WW2 COD suggestions

[comrade harps]

I've been taken by the idea of making a 1:72nd WW2 COD for the USA and/or FAA British Pacific Fleet, circa 1945/46. Maybe RAN, too.

I know that TBM-3R Avengers were used post-war for the job, but what about some wartime possibilities? It's got to be smaller than a Dakota, but what? Here are some initial possibilities:

- Noorduyn Norseman: single engine, STOL?, add tail hook, seats 6 or 7, casevac litters (and I've got the Revell kit)
- DHC Beaver - bring it forward a few years, add tail hook, single engine and STOL, seats 6 passengers and can carry litters, (Airfix)
- Beech Expeditor - twin engine, good range, smallish, add tail hook (PM)
- Lockheed Lodestar - twin engine, good range, smaller than a Dakota but too big? Needs tail hook. (Special Hobby)
- Bristol Beaufighter - twin engines, plenty of internal space, needs tail hook, good range, would need freight door (Revell etc)
- Douglas Boston - twin engine, could load through the bomb bay, tricycle gear (Airfix, Revell etc)

The big question is, what could take off and land on the big USN carriers and the smaller FAA decks? Observations and suggestions, please.

[rickshaw]

Beaufighter and Boston cannot carry any appreciable load or personnel.  I'd stick with the other three.  The Lodestar is a good choice, range, capacity and quite reasonable landing characteristics.   I'd also throw in the Hudson.   Bit bigger but it had excellent short-field characteristics when used in the Special Duties role in Europe, flying agents and supplies into small fields.

[sandiego89]

Go for it! I think Avenger and Barracuda are your best bets.  Might be best to start with aircraft that are already carrier capable. Land based aircraft tend to not have the strength for carrier ops, and lack features such as wing folding that is especially useful if you plan on any parking of the COD.  I would take a single engine design and give it a fatter or deeper fuselage.  

I think the Lodestar is too big for practical use.  Intrigued by the Boston with some suitable mods.      

Some ideas:
Avenger for USN.  As you said they were later used for this, but you could predate one without turrets, a bulged weapons bay, more seats.

Tigercat.  Make a pannier under the fuselage, like the firebomber version, or widen the fuselage.  

SB2C.  Widen or deepen the fuselage, or bulge the bomb bay for cargo/passengers.  

Grumman duck.

Skyraider first flew in 1945.  

Barracuda for FAA.

Sea Hornet, with a big fat deep fuselage.  Yes it would ruin the looks.  

Swordfish, with a new fuselage.

Lysander?

Like the C-45 Expediter idea. Cessna At-17 might work also, but is smallish.

[The Wooksta!]

More likely similar to post war, with aircraft that were carrier capable but obsolescent in a combat role.

Fairey Fulmar, Firefly and Albacore.  Possibly Spearfish.

Blackburn Skua, Roc and Firebrand.

Real leftfield - Hawker Henley

[Captain Canada]

The avenger wins my vote ! Could easily modifly the cockpit/ canopy area to arrange for seating, aand there is already lots of room below that. The bomb bay could be bulged out as well....

[jcf]

Beaufighter and Boston cannot carry any appreciable load or personnel.  I'd stick with the other three.  The Lodestar is a good choice, range, capacity and quite reasonable landing characteristics.   I'd also throw in the Hudson.   Bit bigger but it had excellent short-field characteristics when used in the Special Duties role in Europe, flying agents and supplies into small fields.

T'other way round Brian, the Model 18 Lodestar is the 'bigger' of the two. Both are based on the Model 14
and have the same wing, however the Lodestar was stretched by five feet. The Model 18 was used by the
USN as the R5O. The 65' 6" span could make regular operational use a bit problematic.

More powerful engines on a Lockheed 10 based airframe might be a possibility, and there is a Model 10
kit in 1/72. A little bit bigger than a Beech 18, but requiring less real estate than a Model 14

Or out of left field, just as the Vultee V-1 transport begat the V-11/V-12 attack aircraft, how about the reverse?
A COD transport based on the Vultee V-72 (A-31/A-35 Vengeance) dive-bomber.

F7F based, use the fuselage of the Tigercat based torpedo bomber project, Design 66:

[dogsbody]

Bristol Beaufort Mk.IX ( Beaufreighter )


Chris

[rickshaw]

Beaufighter and Boston cannot carry any appreciable load or personnel.  I'd stick with the other three.  The Lodestar is a good choice, range, capacity and quite reasonable landing characteristics.   I'd also throw in the Hudson.   Bit bigger but it had excellent short-field characteristics when used in the Special Duties role in Europe, flying agents and supplies into small fields.

T'other way round Brian, the Model 18 Lodestar is the 'bigger' of the two.

You're right, my error.  I was always under the impression the Lodestar was smaller than the Hudson.  Silly me.

How about a Lockheed Electra instead? 

[jcf]

Model 10 Electra
Model 12 Electra Junior
Model 14 Super Electra developed into Model B14L, B14S, 414 (Hudson)
Model 18 Lodestar developed into Model 37, 137, 237 (Ventura) and Vega Model 15 (Harpoon)



SBD used as the basis in the same way Douglas proposed the DT-202 transport based on the A-17A:

[PR19_Kit]

If you can bring the Beaver forward a year or two, how about the Miles Aerovan?

It wouldn't need a hook as the carrier may have to slow down to let the 'van catch up  and it could carry an appreciable load.

[Rheged]

If you can bring the Beaver forward a year or two, how about the Miles Aerovan?

It wouldn't need a hook as the carrier may have to slow down to let the 'van catch up  ; and it could carry an appreciable load.

The Aerovan is an interesting  suggestion and as it first flew in Jan '45 it's not too far out.  It would be able to land on easily enough (40mph landing speed)  but with a range of only 400 miles, is it long legged enough? 

The 4 engined M68 Boxcar also offers development potential,  and could achieve a quick turn round with its demountable pods.

[Thorvic]

The General Aircraft Fleet Shadower, a four engined Carrier Aircraft

http://www.specialeast.com/specialeast/produits/fiche21462/akatombo-1-72-general-airc.dhtml

http://homepage3.nifty.com/AKATOMBO/garage/GAL38.htm

[NARSES2]

Beat me to it re the Fleet Shadower Geoff 

[The Rat]

Lot of good suggestions already, the Avenger is really a front-runner in my opinion, if you've ever seen one in the flesh you'll know that it's a fair size. A few years ago I started cutting plastic on a B-25 COD, modified to a conventional gear for easier loading/unloading. Haven't got very far with it though.

[TallEng]

How about the Fairey Spearfish?
A little bit bigger than the Avenger.

Regards
Keith