From Ben Dannecker

Things that make u go HMMM!

I read these things were a "handful" asymmetric

..and having miraculously got yourself back on the ground in one piece, almost impossible to taxi on one engine. I watched an Adastra Hudson take over 30 minutes to taxi onto the ramp at Port Hedland once, many bursts of power, clouds of dust and innumerable pirouettes later....

The next Hudson I saw was spread in little pieces all over Tennant Creek aerodrome!

Cheers,

Rod.

Was that the accident where they took the little boy up for a joy ride? Sad story that one.

I flew in there a few days later. It was very ugly.

See http://www.adastra.adastron.com/aircraft/hudson/vh-age.htm

Cheers,

Rod.

nt

Interesting to hear about the Hudson crash ..l lived in Tennat Creek from 77 to 87 and hadnt heard about a aircraft crash in the area

Leslie

to Ben and Wally for posting these priceless images. And for the earlier shots of Adastra's Hudsons over Manly. Great inspiration for modelling a civil Hudson.

Cheers

Roger

Regards

Andrew Doppel
Assistant Moderator AMI

Type: L-414-08 Hudson Mk IVA/A-28
Later: L-414-56 Hudson Mk III
Msn: 6051
Previous Identities:

41-23192

A16-122 [VH-RBD]

Owner: RAAF Museum.
Base: RAAF Museum, Point Cook, VIC.
History:

05DEC41 Received 1 Aircraft Depot ex U.S.A. with Pratt & Whitney engines.
08JAN42 Issued 14 Sqn.
29APR42 Aircraft struck drain on landing and undercarriage collapsed.
16NOV42 Collided with wingtip of A16-116.
15JAN43 Received 32 Sqn.
22MAY43 Issued to 6 Sqn.
09SEP43 Received at 7 Aircraft Depot for conversion to transport aircraft.
14NOV43 Received 38 Sqn ex 7 AD.
06JAN44 Issued callsign VH-RBD.
14MAR44 Missing in vicinity of Carnarvon WA. Aircraft was attempting to return to Carnarvon on flight from Guilford to Exmouth Gulf in bad weather. Aircraft belly landed after fuel exhaustion.
15MAR44 Located by search aircraft.
20MAR44 Received 17 Repair and Salvage Unit.
02MAY44 Received 4 Aircraft Depot for repair.
30NOV45 Received at 2 Aircraft Depot for storage.
24APR47 Sold to Godden Board and Godden, Potts Point, NSW.
07AUG47 Issued to purchaser.
25NOV54 Registered VH-AGX to Adastra Aerial Surveys. Aircraft was converted from Mk IVA to Mk III with installation of Wright Cyclone engines.
29JUN62 Transferred to Sepal Pty Ltd (an Adastra company).
22DEC73 Crashed on takeoff at Horn Island. Aborted takeoff due loss of oil pressure. Aircraft overan strip into swamp and badly damaged. Both crew escaped injury.
1976 Acquired by Bob Eastgate, Melbourne VIC.
06FEB77 Arrived at Point Cook VIC ex "Townsville Trader" for restoration.
29NOV96 To RAAF Museum in exchange for a number of Winjeels.

It seems that A16-122 aka VH-AGX had a liking for drains, collisions and belly landings ...

tell me ..what kit would be a good starting point for a wright engined Hudson in 1/72 and / or 1/48?

I'm going to do an East West (VH-EWA) one in due time. Waiting for some decals (Clayton are these in the works???). EWA has a long history. Still flying today as Temora's Hudson. Plus it hit a ditch at Mascot as well.

Apparently the kit is a real ^$&**&& to put together from what I have read. The kit comes with the two types of noses and the cover for the rear turrent hole. Just have to fix the horizontal stab. Either do it yourself or there is a conversion out there somewhere.

Plus forget if the kit is wright powered or not. Sorry. I know there is a conversion for that as well. Red Roo I think.

Hope that helps.

Tony

nt

I'm with you Wal. I have always liked the look of the Adastra Hudsons and this scheme is the nicest of the Adastra line.

Red Roo make the appropriate engines for the Airfix kit.

The Italeri/MPM kit is apparently a big improvement over the old Airfix kit, but it's up to you... it's a choice between nice new mouldings with recessed panel lines but limited-run assembly (butt joints, etc) vs old moulding with easy assembly but myriads of rivets and probably lots of putty.

A model of the 2nd, 3rd & 4th photos is a good reason to use the Airfix kit and disguise its (apparent) nose profile issues! I don't know whether those reported nose issues are real (or significant enough to worry about) but I'm sure it's nothing that can't be easily fixed.

nt

the MPM or Italeri kits between them cover all the engine options (the Italeri kit is reboxed MPM).

The airfix, not the MPM kit, is the one that needs fixing re the horizontal stab IIRC. But it is just a matter of scribing.

I see that there is a replacement tail plane for the 1/48 CA kit as well

nt

that would mean that the appropriate cowls are in the MPM box. the MPM Box provides parts for the Mks I and II and the Italeri for the IV and V (by RAF nomenclature). A bit of appropriately sized plastic tube for the exhaust and you have the Hudson III as well out of the MPM boxing.

There is no comparison between the MPM/Italeri Hudson and the Airfix one, the former wins hands down and presented no problems in construction. Attached is a photo comparing the Airfix Hudson nose and a vacform replacement. The vacform was based on Lockheed factory drawings, MPM/Italeri got it right. Ben Dannecker is a long-time friend of mine and, as a QFI, tried to teach me to fly at the old Casey Field. He is an extremely capable and cautious pilot with many types in his logbook.

[IMG][/IMG]
Plastic Modeller, No14, March/April,1992

[/IMG]

MPM/Italeri Hudson

The Adastra Hudsons were illustrated in both the orange/blue and green/white colour schemes with colour chips for both schemes in IPMS Modelcraft, No4,1971

FGH

correction article should see the light of day?

Hardly WWII this stuff (one of my passions) but realistic and actual post-WWII use of the venerable Hudson, and ex-RAAF to boot.

I'm really indebted to Ben and Wally as I've not seen any of the posted images before. Perhaps the ex-Lockheed site now Adastra site would appreciate the new images? Just food for thought.

Cheers

Roger

http://www.hlj.com/product/ITA1253

http://www.hlj.com/product/ARF05034

it's almost "meant to be" innit?

but I do like the idea of destroying an Airfix 1/72 facsimile of the Hudson ...

Cherrs

Roger

I just ordered an Italeri kit..

decals are going to be fun....Not!

a straight forward colour scheme for VH-AGX is going to prove quite complicated. But then having admired your recent efforts, I wouldn't put it beyond you to come up with the goods. Re 1/48 Hudsons, I also have to agree - they're harder to find than hens fangs !

Cheers

Roger

Have to design it so I can print on white decal paper



this took 10 mins but its gonna take hours to get the white margins right

Wal, I there is a local decal producer who has mentioned plans to cover the Adastra Hudsons. I have spoken to him on a few occasions about this very subject, as he is keen on covering some post war military aircraft in civil colours.

I can't say too much (because he asked me not to) but I'll contact him today and enquire.

Swapped for a pile of Winjeels..

.

Sure I sighted a spare nose with her many years ago during stocktake.

- by which I mean the late '60s or early '70s - Dennis Brignell (he of the Ansett Sandringham and F-27 articles in Airfix Magazine at about the same time) did a Hudson in this scheme out of the Airfix kit. It was a stunning model, the more so because he hand painted ALL the markings using his patented six-schooner method (you didn't start painting until you'd downed at least six schooners, as otherwise your hand wouldn't be steady enough). It's still around, as far as I know - last heard of on display at McDonalds in Woodville Road Villawood, along with said Sandringham and F-27, where the franchisee had decided on an Australian aviation theme for his interior because of the site's proximity to Bankstown Airport.

After that, doing one from an MPM kit should be a doddle!

A man can't have too many flying boats ...

That was a truly magnificent model. Built when modellers were real modellers! no aftermarket bits and, none of that add glue and shake the box modelling.

I think I can also safely say that Dennis could be classed as one of those true 'characters'. I can recall the odd evening spent with Dennis, (and Mum), at the Sea Eagles Leagues Club, with frequent trips to the heads. A great guy and a wonderful modeller, taught me a lot.

Cheers,
Peter

... but I doubt that you'd ever have gone to the Sea Eagles Leagues Club with him, Peter - he was (is? I think he's still around, even if we don't see much of him nowadays because of the stroke) a dedicated Roosters fan. It would more likely have been the North Bondi Diggers, where I have vague memories of spending some time in his company myself!!

A man can't have too many flying boats ...

Dennis was the author and illustrator of the Adastra Hudson Modelcraft article mentioned earlier.
FGH

and with some trepidation I jumped into the toxic dump that is my photo collection..

I took these at Point Cook a million years ago.. ( I am guessing between 1980-85)

are pure gold despite their age. VH-AGX sure took a bit of a battering. Do my eyes decieve me or did Adastra carry the exterior colour scheme into the cabin? The rear of the cockpit bulkhead seems to be carrying the same exterior colours ...

Many thanks for sharing these images.

Cheers

Roger

All sized up ready to go, three different shades of background blue to match paint variations but one can just trim each letter down to the "white" and apply individually.
Windows as well in case one cant be bothered with the transparencies.

non standard pitots check
ADF bullet check
radio mast, not yet

enamel taking ages to dry, next job masking up for the white

update...wasnt happy with windows, made corners more rounded