RCAF's 100th - 1/48 Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor Start 26 Jan 22 - Finish 19 May 22

[lastvautour]

I have  1/24, 1/32 and 1/144 Expeditors. I also made a 1/72 under glass case for a friend. Now I will do a 1/48 version for my twin engine collection. Blocks are rough cut. This was the first aircraft I ever worked on back in 1966.

Lou

[Gearup]

I wonder if that aircraft is still flying somewhere?
Fraser

[lastvautour]

I kept seeing one at airshows. It was dressed up in traditional RCAF marking. Many are still in civilian hands. Like the Dakota, it seem to go on forever.

Lou

[lastvautour]

Parts are rough block form. Fuselage and engine nacelles require laminating to get the proper thickness.

Lou

[lastvautour]

A bit of time spent on my Expeditor. Nacelles will have generic P&W Wasp Junior engines.

Lou

[lastvautour]

Wing contoured. I drew parallel line to check the shape.

Lou

[lastvautour]

Nacelles mated to the wing and the fuselage carving has begun .

Lou

[Gearup]

I like how nicely you rough out the shapes. Especially the window facets.
Fraser

[lastvautour]

Thank you Fraser. This was the very first aircraft I worked on in Aero engine training course back in 1966.

Lou

[lastvautour]

Fiddling with the engines. Push rods will be straight pins. As the engine compartment is somewhat smaller than the engine diameter, the rocker arm covers will be omitted. I am using a relatively new method of lining up the cylinders by using a 9 point star sized to fit over the tip of the crankcase dowel.
Photo 1 - 1mm wooden pins inserted in to 5/16 dowel.
Photo 2 - cylinders are 1/8 dowels hollowed to accept 1// pins. The bottom are are narrowed to fit.
Photo 3 - engine fits snuggly in the carved out nacelle.

Lou

[Gearup]

The engines look authentic. The slight taper you gave the cylinders at the base does make a difference in how they look.

Fraser

[lastvautour]

Thank you Fraser. The 1/8 dowels were to wide for the cylinder placement.


Lou

[Boomerang]

Excellent engines Lou.

Gordon

[lastvautour]

Thank You Gordon.

Lou

[lastvautour]

Major components mated but yet to be glued. Every thing is rough sanded.

Lou