The C-45F, sometimes referred to as the Expeditor, was a military version of the Beechcraft Model C18S passenger aircraft. Developed in the 1930’s, the Model 18 was sometimes mistaken for the Lockheed Electra, as the two looked a lot alike. At the start of World War 2 Beechcraft started mounting the Pratt & Whitney R-985 engines as the US Military required a small passenger airplane. The C-45 flew with many countries and was in service with the USAF until 1963.
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World War II
Discuss WWII and the era directly before and after the war from 1935-1949.
Discuss WWII and the era directly before and after the war from 1935-1949.
Hosted by Rowan Baylis
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C-45F/UC-45F
tinbanger
Joined: February 04, 2008
KitMaker: 2,507 posts
AeroScale: 1,814 posts
Posted: Wednesday, March 04, 2015 - 05:57 AM UTC
JPTRR
Managing Editor
#051
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
AeroScale: 3,175 posts
Posted: Wednesday, March 04, 2015 - 07:13 AM UTC
Those engines are disappointing. Looks like two types of seats - more kits pending? Perhaps an AT-11 / SNB-1?
I'll get one just to build it in the colors and end number of one of the Twin Beeches I have time in!
I'll get one just to build it in the colors and end number of one of the Twin Beeches I have time in!
Merlin
Senior Editor#017
Joined: June 11, 2003
KitMaker: 17,582 posts
AeroScale: 12,795 posts
Posted: Wednesday, March 04, 2015 - 01:00 PM UTC
Hi there
I'll almost definitely buy one of these at some point, as it's such a great subject and should be excellent value for money if ICM's recent releases are anything to go by. I'm not convinced by the shape of the nose, though - so I may try a bit of rhinoplasty there.
All the best
Rowan
I'll almost definitely buy one of these at some point, as it's such a great subject and should be excellent value for money if ICM's recent releases are anything to go by. I'm not convinced by the shape of the nose, though - so I may try a bit of rhinoplasty there.
All the best
Rowan
JPTRR
Managing Editor#051
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
AeroScale: 3,175 posts
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2015 - 04:02 AM UTC
Merlin, I can't tell you when it was redesigned but the nose of the Twin Beech got a little pointer over time. Note the couture of the line art here: http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20performance/Beech/model%2018.htm
It looks like the pre-war ones had the more bulbous schnozzola than the 1958-59 E18S versions I flew: http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000240450.html
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000598537.html
It looks like the pre-war ones had the more bulbous schnozzola than the 1958-59 E18S versions I flew: http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000240450.html
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000598537.html
SgtRam
Editor-at-Large
#197
Joined: March 06, 2011
KitMaker: 3,971 posts
AeroScale: 511 posts
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2015 - 04:13 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Those engines are disappointing. Looks like two types of seats - more kits pending? Perhaps an AT-11 / SNB-1?
I'll get one just to build it in the colors and end number of one of the Twin Beeches I have time in!
Not two types of seats, seats are in two parts.
Jessie_C
Joined: September 03, 2009
KitMaker: 6,965 posts
AeroScale: 6,247 posts
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2015 - 04:13 AM UTC
I think that the pointy noses were an aftermarket add-on, maybe to add a knot or two to the bug-smashing speed. Compared to the photo below, I think that the kit nose looks pretty goodish. The engine nacelles will need a little work to do a later model like this one, though.
SgtRam
Editor-at-Large#197
Joined: March 06, 2011
KitMaker: 3,971 posts
AeroScale: 511 posts
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2015 - 04:15 AM UTC
Jessica
Decal's from Caracal have already been ordered. Just have to order a set of Vector engine replacements.
Kevin
Decal's from Caracal have already been ordered. Just have to order a set of Vector engine replacements.
Kevin
JPTRR
Managing Editor#051
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
AeroScale: 3,175 posts
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2015 - 05:11 AM UTC
This could be useful when we buy the model: 404-180151 Beechcraft Models D18S and D18C Parts Catalog
JPTRR
Managing Editor#051
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
AeroScale: 3,175 posts
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2015 - 05:15 AM UTC
A nice BEECH 18 PRODUCTION LIST 
Merlin
Senior Editor#017
Joined: June 11, 2003
KitMaker: 17,582 posts
AeroScale: 12,795 posts
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2015 - 12:06 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Merlin, I can't tell you when it was redesigned but the nose of the Twin Beech got a little pointer over time.
Hi Fred
I'm not thinking of the later, pointy, nose(s). In the photos here, the kit parts look a bit too snub-nosed and down-turned to me - the top line ahead of the windscreen seems steep. I'll wait until I've bought one before coming any firm conclusion though.
All the best
Rowan
GastonMarty
Joined: April 19, 2008
KitMaker: 595 posts
AeroScale: 507 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 07, 2015 - 06:06 AM UTC
The cabin door shape is all wrong, as well as being way too narrow, all cabin windows lack rounded corners, and, as noted, the nose/canopy is badly off, as are the awful cowling lips, reminding one of the "Accurate" Miniatures B-25 cowlings, which had five or six different resin companies offering replacements (that was another era, and we will be lucky if this gets even one, probably by Vector)...
Their Hs-126 had small issues, but was quite OK. This is not.
Gaston
CMOT
Editor-in-Chief
Joined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
AeroScale: 290 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 07, 2015 - 06:20 AM UTC
Gaston one day you will be the death of me as I will have a heart attack when you say " great model and spot on". Kevin has done a fair job of pointing out the weaknesses that caught his eye. I really do think ICM have let themselves down with the radial engines in this kit as I have seen what a great job they can do with their 1/35th scale truck engines.
Merlin
Senior Editor#017
Joined: June 11, 2003
KitMaker: 17,582 posts
AeroScale: 12,795 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 07, 2015 - 11:43 PM UTC
Quoted Text
... the awful cowling lips, reminding one of the "Accurate" Miniatures B-25 cowlings, which had five or six different resin companies offering replacements ...
Gaston
Hi Gaston
You've got to admit the "B-25 (non)-saga" was partly down to the shyness of modellers in this day and age of simply wading in with some wet-and-dry wrapped around a piece of dowel of the correct diameter.
And, if you couldn't do that, cross-kitting with the Monogram model was fine.
Compared with what we faced when I started in the '60s - we are so lucky nowadays.
Still, wrong is wrong... but it's hardly the end of the world. All the best
Rowan
SunburntPenguin
Joined: March 15, 2011
KitMaker: 121 posts
AeroScale: 112 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 - 06:56 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Gaston one day you will be the death of me as I will have a heart attack when you say " great model and spot on".
Darren, I think you'll be a very old man when that happens!
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