Author Topic: Northrop N-9MA  (Read 32781 times)

Online LemonJello

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Northrop N-9MA
« on: December 01, 2014, 12:46:24 AM »
Alongside my HMX-1 VV-22, I've started another little project.  This is Sword's 1/48 N-9MA but I'm making it an operational aircraft - I'm planning to add a pair of 20mm cannon and 4 to 6 .50cal machine guns.  Most importantly (to me), this is going to be my first attempt with Alcad paints to give it a NMF finish (I have Dark Aluminum, White Aluminum and Duraluminum in the paint rack, waiting).  Unusual for me, this one will have a pilot in the office since I am also using a set of Alliance Modelworks Dynamic Propellers to simulate running engines/turning props.

Not a lot to show right now, but I've gotten the 20mm cannon barrels made from brass tube and I'm adding shell ejectors and gun gas vents to the underside of the fuselage.  The .50's will go further outboard in the wings.  I've been debating adding drop tanks as well, but don't have any suitable ones in the spares box (I was thinking P-51 tanks would be about right). 

Anyway, here's a starter pic.  Updates as the project progresses.





Updated 11/30/14
Today's progress report:

Shell ports and gun vents close up-


Boxing in main wheel wells-


Our intrepid aviator in his office-
« Last Edit: December 01, 2014, 05:37:42 AM by LemonJello »

Offline raafif

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2014, 11:08:21 AM »
looking nice - I was going to finish mine in an operational scheme too.

Make sure you test fit the cockpit assembly to fuselage, wing halves & wing-to-fuselage joins often :)

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2014, 04:05:02 AM »
Oh yes, Mr Jello this will be quite a stunner! I'll be watching with great interest! Given your super-human talent with AFVs, I think we're all in for a treat!

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Offline Kerick

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2014, 10:07:02 AM »
I trying to think of how to add a couple of Merlins or radials.

Offline jcf

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2014, 01:13:14 AM »
I trying to think of how to add a couple of Merlins or radials.
You'd need to scaleorama, there simply isn't the room, the N9M isn't very big.

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Offline Kerick

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #5 on: December 03, 2014, 03:23:02 AM »
I was thinking about using 1/72 engines and cockpit on the 1/48 kit. Then add rockets and 20 mm

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2014, 03:56:38 AM »
I trying to think of how to add a couple of Merlins or radials.

Not sure about a couple of engines, but for something different you could give it one engine (say in a beefed up central area) and have the props driven remotely.

Even a single Merlin (or perhaps Griffon) would be a boost.  After all the real world N-9 only had 2 × Menasco C6S-4 "Buccaneer" 6-cyl. inverted air-cooled in-line piston engines of 275 hp (205 kW) each or, in the case of the N-9MB, 2x Franklin XO-540-7, of 300 hp (224 kW) each.  Therefore, say a Packard Merlin 61, of between 1,290 hp (962 kW) and 1,580 hp (1,178 kW) depending upon situation will still far out-power the combined 450hp - 600hp of the real world aircraft.  Even factoring in for some transmission losses.
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Offline Kerick

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #7 on: December 03, 2014, 05:40:38 AM »
Maybe a little more of a fuselage, P-39 style with a pusher prop or props. Enough thread jacking. Here's to seeing more of the N-9M!

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #8 on: December 03, 2014, 05:47:43 AM »
I'm enjoying the discussion immensely, so no worries about thread jacking here.

I had started to wonder how to make some mods to suggest larger engines before I started this one, and I'm still pondering options.  At first, I was looking for cheap P-51 kits (1/48) to chop the Merlin noses off and graft them onto the N-9.  Now, I'm looking more at just beefing up the areas around the prop shafts to represent larger engines installed.  We'll see how it all pans out, I don't want this to devolve into a "stash queen" that never gets finished.

Also, I have a second kit that I'm going to modify/convert to a kerosene burner, because I can. (Well, at least I can give it a shot.)

Offline Kerick

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #9 on: December 03, 2014, 06:04:21 AM »
Oh boy! That's sounds good to me!!!

Offline finsrin

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #10 on: December 03, 2014, 06:52:31 AM »
You'd need to scaleorama, there simply isn't the room, the N9M isn't very big.
Yup, zactly what to do.  1/48 N-9MA is good kit for us 1/72 builders.
Can be flying wing of more substance.

Offline Acree

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #11 on: December 03, 2014, 08:18:58 AM »
You might try the HobbyBoss Easy Assembly P-51s - they're pretty inexpensive and pretty well detailed.  I've chopped up a couple myself.

Chuck

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #12 on: December 03, 2014, 10:40:03 AM »
For the kerosene-burner, I believe Sharkit does a conversion, but I don't remember if it's 1/72 or 1/48.

Offline jcf

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #13 on: December 03, 2014, 02:59:03 PM »
The N-9M-B was powered by two 300hp supercharged Franklin XO-540 horizontally opposed 8-cylinder engines.

So if you want to increase the power think along the lines of continuing with a pancake engine, that
way the bulk of the engine stays within the wing envelope, perhaps with two-stage supercharging or
turbo-charging to increase power also bearing in mind that if you go water-cooled you'll have to figure
out radiators etc.






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Online LemonJello

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #14 on: December 03, 2014, 09:01:57 PM »
For the kerosene-burner, I believe Sharkit does a conversion, but I don't remember if it's 1/72 or 1/48.

Evan, I just checked their site.  It's a 1/72 conversion, but it does give me some ideas as a starting point! 

Jon, thanks for the suggestions, looks like I'll be doing some additional work on the upper wing along the existing engine/drive shaft.

Offline Weaver

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #15 on: December 03, 2014, 09:18:22 PM »
You'd need to scaleorama, there simply isn't the room, the N9M isn't very big.
Yup, zactly what to do.  1/48 N-9MA is good kit for us 1/72 builders.
Can be flying wing of more substance.

That was what I was going to say: the best way to give this plane bigger engines is to give it a smaller pilot. I'd be inclined to fit a 1/72nd scale cockpit in the available space.

Whatever you decide to do, another thing to think about is that an operational version would need an armoured windscreen.
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Offline Frank3k

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #16 on: December 04, 2014, 01:20:55 AM »
If you have a P-51 fuselage, put it on the wing backwards to get an idea as to the size of a Merlin engine.

Online LemonJello

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #17 on: December 07, 2014, 09:05:00 AM »
Unfortunately, there are no P-51s in LemonJello Heavy Industries' warehouses, so, I'll just have to use my semi-calibrated Mk I Mod 0 eye and see what I come up with for this.  Looking at the sizes of Allison and Rolls Royce engines I definitely think I can find something that looks right. 

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #18 on: December 07, 2014, 11:03:44 AM »
Unfortunately, there are no P-51s in LemonJello Heavy Industries' warehouses, so, I'll just have to use my semi-calibrated Mk I Mod 0 eye and see what I come up with for this.  Looking at the sizes of Allison and Rolls Royce engines I definitely think I can find something that looks right.
make it a wilder whif and install a pair of Wright Tornadoes instead.

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #19 on: December 07, 2014, 11:58:14 AM »
One thing LHI will not have a shortage of in the very near future is fuel tanks of a suitable size and shape with which to experiment with :)
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Offline elmayerle

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #20 on: December 07, 2014, 12:46:14 PM »
One thing LHI will not have a shortage of in the very near future is fuel tanks of a suitable size and shape with which to experiment with :)
Should he need something a tad larger, I believe that, in amidst a variety of items acquired in a bulk sale, I have some 1/32 Corsair drop tanks I'd be willing to offer up.

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #21 on: December 07, 2014, 01:05:12 PM »
One thing LHI will not have a shortage of in the very near future is fuel tanks of a suitable size and shape with which to experiment with :)
Should he need something a tad larger, I believe that, in amidst a variety of items acquired in a bulk sale, I have some 1/32 Corsair drop tanks I'd be willing to offer up.
If John does not need them I am quite sure that Brian Da Basher could turn those Corsair drop tanks into a nice pair of matching airships :)
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Online LemonJello

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #22 on: December 07, 2014, 09:36:06 PM »
make it a wilder whif and install a pair of Wright Tornadoes instead.

Just looked up the Wright Tornado engine. I think I may have found my powerplant.  Have to do some measuring on the actual airframe, but I like the smaller diameter compared to the Allison V-3420 and RR Merlin.  I found some 1/72 A-10 engine nacelle parts that could be useful for representing the larger engines I want for this build.
« Last Edit: December 07, 2014, 09:37:43 PM by LemonJello »

Offline jcf

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #23 on: December 08, 2014, 08:51:17 AM »
Don't forget the Continental IV-1430, plus it was, at one time, intended for the P-76 (production P-39E).  ;)



http://www.enginehistory.org/iv-1430.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_XI-1430
(The specs section of the Wiki page is hosed as to dimensions  :-X, but it's smaller than the 8' long Tornado.)


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Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Northrop N-9MA
« Reply #24 on: December 08, 2014, 09:30:36 AM »
Obviously a TARDIS cube - bigger on the inside than out. ;)

Don't know about it being less than 8' long, though. I'd guesstimate that the two oil(?)/coolant(?) tanks (look like oil tanks to me) on top of the trailer frame are about 2' from one side to the other (using a 3" square-tube frame as a basis) & a quick measure-up indicates that the engine is about 4 times as long as their combined width (including the gap). So, if it is shorter than 8', it's not by much.

At an absolute minimum I'd say you're looking at 7'.
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