Lockheed Neptune Ideas and Inspiration

[GTX_Admin]

Hi folks,

A thread for your Lockheed Neptune Ideas and Inspiration.



Regards,

Greg

[GTX_Admin]

Proposed update:



I would like to do a Canadian Military version of this.

[PR19_Kit]

Teffiric aeroplane, I lived at RAF Topcliffe when the first P2V-5s arrived there for 210 Sqdn. For some reason they looked HUGE by comaprison with the MR Lancasters that Coastal Command flew at the time, but they weren't really. Maybe it was the trike landing gear?

Me and my brother once went paddling in a Neptune radome that had filled up with rainwater when it was left outside a hanger. Well, we did until the Corp on the ground crew came by and shouted at us, good thing Dad was a Flt. Sgt at the time.   :)

[Kerick]

Looks like a great idea.

[Daryl J.]

Can the scimitar bladed Herculese propellors hang on the front of those turbines?   

[kitnut617]

Proposed update:



I would like to do a Canadian Military version of this.

I've been trying to get hold of one of these for quite sometime:

http://nsf.tc/~nmc/ProductDetail.php?iProduct=5

[apophenia]

Can the scimitar bladed Herculese propellors hang on the front of those turbines?

Different engines (T56 uses 4-blade HamStan 54H60, AE2100 uses 6-blade Dowty R391). There is, however, a T56-powered Hawkeye upgrade fitted with 8-bladed Hamilton Sundstrand NP2000 props!

E-2C Hawkeye's new 8 blade Hamilton Sundstrand propeller
http://www.coopersmodels.com/catalog/item/5762418/9376284.htm [1/72nd]

BTW, that prop has been tested on a C-130H3 Hercules ( http://www.robins.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123157159 ) but not on the Orion AFAIK.

[PR19_Kit]

Jeepers, that North Wing stuff is EXPENSIVE! 

But did you see the P-2J conversion is in stock there Robert?

[kitnut617]

Back in the summer I placed an order with him for one of these Neptune conversions and a Kawasaki C-1, he replied saying he didn't have any in stock but would get one moulded (he must do it himself) but at the moment he was heavily involved with some design work for his day-job and didn't have the time right then and would get back to me.  Last I heard of it I'm afraid and now I can't afford it as my work has dropped off big time  ---   

[raafif]

Design of what became the P2V Neptune started in 1941 but was shelved due to the outbreak of the pacific war, it could have been in service by late 1943.  It was to be called the P2L (L for Lockheed) but that manufacturer letter had already been given to Loening Aircraft so Lockheed was assigned "V" for their associated company Vega.

[elmayerle]

I'm given to understand that the Neptune shares a lot with Lockheed's XFM-2 proposal; that might be an interesting work-back to model.

[finsrin]

Having been in a P2V-7 squadron I learned P2 has a high speed cruise setting unofficially known as:
"pilots get to Reno or Vegas in time for night life cruise"

[Kerick]

For emergency use only!

[Weaver]

I've always fancied making a British turbo-prop version with a pair of Pythons nicked from FROG Wyverns. Got the kits for it too.

[kitnut617]

I could probably make some castings of this Harold, save a couple of kits that way --
It's for my Python Lanc test bed (bottom pic)

[finsrin]

May I order a dozen ?

[The Big Gimper]

Make it two dozen.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

I could probably make some castings of this Harold, save a couple of kits that way --
It's for my Python Lanc test bed

May I order a dozen ?

Make it two dozen.

There you go Robert, an immediate demand for some goods and services.  Your new company/business name can be "Reluctant Robert's Resins"

[kitnut617]

I could probably make some castings of this Harold, save a couple of kits that way --
It's for my Python Lanc test bed

May I order a dozen ?

Make it two dozen.

There you go Robert, an immediate demand for some goods and services.  Your new company/business name can be "Reluctant Robert's Resins"

LOL!  Let me make a casting first and see how it goes.   I've actually had a plan to do what I'd call an Avro Manchester II. It would have two Pythons but instead of having the circular air intake around the engine, I'd have it off to one side and nearer the rear end (the Python was a reverse flow engine with it's actual intake at the rear end) and the undercarriage would be positioned on the other side, like how the Dart Herald has it's arrangement.  It would work quite well this way on the Neptune

[kitnut617]

May I order a dozen ?

Make it two dozen.

You could, but you would have to source your own props, which are Aeroclub Wyvern props on my project.  I've got an idea on how to cast props but I haven't tried it yet, the project I was going to experiment with, got put on hold --indefinitely ---

[Weaver]

I could probably make some castings of this Harold, save a couple of kits that way --
It's for my Python Lanc test bed (bottom pic)

Could have sworn I'd replied to this yesterday, I definately typed it, but no sign of it anywhere now.....?

Anyway, thanks for the offer, but the Wyverns were very cheap and like you said below, I'd still have to find props. The idea behind using the Wyvern noses is that they are basically cones with quite a wide base, so they'd match up to the radial engine bulkheads on the Neptune, thus avoiding the need for all-new nacelles. In any case, the Wyverns wouldn't neccessarily go to waste because I'd have a couple of radials going spare, wouldn't I?

[The Big Gimper]

I picked up a 1/72 Hassy P2V Neptune today after I had a binomial brain blip which told me I could swap the kit wings for those from a L-749 Constellation.  After sneaking the P2V into the house, a quick dry fit showed that it doesn't look that bad. I'll get pictures up in a day or two. 

But I cannot decide if I should complete it as WWII bomber like RAAFIFs B-27/Burma bombers or a ASW bird.

Looking for your suggestions and comments for either option or something else. 

[Volkodav]

Sneaking 

That's exactly what I did yesterday 

[raafif]

I thought a Sneaking was a certain helicopter fitted with hush-puppy exhaust dampers

[Volkodav]

Just got sprung 

"Hey isn't that the model we decided you weren't going to buy the other week?"

[Volkodav]

Always imagined the Neptune as an attack bomber, akin to either a WWII era A-20G, or a Vietnam vintage A-26K.  Besides the RAAF, for instance, used Hudsons as bombers so if available I doubt such a comparatively high performance aircraft wouldn't be used in a more offensive manner.

[The Big Gimper]

Always imagined the Neptune as an attack bomber, akin to either a WWII era A-20G, or a Vietnam vintage A-26K.  Besides the RAAF, for instance, used Hudsons as bombers so if available I doubt such a comparatively high performance aircraft wouldn't be used in a more offensive manner.

I like the idea of a big brother to the A-26K. Lots of nose space for guns (I see a 40mm Bofors in the cards) and things under the wings.

[elmayerle]

Always imagined the Neptune as an attack bomber, akin to either a WWII era A-20G, or a Vietnam vintage A-26K.  Besides the RAAF, for instance, used Hudsons as bombers so if available I doubt such a comparatively high performance aircraft wouldn't be used in a more offensive manner.

I like the idea of a big brother to the A-26K. Lots of nose space for guns (I see a 40mm Bofors in the cards) and things under the wings.

Perhaps reusing systems developed on the AP-2H or similar systems?

[jcf]

The P2V-2, -3, -4 had six 20mm cannon in the nose as standard fit.
All three were used in the attack role during the Korean War, mostly for road and rail interdiction
with cannon and underwing HVAR.

[Volkodav]

Wow thanks for that, I never realised.  I knew they were used for secret squirrel stuff in Vietnam but had no idea about the Korean operations.

[jcf]

It kinda gets lost that the aircraft was designed as a patrol bomber, the ASW and other missions came later.
The P2V-3C version was a dedicated one-way nuclear tactical strike conversion with nose guns and upper turret removed.

Here's the Vega Model 146 proposal brochure from 1943:

http://p2vneptune.com/v146.shtml

The load chart and example loads from the brochure:



P2V Neptune site, pretty good site:
http://p2vneptune.com/index.shtml

[GTX_Admin]

You can see the nose guns here:



There is also this video of them being worked upon:

<a href="" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win"></a>

[GTX_Admin]

Useful book if anyone is interested in the Neptune:

[GTX_Admin]

The P2V-3C version was a dedicated one-way nuclear tactical strike conversion with nose guns and upper turret removed.

Speaking of which:






BTW, "one-way" in this context meant that it could not return to land on the carrier, not that it was a suicide mission…though when talking of nuclear tactical strike ...

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Need to have folding wings for the ultimate carrier capable Neptune

[The Big Gimper]

@Greg; I don't have it but will buy a copy soon. Also thanks for video and picture on the cannon installation.  What's with the crew member and the machine gun? Air Marshall?

@Jon: Thanks for the link to the P2V website. Given the original design criteria of the Vega Model 146, I will build my kit as close as possible as seen in the drawings including the smaller sized radome.

[GTX_Admin]

Just a nice photo:

[GTX_Admin]

I've been trying to get hold of one of these for quite sometime:

http://nsf.tc/~nmc/ProductDetail.php?iProduct=5

You're going to hate me...

[kitnut617]

I've been trying to get hold of one of these for quite sometime:

http://nsf.tc/~nmc/ProductDetail.php?iProduct=5

You're going to hate me...

Rats!!!!!

[The Big Gimper]

West Coast Hobbys has a 1/72 P2V-7 CMR Nose Conversion for $7 CDN.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Wonder if the eight-gun nose from the B-25 Mitchell might be made to fit the Neptune?

[GTX_Admin]

Hmmmm....that conversion when combined with the NWC JMSDF Kawasaki P-2J Neptune conversion I just acquired could make an interesting combination....hmmm

[GTX_Admin]

Now I know Bill used to serve with Neptunes but I didn't know his wacky modelling was active back then...