SOH Team Project - Grumman Tracker, Trader, Tracer

[Duckie]

Wrapping up exterior model modeling with just a few minor things left. Trying to figure out the wire antenna rigging is a challenge.
I think the nacelle air coolers on the right side of each needs to go as well as the fuel dump tubes at the rear (if that is what they are).

Look these over if you will and note any issues you see. I hope to wrap up the modeling this weekend and start mapping for textures.

Thanks a bunch!

Milton,

I believe you are correct regarding eliminating the CSD coolers and the fuel dump tubes. The horizontal tail was also shorter.

You probably already know of this resource, if not, its a pretty good comparison between the -1 and later versions that the later marks.

"TAILHOOK TOPICS". Here's a link. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ch&um=1&itbs=1

If for some reason the link doesn't work just google "TAILHOOK TOPICS" and search the August 2010 articles.

[Milton Shupe]

Yes, all those changes have now been made.

Anything else?

[Rallymodeller]

Regarding the external model of the CP-121 (the one with which I am the most familiar), I believe it has all been covered; the major external difference between the CP-121/CS2F-1 and the normal Stoof was the addition of a small air scoop above the nacelle for the different R1820 variant the DHC-built ones used, and there are some decent pics in the Warpaint book, IIRC.

Apart from the removal of the MAD boom, all other changes were internal, like fitment for air-droppable SKAD rescue kits and a cockpit gunsight for rocket aiming (the CRV-7 2.75" rocket was the only armament the Tracker was fitted for in the later days).

There is one other difference and I suppose since it was only on late Canadian Trackers it's not that important: on the upper rear fuselage just forward of the vertical stabilizer fillet and offset to starboard, there is an odd-shaped squarish blister painted International Orange. This is an ejectable ELT housing added in the 80s, and similar ones can be seen on many Canadian maritime aircraft like Sea Kings (pie-plate shaped blister on the starboard side of the tail boom) and Auroras (upper rear fuselage, starboard side of vert. stab.)

[Milton Shupe]

Thanks for that input Rallymodeller. I will try to do the Canadian early variant.

[SSI01]

Thanks for stepping into the breach, Milton - we are all grateful!!

Couldn't resist nailing that 2,000th post, either!

[Milton Shupe]

Thanks for stepping into the breach, Milton - we are all grateful!!

Couldn't resist nailing that 2,000th post, either!

LOL Good catch there SSI01.

Hopefully I will get the aircraft remapped by Monday evening and she will be off to the paint shop.

Once that happens, I will try to get the Canadian version chiseled out.

Thanks for your interest.

[tankerguy72]

Wrapping up exterior model modeling with just a few minor things left. Trying to figure out the wire antenna rigging is a challenge.
I think the nacelle air coolers on the right side of each needs to go as well as the fuel dump tubes at the rear (if that is what they are).

Look these over if you will and note any issues you see. I hope to wrap up the modeling this weekend and start mapping for textures.

Thanks a bunch!

Beautiful Beautiful work!!!

[HorusJ]

Milton,you are relentless!
Excellent!!!

[Maarten]

Hi there,

Here is an interesting site with regard to the Canadian-built Stoofs:

http://jproc.ca/rrp/rrp3/tracker.html

With regard to the electronics suite of the RCN CS2F-1 (see link Tracker -1, -2 and -3 Electronics Suite) there was no TACAN installed till 1960; the 17 Dutch CS2F-1/CS-2A's (ex-RCN) didn't have TACAN at all.

From the same site something interesting about the engines:

"Engines: Two Curtiss-Wright Cyclones (R1820-82WA) manufactured by Pratt and Whitney Canada under license as P&W model number 983C9HE1. This P&W model number is what appears on the nameplate affixed to the engine. The Cyclones developed 1275 hp @2500rpm continuous. Each engine could produce 1575 hp for up to five minutes. The P&W engines were modified to have the master rod in the number five cylinder instead of number one. The engineering spec indicates this modification improves reliability."

Cheers,
Maarten

[Milton Shupe]

Hi there,

Here is an interesting site with regard to the Canadian-built Stoofs:

http://jproc.ca/rrp/rrp3/tracker.html

With regard to the electronics suite of the RCN CS2F-1 (see link Tracker -1, -2 and -3 Electronics Suite) there was no TACAN installed till 1960; the 17 Dutch CS2F-1/CS-2A's (ex-RCN) didn't have TACAN at all.

From the same site something interesting about the engines:

"Engines: Two Curtiss-Wright Cyclones (R1820-82WA) manufactured by Pratt and Whitney Canada under license as P&W model number 983C9HE1. This P&W model number is what appears on the nameplate affixed to the engine. The Cyclones developed 1275 hp @2500rpm continuous. Each engine could produce 1575 hp for up to five minutes. The P&W engines were modified to have the master rod in the number five cylinder instead of number one. The engineering spec indicates this modification improves reliability."

Cheers,
Maarten

That's a great site Maarten. I have visited it several times losing hours in the process. :-)

[johnh_049]

I remain in awe of anyone who can model an airplane for FS.

all the detail that goes into the work, and then there's the guys who do the flight dynamics

awesome job, guys!

[fliger747]

Speaking of which, my laptop I use on the road is back in service after a heart lung transplant and total body transfusion.... FSX is currently installed and FS9 to go. Amazing how much faster they boot with mostly empty hard drives!

This must be about the most popular aircraft series ever!

Cheers: Tom

[Milton Shupe]

Speaking of which, my laptop I use on the road is back in service after a heart lung transplant and total body transfusion.... FSX is currently installed and FS9 to go. Amazing how much faster they boot with mostly empty hard drives!

This must be about the most popular aircraft series ever!

Cheers: Tom

Tom, great to see you again. I hope the computer recovery goes well.

Maarten, are you suggesting different performance with this engine?

Well, I have the major body panels remapped and now working on the few (hundred) "other" parts to be mapped.

[Maarten]

Maarten, are you suggesting different performance with this engine?

Whoops! No, I wasn't. Actually I was surprised by the modification of the R-1820-82WA design by Canadian Pratt & Whitney (the master rod in the number five cylinder instead of number one) to improve reliability.
Now that you ask, the 1,575 hp mentioned on the Canadian Tracker site must be a typo of the author. I hadn't noticed that at all. The RCN specification of the Canadian Pratt & Whitney model 983C9HE1 (see http://jproc.ca/rrp/rrp3/tracker_spec.pdf) mentions 1,525 hp, just like the Wright R-1820-82WA.

Cheers,
Maarten

BTW, the S2F-1 looks awesome already. I can't believe you are doing that job that quick.

[p3aewguy]

Tom, great to see you again. I hope the computer recovery goes well.

Maarten, are you suggesting different performance with this engine?

Well, I have the major body panels remapped and now working on the few (hundred) "other" parts to be mapped.

Milton,

Just saw your pictures and noted the placement of the damper on the left horizontal stab. It should be further outboard at the juncture of the blue and green mapped areas. If it's not fixable, no harm done. Thought I'd mention it. Looking forward to this one also!

Dave