I have another group of Lockheeds to build. I want to build a Model L-14 in prewar Northwest Airlines colors using the 1/72 MPM Hudson kit. This will require a swap from the Wrights to Pratt & Whitneys. They will come from an Airfix C-47 getting a conversion for the P&Ws to the Wrights for the DC-3 campaign. It will also need a conversion of the interior including a new flight deck as the British had the Hudson built in a different configuration from the base Super Electra.
To get used to what changes would need to be made, it seemed to make sense toi build the L-18 Loadstar out of the C-60 kit which uses many Hudson parts. The flightdeck on this one is closer to airliner configuration.
What made this project possible & appealing is an excellent decal set by Draw Decals for a Mid Continent Airlines L-18.
When the makers made the C-60 kit they gave the builder some blessings and at least one curse. First, the correct nose is already molded to the fuselage halves, second, the smaller airliner door with the arched top is engraved into the plastic.
On the other hand, the small wing spar used in the Hudson kit to help locate & strengthen the wings was omitted! As designed, the joint reverts to the much hated (by me) butt joint.
Happily, the Hudson wing spar with its attendant bulkhead was included with the C-60 kit. I decided to reengineer the C-60 with the Hudson spar minus the bulkhead. This project was made difficult by the poor locating of the parts, very much in the “short run” spirit. I could find no sure datum to measure against outside of the leading edge of the wing itself. I mic’ed the location of the spar on the Hudson kit and transferred it to the Loadstar. This allowed the other interior bits to be nailed down and construction started.
The C-60 kit adds an airfoil shaped filler piece to the interior which not only fills in the space but acts as a brace for the wing spar in my conversion. The Hudson bulkhead was cut off.
Another blessing of the C-60 kit is the inclusion of 12 passenger seats! With the location of the interior bits settled it was time for some color. Not having any information, I decided on a gray green for the cockpit and a bluish gray for the cabin. The seats & hat rack (included also!) will be a medium blue.
I spent a lot of time with the wing spar & location of interior parts but now hope to make more rapid progress.
I will have to up my game to mask and paint this aircraft. It requires some finicky masking of the blue nose panel and a painting of the cowling noses with Testors Chevy Engine Red to match the decal color. The only paint I could find that matches this long out of production paint is airbrush only and my airbrush and I have spent the last three decades scowling at each other. Time to try to make piece.
Paul
