Curtiss Commando C-46 in Beta test @ calclassic.com forum

[Mark C]

It certainly will be nice to have a new C-46 even thought they were rare in Europe there were some around.

I've actually got a B&W picture of a C46 delvered in BOAC wartime finish during 1941 .... G-AGDI .... named"ST.LOUIS" .... in an all olive drap livery, maybe grey undersides, large Union Jack flag on the nose below the flightdeck, small verticle red/white/blue RAF type flash on the tail, then customery horizontal red/white/blue striping below the fuselage registration .... which appears in black with what appears to be a white outline. Aparently this aircraft was operaed in BOAC/RAF transport service until 1943 and as a 24 seat.

Also just turned a a 2nd B&W image in what appears to a later 2 tone green & brown camouflage livery .... with all the other details as described above. In BOAC/RAF transport service this aircraft was apparently designated CW-20 .... and operated between Gibraltar and Malta .... until scrapped on October 29 1943 when the run was deemed became "uneconomical" .... lacking adequate supplies of spares etc. Apparently this same particular aircraft was the original prototype first operated by the USAAF as a C-55 from June 20th 1941 and until being sold to BOAC later that same year

Never seen a real one

They're a very big aircraft Garry.

As most of you know, for part of each year I live in Bogota Colombia .... where I also met my first C46. Previously I'd imagined these aircraft to be about the same size and volume as a DC3/C47 .... but .... they are quite a bit bigger and sit much higher off the ground too .... to the extent even I was surprised .... as much as I was delighted to spend and hour or so aboard it.

There's are some great, rare, and colourful Colombian liveries comming up for this bird.

I'm currently working with a couple Colombian's responsible for these.

Mark C
AKL/NZ & BOG/CO

[kit]

Mark et al,

In BOAC/RAF transport service this aircraft was apparently designated CW-20 .... and operated between Gibraltar and Malta .... until scrapped on October 29 1943 when the run was deemed became "uneconomical" .... lacking adequate supplies of spares etc. Apparently this same particular aircraft was the original prototype first operated by the USAAF as a C-55 from June 20th 1941 and until being sold to BOAC later that same year

Memory tells me that BOAC a/c was the prototype too. When it first flew it didn't have the characteristic crease 2/3 way down the fuselage that all other C-46s had, and it had filler plates riveted across to produce a smooth shape. There are photos around somewhere showing it with the filler plates removed as you can see a change in colour along the crease, but I'm not sure if it was delivered to BOAC with or without fillers.

I wish I could find the reference with that photo in it, but my house is in one of it's 'We-have-far-too-much-stuff-for-the-space-available' modes at the moment.

I'd agree about the size of a C-46. A few years ago I was lucky enough to get aboard 'China Doll', the CAF's C-46 that was wintering at Chino (I think....) and from the cockpit we could see an ex-USAF C-121 Samaritan parked nose to nose with 'China Doll'. We were so high up in the C-46 we could see right along the fuselage top of the C-121!!!

[ianhind]

Memory tells me that BOAC a/c was the prototype too.

That is my recollection.

I wish I could find the reference with that photo in it, but my house is in one of it's 'We-have-far-too-much-stuff-for-the-space-available' modes at the moment.

Same problem here

[Garry Russell]

There were some that had a smoother fuse and different cockpit. I've see pics but only rarely.....could even have been of the same aircraft in different guises.

I don't know anything of use about the type

The BOAC livery Mark describes is the standard BOAC wartime livery worn by many types even Whitleys and Mosquitos.

I have seen a pic of it years ago but from memory it was not quite like the common version modelled.

If it's the prototype then as was common in those days it is likely to be very different in many ways.

Garry

[ianhind]

Found my source - not a photo but a colour profile in Air International 1984. I assume that the artist had access to a photo.



GINFO gives the c/no of G-AGDI as 101, which was indeed the prototype:
http://www.uswarplanes.net/c46.html

Image is part of a full page spread which if anyone wants a bigger version is here http://www.btinternet.com/~calypsomedia ... c46big.jpg

[Mark C]

YEP .... that's her Ian .... exactly as per my 2nd photo description above.

However .... when the aircraft was first delivered to BOAC she featured a plain overall drab finish with what appears to be grey undersides and completly devoid of any camouflage. I guess this initial livery represents what was inherited from her brief USAAF career. All other markings remain as described above .... and as depited in your line profiles.

When it first flew it didn't have the characteristic crease 2/3 way down the fuselage that all other C-46s had, and it had filler plates riveted across to produce a smooth shape.

That's absolutely correct.

That's what's clearly represented in those 2 images I have been able to source.

Mark C

[DispatchDragon]

OD and Grey would be correct - standard USAAC colours in the early 40s

Leif

[Mark C]

That AEROPESCA COLOMBIA C46 line profile in Ian's posting above is one of the colorful liveries of la republica currently being repainted by Libardo GUZMAN

Special thanks to Garry RUSSELL for providing all the little flower logos and titles for this one

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[DispatchDragon]

I thought I recognised that shelf paper Garry :roll:


Leif

[Garry Russell]

Hi Mark

That's what it was for

I remember sending them in for a project..

Looks well :dance:


Garry