Tnarg

So which version of the plane carried the tiger (-3 or -4)? The earlier discussion on the LEM kit suggested that the Peruvian version needed significant modification. I liked the tiger on the tail version also, but the intake tiger looks very fine if it works with that kit. Tnarg

You picked the right pair with those Danish markings. My wife's mom came direct from Denmark after WWII, and she will like Danish colors on a beautiful plane. Thanks! Tnarg

Hans, Thanks for the offer to take photos. I am sure you could place them in a walk around on this site and get thanks for many people here. I would really like to see details of the wheel wells (or whatever they are called in this case). Most of the photos out there seem to be from a long way away, getting one shot of the whole plane, along with a few of the cockpit and instruments, but usually only one face on shot (as the pilot sees). It's that film as opposed to digital bits mentality. Now we can enjoy taking a complete look at the plane, almost down to the rivets, without that much concern for how much it costs to develop and print. If we are being obsessive, we could even model the lavatory as well as the complete interior, but we need information. I like your idea of using kit props a lot, and will keep researching on a match for a kit. I'd like to see how the guys in the Dutch IPMS magazine did the cuts, as I plan to do the same with Tigger's kit. Basically to get a Model 18/Lodestar from a Model 14/Hudson you add 5.5 feet to the fuselage, lift the tail by 1 foot and add one foot to the wing flap length (chord), plus modify the engine, etc. to match the particular number. Please post here if you feel it is appropriate, or contact me (PM). Any help is greatly appreciated. Hopefully I haven't hijacked this thread too far from the Model 14 build, since the majority of details are exactly the same. Please PM me with any information that doesn't fit the forum.... don't want to go too far afield. Thanks, Tnarg

In answer to the original questions: Lockheed Model 14, Serial number 1467, was registered G-AFGN with British Airways was a model 14WF62, received a C of A (airworthiness?) on 15 Sept 1938, Flew first non-stop service to Stockholm-Heston, UK 18 Sept 1938. Carburetor caught fire in mid-air and crashed in an attempted forced landing at Luxeuil, France 11 Aug 1939. The 14-WF62 also looks to be called a 14-35, which used a Wright Cyclone GR-1820-F62 engine (I am guessing the Vector engine is a match for you here). All the above came from "The Lockheed Twins". Not much on photos or details in images, only a massive amount of data. Anyone with a question on the exact plane can find the specifics for that construction and history. I probably wouldn't have picked it up from the shelf, but got it mail order and it would have cost an arm and a leg in postage to return it. I did order and download the Lockheed manual set number 3 (already mentioned) for the model 18 and see some great detail on the landing gear struts, the interior and arrangement of the passenger compartment for US civil airliner, instrument panel details and interesting drawings of the wing flaps. He has two other sets on the Hudson and other versions. They call out a wheel as 15 x 16, 8 ply. Does that possibly match the P-38 main wheels (both from Lockheed)? The prop for the Lodestar specifies a Hamilton Standard 23E50 hub and 10.5 foot diameter, blade design #6339A-12. Does that mean anything to anyone? Any matches to some of the available kits to re-use parts? (G-Factor hub, maybe?) Good luck with this effort. I am going to try to gather what I need to build a Model 18, but much of it may match. PM me for any more information you need. Thanks, Tnarg

If you know the serial number of your subject, the Lockheed Twins book has a list of all the serial numbers and their history and some detail. I have a copy and could look up your number. Maybe this has more of a clue as to exact engine, etc.. I have one of Tigger's kits on the way as well, and would throw out the question on sources of wheels and props, as well as other detail parts. Any suggestions for donor kits? Does anyone have photos of the wheel wells, interior, etc. in their files? (or know where a real one resides?) I am interested in modifying the kit further to make United Air Lines #25633, which is a Lodestar (model 18) with a stretched fuselage. With two of the fuselage halves I think I can make it happen. The engines, cowlings, landing flaps and tail were modified as well, among other changes. The few places I could find show a few Lockheed interior photos that are small and grainy, (one is a model 10) but if you want I will scan them. We may try to ask Lockheed directly? Tnarg

Please make the Doolittle Raider version. I believe that these have strong historical ties for USA modelers, almost like the Flying Tigers are for the P-40s. Tnarg

I admire this goal and have wanted to do something like it, only a bit more out there. If you take two fuselages you can stretch them to a model 18 and do a United Air Lines version (my goal). I may have some of the detail you are looking for, but am out of town for a few days. PM me and I will get back to you with anything I can find. I know I have a photo of the interior in the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Propeller Airlines, and may have more of what you are after. Try the internet image searching also. Tnarg

A B-26 as well, totally amazing. Thank you.... Like they say, "Don't clap, just throw money", we will definitely be throwing some your way. Tnarg

I really like the suggestions of a B-10 or B-9 or a Shrike, whether A-8, A-9, A-10 or later. These won't likely show up in either injected plastic or resin as they are just too big or too obscure. Are there enough 1930's fans out there to make it worth a vac form kit? The Silver Wings' He-51, CR-32 and Gladiator seem to be making some good sales or interest. Unfortunately, you do need to be sure to make a profit on all of this... I am also interested in the Hudson, but for a civil version, or maybe modify it with a combination of two fuselages to stretch it to make a Lodestar. How great would it be to see a United Air Lines silver machine in 1/32? I'd also like pictures of the plastic. Tnarg

Eli, If you are watching, please check out the page on the 489th Bombardment in Corsica.... especially "Ave Maria", which has always impressed me as a really beautiful example of art, faith and hope. It took a lot of courage to fly those planes and this one just seems to symbolize that to me. Of course the rest of the page and the site are full of fascinating subjects. Thanks for thinking about this; you know if you print them, we will buy them. Tnarg

I didn't expect that we could get all of the markings of every country, but am very happy to get the Malta Gladiators and the Finns with skiis. We can find ways to do a few of the others as well. Thanks again for the amazing CR-32 and He-51 kits, they are really appreciated. I second the desire for more of the Golden Age Biplanes. A P-6E would be wonderful, as would an SBC-3 or 4, an I-15 or a CR-42. (Your Spanish Civil War planes only serve the Nationalists and the Republicans deserve some time). If Vector come through with their F4B-4 interior set with as great a quality as their engine set, we are faced with an abundance of riches in the 30's. Sounds good to me. Tnarg

Thank you Silver Wings for some amazing aircraft. Just checking Wikipedia, you could do Gladiators in the colors of Australia, Belgium, China, Egypt, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Soviet Union and Sweden, in addition to the UK. What, none from Denmark? That would have to be a Gauntlet. There are so many cool alternatives, how can we ever decide? Tnarg

I don't have a primary interest in modern jets, but the Viggen is my favorite aircraft with a "propeller on the inside". I would buy several of these, especially if I could make the two seater or the recon versions. That splinter camo is just a mountain that we all have to try to climb. The Draken would really make my day. There are so many incredibly cool canvases that have national paint on them from Austria, Finland, Denmark and of course, Sweden. If I buy a 39 will they make a 35 and a 37? The only other jet that holds my interest with that intensity is the other "39", the Aero L.39. Where else can you build a plane with the markings of the Estonian Air Force, or have the choice of the multiple intense colors of the Reno Air Racers? Tnarg

I would guess there is less sun in the winter months there, at least a lot less than the tropics, so you could have at least 6 months for the paint to stay reasonably strong in color before fading. Compare that to the Flying Tigers in China, where they ran them into the ground, and the quality of paint would show a significant difference. (Of course that wasn't the same color, but you get the idea). Does anyone have a real answer on this? Tnarg

Spada decals were picked up by Mike at misterkitusa (dot com). Check out his site for lots of good deals on WWI in large scale and some smaller. He has many if not all of the original sheets available again. Tnarg

Thanks for placing these decals in print. The kits just cry out for your releases of high quality decals, and with the interest brought out by Vector engines and interior, things could really heat up in the 1930's subjects. Please keep them coming, even the "Fantasy Scheme" P-35's would be a lot of fun. Tnarg

Gator's masks make a 1/32 (actually 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32) scale P-40 Flying Tigers paint mask. I just got one, and haven't tried it, but it looks like the references suggest that it should... even has the cutout for the RAF roundel that wasn't there. Google Gators mask but the name is the address. Tnarg

(Sorry to hijack the thread) Radhu's RAF wire is great, but it is about half the width of the wires used later by the US Army and Navy aircraft.... 1/4" versus 1/2" wide in full size. I am looking into "flat wire" which is really made by running wire between rollers to flatten it... problems so far are minimum orders and limitations on size (we are pretty small). Etched metal may be better, but someone (I may get to it eventually) has to create the tooling and etch the metal... again there is the "minimum order" issue. Just remember as I go back on topic... this resin set is beyond amazing! Tnarg

I just received this set from Vector and I am totally amazed at the quality of the resin parts. It looks like the set might fit the P-12E with the kit exhaust. Would that work? I can't wait for the interior set.... when you add the Yellow Wings decals this old kit becomes an amazing build. Next we need the correct width of rigging wire. Does anyone know the dimensions? (The P-26 apparently used 3/8" and 1/2" wide flat/aerodynamic profile wire rigging). Tnarg

Please assume we can pick up a hobby knife to deal with the national insignia and just create more alternatives for the color schemes. I have been looking at this conversion, but Mistel alternatives would push me completely over the edge. Thanks for the hard work to actually produce something. Tnarg