History

The Beechcraft C-45 was the military designation of the Beech 18 light transport aircraft. They were very popular and used by United States and other forces during World War II and into the 1970s with some still flying.

The Beech C-45 was a military version of the Beech Model 18 that was designed in the mid 1930s to serve as an executive, passenger, utility and cargo aeroplane.

The prototype first flew on 15 January 1937 and it proved so popular that it remained in production from 1937 to 1970 with over 9,000 being manufactured.

Prior to the United States entry into World War II only 39 had been sold but during the war over 4,500 were made for military service in many roles that included light bomber, light transport, crew training in bombing, navigation and gunnery and photo reconnaissance.

After the war these aeroplanes were used in many roles with many modifications to suit those roles.

This model represents a C-45 flying for the USAAF in 1942.

Anigrand 1/144 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in October 2021.

Data

MODEL: Beechcraft C-45

ROLE: light transport aircraft

TIME PERIOD: 1937-

ENGINES: Two Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 Wasp Junior radio engine of 340kW each

WING SPAN: 14.53m

LENGTH: 10.44m

GROSS WEIGHT: 3,402 kg

MAXIMUM SPEED: 362km/h

RANGE: 1,900km

PAYLOAD: 1,900km

CREW: 2

SCALE: 1/144

KIT:

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