hueyfan Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 (edited) Hello all. I'm looking for details of the Fairchild C-119J but I had no luck about the inside of the flat tail that distinguishes this particular version from the others. One sample (just a battered fuselage) survives in Italy, in a private area close to visitors, while the USAF Museum in Wright-Patterson AFB (Daytona, OH) preserves the only other sample still surviving. Has anyone ever had a chance to photograph its interiors? Luca Edited March 30, 2010 by hueyfan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fred Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 No pics here(sorry) but I'd be interested in external pics of both types, showing the difference. Just curiosity - I was in a real one 'way back at an air show in Niagara Falls. Cool plane! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
madmanrick Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 (edited) Just to clarify, the C-119J "beavertail" isn't flat, but has a wedge shaped door that opens in the horizontal. Whereas the other models feature clamshell doors that are split vertically. The only pic I have ever seen of the interior of the Boxcar J model is in the Aerofax book. It is smallish, but you can make out some detail. If you PM me your email address, I'll send you a scan of it, if you do not have it already. HTH! Edited March 30, 2010 by madmanrick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hueyfan Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 I called it so because also Alvin Lloyd called it "beavertail" all along the Aerofax book, that I also have. BTW if you refer to the picture at page 96, it is too crowded to see the structural details that I need. An ideal shot could be a close view taken from the ground while loading the plane, or from the inside, taken during a paratroops launch. Thank you anyway for the hint. Luca Quote Link to post Share on other sites
adamsf Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 (edited) Hello all.I'm looking for details of the Fairchild C-119J but I had no luck about the inside of the flat tail that distinguishes this particular version from the others. One sample (just a battered fuselage) survives in Italy, in a private area close to visitors, while the USAF Museum in Wright-Patterson AFB (Daytona, OH) preserves the only other sample still surviving. Has anyone ever had a chance to photograph its interiors? Luca hueyfan, I am working on a project for an upcoming reunion of the 6593rd Test Squadron (Special). Their motto was "Catch Falling Star" They flew 5 specially modified C-119J's for the Aerial Recovery of De-Orbiting Satellites. Will be glad to share what information that I have come across. You can see more at HTTP://www.6594thTestGroup.org The following URL has a picture of Beaver tail and Clamshell http://daytonipms.com/Walks/C-119J/Rear.jpg Frank Edited April 1, 2010 by adamsf Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DonSS3 Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 This isn't a beavertail C-119, but it may provide some useful details. This is the aircraft at Ft Campbell, KY's Don F.Pratt Museum. http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/DDo...lying%20Boxcar/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hueyfan Posted April 8, 2010 Author Share Posted April 8, 2010 (edited) Thank you all for answering. In the meanwhile I've been directed to a website dedicated to aircraft relics in Italy, hosting a picture set dedicated to the unique remains of an ex Italian AF C-119J. Here is a direct link to these pictures: http://www.alatricolore.it/alatricolore/so...rvesa/c119j.htm although I'd suggest a whole tour on the Alatricolore's website, at least just for curiousness about US-made military aircraft left in Italy. Luca Edited April 8, 2010 by hueyfan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark S. Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Gents: Don't think it would be all that difficult to do a set of the beavertail doors in resin using solids modeling software. Is there enough interest to support it? They would not have interior detail unless I can find pictures that show any ribs, etc. Mark S. Spectre Resin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hueyfan Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 (edited) Gents:Don't think it would be all that difficult to do a set of the beavertail doors in resin using solids modeling software. Is there enough interest to support it? They would not have interior detail unless I can find pictures that show any ribs, etc. Mark S. Spectre Resin Typical non-pressurized aluminium airframe, full of pierced ribs, beams and boxed structures to spare weight. In a commercial product, a set of photoetched parts could add much to the overall effect. Luca Edited April 9, 2010 by hueyfan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fred Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 As a photo-etched set, it looks interesting to me! <of course, I have a certain degree of bias... > Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Interesting subject - I was never even aware that it existed. We Brits did a similar thing with the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy The first, commercial, examples had a dome-shaped rear end that swung open for loading - but this was clearly no good for para dropping. So for the RAF version, a 'beaver tail' was developed. The two sections of this opened up like crocodile jaws - top and bottom halves. Looking at the photo in Franks Link the C-119 rear end looks the same. But in the photo provided by Luqa, it looks like the upper part is fixed - with just a lower ramp section. Is that correct ?? Cheers Ken PS - I have the 1:72 scale Italeri C-119 in the stash - waiting to be converted into an XC-120 Packplane (when I get more details of the complex undercarriage ) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hueyfan Posted April 10, 2010 Author Share Posted April 10, 2010 (edited) Hello Ken, I had chance to see C-119s then both the dome-shaped Argosy in Coventry's museum and the other type in Cosford's, and I confirm your supposition. The bottom part of the C-119J tail (visible from the inside in the picture that I linked) opened rising inwards, like the rearmost section of a CH-46 helicopter's ramp. Then the whole tail 'cone' turned up no more than 15-20 degrees, enough to load vehicles or long and cumbersome loads, and even to allow in-flight load drops. Unluckily, once open the tail generated such a turbulence that the tailplanes tended towards loosing control. This circumstance, in an already underpowered airplane, limited a lot, if not at all, it's use for airdrops and the same habit to remove the mobile structure continued, like with the old clamshell-shaped versions. In short, the Argosy's flat-tail architecture seems more reasonable compared to the C-119Js one. Regarding the Packplane, in the Aerofax book there are various pictures, also from both sides, that show the undercarriage. No close-ups but enough to get an idea of its structure. Luca (not "Luqa", that's in Malta while I am from Milan, Italy ) Edited April 10, 2010 by hueyfan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Regarding the Packplane, in the Aerofax book there are various pictures, also from both sides, that show the undercarriage. No close-ups but enough to get an idea of its structure.Luca (not "Luqa", that's in Malta while I am from Milan, Italy ;) ) Thanks Luca I think I already have most published photos of the XC-120 - but none of them show the undercariage clearly enough to work out the complex truss structure. It's on the 'to do' pile awaiting more info. Regards Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
adamsf Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 Interesting subject - I was never even aware that it existed.We Brits did a similar thing with the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy The first, commercial, examples had a dome-shaped rear end that swung open for loading - but this was clearly no good for para dropping. So for the RAF version, a 'beaver tail' was developed. The two sections of this opened up like crocodile jaws - top and bottom halves. Looking at the photo in Franks Link the C-119 rear end looks the same. But in the photo provided by Luqa, it looks like the upper part is fixed - with just a lower ramp section. Is that correct ?? Cheers Ken PS - I have the 1:72 scale Italeri C-119 in the stash - waiting to be converted into an XC-120 Packplane (when I get more details of the complex undercarriage ) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DDC Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 The little reference book that comes with the latest re-issue of the kit has a few pictures and (i think) a 3 view. i haven't seen the Aerofax book, so can't comment if these pis are anything new, and i'm without scanner, so no uploading :) Denzil Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 (edited) Okay gents, I am going to resurrect this thread for a minute. I was curious about converting the Italeri 1/72 C-119G into a J, assuming all that is required is the beaver tail. So I googled "Fairchild C-119J beaver tail." This is one of the first photos to pop up! A 3-D printed 1/72 beaver tail which looks very nice. The STLfinder link shows it listed a few rows down as "Fairchild C-119J "Beaver tail" cargo door in 1/72". When you click on that link it opens to another page saying it is unavailable. There is a download link which takes you to Shapeways.com where a 404 error is posted. Does anyone know the story? Can this item still be obtained? K/r, Dutch Edited March 5, 2020 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gmat Posted March 6, 2020 Share Posted March 6, 2020 Are you aware of this WIP on Britmod? The bottom line is that the C-119J widened the aft fuselage so that the beaver tail was the full width of the fuselage whereas the previous C-119s had the rear fuselage narrowing. So the shapeways tail is useless w/o modifying the rear fuselage. Sorry can't give better news. https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235018081-catching-pictures-in-the-air/ TheBaron's build is awesome Grant Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted March 6, 2020 Share Posted March 6, 2020 Grant, thanks for that link! Beautiful build. I will have to investigate the Italeri C-119G fuselage width and 3D printed J beaver tail issue. But, not having a 1/72 3D printed beaver tail kind of hinders my efforts there. Thanks! R/ Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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