How About a Lockheed Constellation???

[P3FE]

I flew as a Flight Engineer on the U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion. I would love to build one of those and fly it. It is a similar plane the Connie.

[OV10]

An Orion is a nice airframe and being ex Navy myself I would certainly not turn it away if it was bestowed upon me as a nice add to my fleet but it's only similarity(airframe not avionics) to the Connie is four engines. The distinctive triple tail is a hallmark of the Connie plus it's span was 25% bigger than the Orion. Fortunately for us military model buffs there were several variant designations(L-1249 and C-121 plus a couple more) of the Connie used by both the Navy and Air Force with the coolest in my perspective being the ones with wing tip tanks. We can only wish..........:rolleyes:

[Iowa54]

I can still remember going along as my mom was taking my grampa to the airport and he got on a Connie and we waited and watched it take off. I was maybe 5 or 6 but I can still see that triple tail heading into the sunset............

[Rudderman98]

I myself would LOVE a Connie. Retracts, flaps the whole enchilada!

My co-workers father worked on them for Northwest and said they were beautiful birds but a huge PIA to work on!

Motion RC PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE! :)

[MikeT]

That would be really cool.

Mike

[Grossman56]

Speaking of Connies, one of the guys had his at the field a few weeks ago...

Its not very large and as you can see, its basically a balsa covered construction. Very light but it flies very well and looks so cool in the air...


Grossman56

[Gilatrout]

Speaking of Connies, one of the guys had his at the field a few weeks ago...

Its not very large and as you can see, its basically a balsa covered construction. Very light but it flies very well and looks so cool in the air...


Grossman56

That looks like one of Pat Tritles kits. He's a local flyer and it's a real treat when he brings a prototype to the field for testing.

Here is a photo of the prototype for his Connie

[Woodcock]

I myself would LOVE a Connie. Retracts, flaps the whole enchilada!

My co-workers father worked on them for Northwest and said they were beautiful birds but a huge PIA to work on!

Motion RC PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE! :)

Ya know it says something when you see so many home build Lockheed Constellations in and around shows today. Everyone comes out to watch them fly, at shows and meetings. It's sad really. Sad fact is non of our dev's in this day and age quite have the will, competence and resources to successfully develop a plane like this. They're all running scared from this one like a banny rooster. First there is the very tall landing gear. Yes something like landing gear really does scare potential Dev's of this plane off. My goodness how could they possible make such tall landing gear work and work consistently?
I'll tell ya how? Just a little bit of competent engineering. That's all it takes, but apparently there are not any more of those left in the world. LOL

To top this off. it's also a four motor model. For motors, four ESC's, Special never before landing gear, and a brand new CNC designed foam air frame. Eh well lets just say probably not in my life time, maybe your's. So like some one said lately, it's time to home build, that is if ya want one of these.

For Dev's this plane is not for the light hearted, it's meant for the inspired driven professionals that feel an absolute need to make it happen. We have yet to have one, LOL.

Best Regards
Woody

PS Almost forgot, awesome pictures Gman! W

[Grossman56]

I have to agree, but has there ever been a more iconic four engine airliner? If there ever was a definition of luxury flying, it was the Connie, a perfect match between engineering and a work of art. Can't imagine anyone not turning their heads to watch if one flew over. I see they're restoring Columbine, too cool!



Grossman56

[Grossman56]

Btw!


Nice huh!!

Grossman56

[Woodcock]

Btw!


Nice huh!!

Grossman56

Stunning, simply stunning. Is it just me, or did the nose gear get tweaked on that plane?

Best Regards
Woody

[killickb]

Yep, you'll have to build one ! This is my Tritle version and that four motor sound is cool plus her flight habits are impeccable. Steep landing approach to a touch and go look so "full size Connie". Absolutely no rolls or loops with this one !

[Alpha]

Gosh, I love the Connie. Any angle, any color. Please, Alpha, make one.

Someday.

[Sekhet]

Gosh, I love the Connie. Any angle, any color. Please, Alpha, make one.

Someday.

I couldn't agree more! PLEEEEEEEEEEASE, Alpha, PLEEEEEEEEEEASE!

[themudduck]

I made one for myself (this is a profile model, about 43" wingspan) and I would have to put myself in the "OMG PLEASE PLEASE" camp with Sekhet and Alpha...

[themudduck]

Here you go. Why not??

[Richard McFarland]

There seems to me more interest in four motor electric airliners than one would think. I built an have the 60" Pat Tritle designed Douglas DC-6 ,I'm building the enlarged version now that brings me to a question or two: I have been searching the GREAT Motion R/C web site for electrical retracts to support around a 6lb weight . The nose retract needs to retract forward towards the nose radome ,the STRUT LENGTH needs to be aorox. 5 1/2" 14.41 Cm length with a single nose wheel--- Now the mains need to be rear ward retracting like a P-38. The mains need to retract rearward with a strut length of aprox. 4 1/4" 10.77Cm. And have dual wheels. Guys I have been searching all the retractable electric landing gear Motion R/C sells and with your help I'm sure I can find and order the correct units from Motion R/C !!!

[OV10]

There seems to me more interest in four motor electric airliners than one would think. I built an have the 60" Pat Tritle designed Douglas DC-6 ,I'm building the enlarged version now that brings me to a question or two: I have been searching the GREAT Motion R/C web site for electrical retracts to support around a 6lb weight . The nose retract needs to retract forward towards the nose radome ,the STRUT LENGTH needs to be aorox. 5 1/2" 14.41 Cm length with a single nose wheel--- Now the mains need to be rear ward retracting like a P-38. The mains need to retract rearward with a strut length of aprox. 4 1/4" 10.77Cm. And have dual wheels. Guys I have been searching all the retractable electric landing gear Motion R/C sells and with your help I'm sure I can find and order the correct units from Motion R/C !!!

Hello Rich and welcome to the Squawk.
Finding an etract I don't see as being the problematic issue at hand for you.
I would use the ones from the FW 1700mm A-10.
The nose etract is a straight up install and the mains etract would be put 180 degrees reverse from the way they are installed in the A-10.
Now the struts are going to be a little more labor intensive in researching but that is something all of us modders here have been more or less forced to do.
If when I can't find any struts at Motion my secondary search goes to Hobby King.
Happy and fruitful foraging.

[MikeT]

Mike

[Heli143]

I’ve always wondered why the Constellation and the C-130 are so under-represented in spite of being very
popular.
my first airplane ride was on a Connie in 1960 and I can still remember having my face glued to the window the whole flight