Convairliner CV-240-580 Moulds in 1/400 Scale
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Updated: July 2016
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The 40 seat Convair 240 was the most successful of the first wave of DC-3 replacement aircraft and was first delivered, to American, on February 29, 1948. Its pressurisation and reliable service (both in contrast to the competing Martin 2-0-2) saw it sell well and 176 were produced for civilian customers, which was a decent figure for a postwar market flooded with war surplus equipment. A staggering 390 were also made for the US Air Force. Primary customers for the CV-240 were Aerolineas Argentinas, American, Continental, KLM, Northeast, Pan Am, SABENA, Swissair, Trans-Australia and Western.
To combat the improved Martin 4-0-4 the improved CV-340 first flew in October 1951. It had a slightly stretched fuselage and increased wingspan. United was the launch customer taking its first aircraft on March 27, 1952. The 340 sold even better than the 240 with 209 sold to airlines including Alitalia, Cruzeiro Do Sul, Delta, Finnair, Garuda, Hawaiian, KLM, Lufthansa, Philippines.
To combat the improved Martin 4-0-4 the improved CV-340 first flew in October 1951. It had a slightly stretched fuselage and increased wingspan. United was the launch customer taking its first aircraft on March 27, 1952. The 340 sold even better than the 240 with 209 sold to airlines including Alitalia, Cruzeiro Do Sul, Delta, Finnair, Garuda, Hawaiian, KLM, Lufthansa, Philippines.
The Convair 440 'Metropolitan' was announced four years after the 340 and though with the same fuselage length (which could squeeze in 52 passengers if needed) it had many modifications improving performance. The type represented the height of piston short-haul propliners but couldn't really compete against Vickers excellent Viscount. First flying on October 6, 1955 Continental received the first airline frame on March 8, 1956. Orders within the USA were modest but within Europe and South America the type sold better. Many CV-340s were upgraded to 440 status especially within the States.
Convair never built a turboprop version of the Convairliner but there were numerous re-engining products which gave the family good passenger carrying service well into the 1980s and as a cargo hauler well beyond that. Allison re-engined 170 aircraft with 501-D13 engines to produce the CV-580 which entered service from 1964. In 1965 Convair re-engined 38 CV-240s and 27 CV-340/440s with Rolls Royce Darts which became CV-600s and CV-640s respectively. These prop versions were especially prized by the US Local service airlines.
In 1:400 scale there have been several moulds released, but only one of those caters for the turboprop versions and its usage has been limited to say the least. Aeroclassics recently began producing new examples on their moulds after a pause of over a year and its good to see the type still getting releases.
In 1:400 scale there have been several moulds released, but only one of those caters for the turboprop versions and its usage has been limited to say the least. Aeroclassics recently began producing new examples on their moulds after a pause of over a year and its good to see the type still getting releases.
Convair 240 in 1:400 Scale
We'll start with a look at the real thing. None of the original CV-240s came with radar fitted:
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Aeroclassics Mould (2008)
Aeroclassics as of July 2016 has made 13 CV-240s and the mould is pretty excellent really. I can't actually fault it. Seven of the models were made between 2008 and 2009 but since 2013 a further six have been released including some lovely Mohawk and Northeast examples. There are however still several examples which could be made - especially Central, Continental, KLM, Ozark, Swissair TAA and Western. There haven't been any new releases of 240s since 2014.
Convair 340/440 in 1:400
No CV-340s came originally with radar fitted whilst CV-440s had it an optional extra:
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Aeroclassics Short Nose (2008)
The Aeroclassics short nose mould appears to be the same as the CV-240 mould. The real differences between wingspan (about 5m) and fuselage length (about 2m) are pretty small and I guess hard to show in 1:400 so probably didn't warrant a new mould? Aeroclassics has made 3 short nose CV-340s and 12 short nose CV-440s.
Aeroclassics Long Nose (2008)
Aeroclassics also produced a radar equipped variant of their Convairliner mould which they have used for 2 CV-340s and 23 CV-440s. The mould is again great with my only gripe being that they have used it erroneously a few times. For example their Delta C&S CV-340 should be a short-nosed CV-340 not a radar equipped one. It would be a minor gripe except they've done the same thing twice for this model which is very annoying!
Again there is plenty of scope to see more CV-340/440s especially for local service airlines like North Central and Frontier and Aeroclassics finally seem to be getting that message as they just released Lake Central and Allegheny examples.
Aeroclassics also produced a radar equipped variant of their Convairliner mould which they have used for 2 CV-340s and 23 CV-440s. The mould is again great with my only gripe being that they have used it erroneously a few times. For example their Delta C&S CV-340 should be a short-nosed CV-340 not a radar equipped one. It would be a minor gripe except they've done the same thing twice for this model which is very annoying!
Again there is plenty of scope to see more CV-340/440s especially for local service airlines like North Central and Frontier and Aeroclassics finally seem to be getting that message as they just released Lake Central and Allegheny examples.
Here are some shots of the short nose CV-240 and the long nose CV-440 together:
JC Wings / Gemini Long & Short Nose (2009)
JC Wings entered the field with their own short and long nosed CV-440 mould in 2009. The mould is ok but lacks the detailed undercarriage of the Aeroclassics release and in common with many of their smaller moulds the wheels (especially the nosegear) is too large. The shape of the nose on the radar equipped version of the mould is also not perfect. On the positive side the engine cowlings are one piece and the wing/fuselage seam smaller than the Aeroclassics mould. The moulds have only seen sporadic usage by JC Wings and Gemini Jets with 2 short nosed Hawaiian examples and 4 long nosed planes (All Nippon, Eastern, USAF and KLM).
JC Wings entered the field with their own short and long nosed CV-440 mould in 2009. The mould is ok but lacks the detailed undercarriage of the Aeroclassics release and in common with many of their smaller moulds the wheels (especially the nosegear) is too large. The shape of the nose on the radar equipped version of the mould is also not perfect. On the positive side the engine cowlings are one piece and the wing/fuselage seam smaller than the Aeroclassics mould. The moulds have only seen sporadic usage by JC Wings and Gemini Jets with 2 short nosed Hawaiian examples and 4 long nosed planes (All Nippon, Eastern, USAF and KLM).
Convair 580 in 1:400
Gemini Jets (2012)
Gemini produced a new mould for the CV-580 in 2012 and have acted so appallingly with it that I think I can safely label it as one of the stupidest uses of a mould in 1:400 ever. They already have a great 1:200 scale mould and there are lots of excellent releases they could make which would, I believe, sell well in 1:400 scale. So what did they do? They went and released a modern CV-580 and not even an airline version! Their FAA release no doubt sold badly and there were no more releases for a long time. The mould appears fine but the usage of it has been dreadful, though Gemini had some minor redemption recently when they released an Allegheny CV-580. Its a nice model, though the chunkiness of the nosegear is quite alarming. Hopefully some more may see the light of day eventually??
Sadly Aeroclassics haven't seen fit to grace us with a CV-580 or CV-600/640 though I can only hope they do soon. There are lots of excellent models to be made on such a mould.
Gemini produced a new mould for the CV-580 in 2012 and have acted so appallingly with it that I think I can safely label it as one of the stupidest uses of a mould in 1:400 ever. They already have a great 1:200 scale mould and there are lots of excellent releases they could make which would, I believe, sell well in 1:400 scale. So what did they do? They went and released a modern CV-580 and not even an airline version! Their FAA release no doubt sold badly and there were no more releases for a long time. The mould appears fine but the usage of it has been dreadful, though Gemini had some minor redemption recently when they released an Allegheny CV-580. Its a nice model, though the chunkiness of the nosegear is quite alarming. Hopefully some more may see the light of day eventually??
Sadly Aeroclassics haven't seen fit to grace us with a CV-580 or CV-600/640 though I can only hope they do soon. There are lots of excellent models to be made on such a mould.