chopperfan wrote:

Hey, Aaron! About the middle of that video shows a C-54/DC-4 (#65) taking off. That plane was at Sequoia Field, North of Visalia, CA, in March of 2007. Along with a C-130 (#63). I'm not sure if you are in Yosemite or close but, you might be able to get some really good walk around shots of both. My youngest son was out there then, visiting my sister and her family, and got a few shots for me. But, he doesn't know a whole lot of what kind of pictures I was wanting. I'll post the ones I have.

bondoman wrote:

chopperfan wrote: Hey, Aaron! About the middle of that video shows a C-54/DC-4 (#65) taking off. That plane was at Sequoia Field, North of Visalia, CA, in March of 2007. Along with a C-130 (#63). I'm not sure if you are in Yosemite or close but, you might be able to get some really good walk around shots of both. My youngest son was out there then, visiting my sister and her family, and got a few shots for me. But, he doesn't know a whole lot of what kind of pictures I was wanting. I'll post the ones I have.   Now thats an aircraft! Where will you get props? One of my bigger whines is that there is not a comprehensive source of props in 1/72, say by manufacturer. I put a set from a B-17F on my C-54: they look good but I could not vouch for their accuracy.

Hey, Bondo!!

Aeroclub offers a couple of different H.S. 13' 6" 3 blade props. The C-54's props were 13' 1". If a person had a couple of Monogram F7F's that were trashed, the props for them are 13' 1" H.S.'s. I'll have to check into that.

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Randie Agape Models

Without them? The men on the ground would have to work a lot harder. You can help. Please keep 'em flying! http://www.airtanker.com/

simpilot34 wrote:

Thanks for the great pics Randie! Didn't know there were any C-130 tankers left. #65 was looking very nice as well! Often wonder why the DC-4/C-54 soldiers on and the DC-6s are all gone when they have a bigger payload. Maybe thats just it, their payload is what killed them. Fatigue life prolly reached. Didn't think you could wear out a DC-6. Cheers, RIchie

You can't wear out a DC3/4/6/7 but Douglas is gone so there was nobody to vouch for them. Engineers have said the DC's could fly forever with proper maintenance but without a manuafacturer sticking their neck out with a flight hour life the USFS axed them. Interestingly the FAA does not support the measures the USFS followed. The FAA just wanted qualified inspectors, something still lacking in the program.

There are no civilian C130 tankers left, the aircraft are still around but not flying as tankers. The Military still uses the C130 MAFFS though. Theoretically we could see later model C130's again, the A model is the one that was banned.

I have no idea when I'd get the chance but I'll try to swing by Sequoia field if I do and see if they are still there.

I don't think the DC's will get cut up, they are still perfectly usable for air cargo etc, just not as tankers for the USFS. I know several states were looking at contracting them as Tankers, AZ, CA, OR and WA in particular so there is some hope to see them again. Always a chance the USFS will adopt a more reasonable policy with a new administration next year, or not who knows.

I just saw this thread and started looking around at the different Firebombers still in use.  I was surprised to see lots of P2V's still in use.  My father flew in P2V-5's during the cold war.  Is there anywhere you guys know of that shows which particular planes were converted to fire attack use?  It would be really cool to see his actual plane still flying!

Grifter123 wrote:

I just saw this thread and started looking around at the different Firebombers still in use.  I was surprised to see lots of P2V's still in use.  My father flew in P2V-5's during the cold war.  Is there anywhere you guys know of that shows which particular planes were converted to fire attack use?  It would be really cool to see his actual plane still flying!

Grifter? Do you know the BuNo of his plane? If so, I could do some searching and see if it is still flying. Let me know. 

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Randie Agape Models

Without them? The men on the ground would have to work a lot harder. You can help. Please keep 'em flying! http://www.airtanker.com/

simpilot34 wrote:

Grif, you can prolly go to airliners.net and search for the P-2. I'm positive there will be some Tanker shots. You could also go to airtanker.com and go to there nice gallery they have. Cheers, Richie

Thats horrible, I would have thought a flyable DC6 with good maintenance records would have been worth more than to be treated like a big pile of aluminum cans.  

Grif there is a warbirds site that can help track aircraft

 http://www.warbirdregistry.org/ 

Found 131482, but no 81.

Grifter123 wrote:

oh well, thanks for looking into it guys, I appreciate your efforts. I'll check that warbirds site, maybe dad will remember a secondary plane that's still kicking.

What unit was he with? I have a website of a squadron that that particular plane flew with. I might be able to cross reference the other numbers with existing birds? Let me know. 

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Randie Agape Models

Without them? The men on the ground would have to work a lot harder. You can help. Please keep 'em flying! http://www.airtanker.com/

Thanks for the pics of the DC-4 Chopperfan.  I started the Minnicraft 1/144 DC-6 the other night. I got it at Hobby Lobby for $1.50 last summer.  Anybody build this kit?  It is more like a vacuform than a injected molded model.  Lots of filling and supporting.

Regards,

Scott

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