😜

 

Right now, I'm carving the Tailplane parts into many pieces 

I'm determined this time and at this scale to get some deflection on the control surfaces, especially the exotic shaped rudders. 

As usual, the kit design does NOT facilitate this ‼️

 

 

Uh-ow! 

Looks like Revell has committed the big sin, again..... Will they never learn?? 

 

Inside is OK, that's your choice..... 

Outside IS NOT ‼️

Even under the elevator. NOWHERE! 

How many times have they been told? 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

46 minutes ago, rob Lyttle said:

Outside IS NOT ‼️

Even under the elevator. NOWHERE! 

How many times have they been told? 

Gosh, such moronic branding:

!Let's make all our customers hate us".

I think that whoever made the decision to put that crap there wasn't a modeler.

[rob Lyttle]

This evening's labours have resulted in some bare metal Tailplane parts. 

 

When I fit the fins there is a bit of filling and remedial work to make good the places where the rudders were. 

And the centre panel will be done once it's assembled to the fuselage. 

I've had a dry fit and I got to say the kit joint is brilliant. 

[DMC]

I agree with your thoughts on the big Revell Ventura.  It is a very well crafted kit with outstanding detail. Not popular because of the look of it I would guess.  

 

Anyway, mine is resting patiently in its (large) box near my bench. I look inside occasionally and fondle the exquisite detail of the mouldings then, regrettably, put it back under the bench until next time.  I have committed myself to finishing the Camel before I start another kit.

 

Recently, however. I weakened and could resist the urge to do something, anything, to start on the Lodestar conversion. So I made the cabin floor, or the beginnings of the floor.  I followed the plans in the photo and mine is a bit lower than yours, which seems a little high.  Windows down around armrest high.  As you are the Evil Genius of the the Lockheed Twins I’m very interested in how this one progresses and if there’s anything that I can use when I get around to starting ,y Lodestar.

 

Cheers Rob

 

Dennis

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 29, 2020 by DMC
Spl

[rob Lyttle]

Hi Dennis, I was thinking I ought to flag you in on this! 

Yes, window line is higher, and the floor is too high for a Lodestar. 

I think my chairs should be a bit bigger and more "cramped " looking inside. 

I'm thinking of this as a learning curve for the next effort 😊

Someone else has a conversion in mind..... I must try and find him and give him a flag 🚩

[Lord Riot]

That silver you've used looks great, like real metal.

[DMC]

Rob, I completely overlooked the wing spar although it’s indicated on the plan, between the first and second row of seats.  Stepping over it seems the only way to get to those two front seats and the cockpit.  It can just be seen in this photo.   New windows will have to be cut for a Lodestars.  Wondering how your going to deal with that!  Also musing over making the seats. Have to be some sort of moulding thing to get them all the same.  I could easily make moulds out of clay, might give that a try 

 

A couple of good links:

 

https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/lockheed-lodestar-in-detail.38892/

 

http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/216/Bush-baby--recovering-a-classic-from-the-muskeg.aspx

 

 

Dennis

[rob Lyttle]

That looks like an open girder type spar rather than a solid plank across. 

I think the red item that looks like a cleaner's bucket is a cabin heater. 

Nice chairs. Let me know when the production line is up and running! 😃

[rob Lyttle]

Right. I got the other fin sorted and foiled...... always easier to work it when it's flat and on the mat...... And they are both glued on. 

 

The hollowness of the fin sides leaves a gap when assembled, and that gap is now in plain sight right there where the rudders were moulded. 

And that introduced a serious weak point in the whole assembly. 

What you can see here is..... 

...... a strip of my favourite yoghurt pot, taken from the side wall of the pot, glued up and inserted into the hollowness inside the fin extending as far forward and back as the gap would allow. 

Once well set that should offer a bit of integrity to the structure and then I can trim the surplus back above and below, and get some filler on for a nice smooth Tailplane surface where the rudders will sweep across. 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

9 hours ago, rob Lyttle said:

I think the red item that looks like a cleaner's bucket is a cabin heater. 

Several of these planes had that feature, like the Boeing 247.

What you are seeing as a heater I think it's just a step to help clear the spar, with a rough plaque on top to avoid slipping.

It may be, though, that the designers took advantage of the feature and installed something inside.

[rob Lyttle]

12 hours ago, Lord Riot said:

That silver you've used looks great, like real metal.

Riot, this is the sticky back self adhesive builder's foil tape that I use quite a bit. 

I like the metal finish. You can get a fair old shine on it if required for a polished plane. 

Much tougher than kitchen foil and a LOT cheaper than modelling "bare metal foil".

 

Here's the 1.72 Lodestar that I'm just putting the final touches on. No decision on the decor yet.... 

 

[rob Lyttle]

The Reinforcement strips inserted into the void inside the fins has definitely helped to stabilise the Tailplane parts. 

Making a decent surface from the various bits is a little trickier. 

 

I think I'd set about this differently next time. 

The part inboard of the joint could come off with the rest of the elevator, the sandwiched thin wedges could be removed from the fin, and a new piece tailored to fit directly to the semicircular part outboard. 

And probably with metal fixing pins in the main joints. 

Just a dry fit to the fuselage here, but the excellent joint is evident. 

[billn53]

Good job on the tail surfaces. It’s a tricky enough assembly without also having to contend with hollow parts. 

[rob Lyttle]

1 hour ago, billn53 said:

a tricky enough assembly without also having to contend with hollow parts. 

I'll be ready for it next time, Bill. 

 

The "next time" is the second PV1 kit, and the intention is to see how far it can be taken as the basis for a L18 Lodestar. 

So this build is the Guinea-pig tryout, along with the selection of 1.72 airframes of the various Lockheed Twins. 

That episode with the Tailplane is just the kind of information I'm after. 

As well as Dennis @DMChaving a kit on standby, I came across a few others on here as I gathered refs and information

@dcrfan has a couple of kits and fuselages, including a resin one that's unusual.

Wanted to flag you in, dcr, to see if you made progress with the Lodestar project ⁉️🚩

I think I've about tamed the tail end structure now, and I'm wondering if I should fix it, or leave it safely to one side while I press on with wings etc. 

They're notoriously knockable 

[rob Lyttle]

Some interesting exchanges turned up on this thread...... 

This site is the business for information exchanges and knowledge, isn't it? 👍

[billn53]

13 minutes ago, rob Lyttle said:

I'll be ready for it next time, Bill. 

...

I think I've about tamed the tail end structure now, and I'm wondering if I should fix it, or leave it safely to one side while I press on with wings etc. 

They're notoriously knockable 

When doing my Electra 10, I found it best to leave the tail feathers off until after I had added the wing and finished any sanding, etc.  As you said, they’re very knockable and better left safe & sound until needed. 

[dcrfan]

I'm another planning a Revell Ventura to Lodestar conversion.  I recently picked up a resin Fox 3 Studios resin Lodestar fuselage (designed to match Classic Airframes Hudson) unfortunately the window placement is all wrong so I probably wont use it as I think it will be easier to cut new windows into the Revell plastic fuselage instead of closing up and moving window locations in the thicker resin fuselage.

 

IMG_3537 by tankienz, on Flickr

 

The other thing that needs to be changed is the engines and nacelles.  I was very lucky to pickup a vacuum formed Contrail Hudson which I'm hoping to use to provide the underwing nacelles. 

[bigbadbadge]

Great work Rob I do like the foil work on your models.  I will try and keep up and watch although very busy with work, family and the house, so struggling for time really.  

I have one of these in the stash along with a CA Hudson. The Hudson will be a PRU machine and not sure about the Ventura yet, thought about an Operation Polar Bear Canadian machine but can't find the decals at the moment.

Keep up the good work

All the best

Chris

[rob Lyttle]

12 hours ago, billn53 said:

best to leave the tail feathers off until after I had added the wing and finished any sanding, etc.

That's what I was thinking. 

So I'm still dry fitting and I'm making use of the hollow fins now by inserting hinge strips in the gaps. 

 

 

I have a feeling that the tabs are active control assistance, in the sense that, when the rudder goes left, the tab goes right so that it is aiding the movement. 

Likewise up/down on the elevators. 

There's a proper term for the arrangement that escapes me for a moment..... 

All these curved edges are tricky enough to foil and sort the cut edges. 

The elevator by comparison is much simpler.... Each is one piece of foil formed over the trailing edge, allowing for the tab deflection, and the cut edges of the foil are up in the hinge line, out of the way. 

[rob Lyttle]

5 hours ago, dcrfan said:

planning a Revell Ventura to Lodestar conversion.  

Nice to see these again @dcrfan

Wondered if you had made any progress on this? 

Yes, the engines and nacelles are the big issue for making a Lodestar. 

I'm OK with this one though 

[DMC]

Hi @rob Lyttle

 

Musing about the Ventura/Lodestar conversion (ramping up a bit it seems?) while I work on the Camel.  I get the mods necessary to the dorsal and ventral gunners positions, and the windows but what do I need to know about the cowlings and nacelles?  Easy to plunge or vacuum form probably.  For the engines I’m looking to replace them with a pair of Quickboost C-47 ones that I’m watching on eBay.  Or not if they are not right for the Lodestar.   Lodestar engines came in different flavours didn’ they?  What would be your choice?  Also, if you happen to have a Monogram DC-3 kit gathering dust check out the seat size.  I recon they’d be okay for a Lodestar.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis