Northrop Gamma 2G Conqueror - Arctic Decals/Dekno 1/72nd conversion

 

After a scratch conversion project I built some time ago that rendered a Cochran Conqueror Gamma -based on the vintage Williams Bros. kit...

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2017/05/conqueror-gamma-conversion-completed.html

...Arctic Decals/Dekno released a much convenient way to model such machine in the form of an aftermarket package with resin parts, masks, decals, “lights”, vacuum-formed canopy and detailed instructions:

https://www.arcticdecals.com/products.html?id=45671/613557

when this conversion was made available, in 2017, I posted a review:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2017/12/arctic-decals-dekno-northrop-gamma-2c.html 

This Arctic Decals/Dekno Curtiss Conqueror conversion was based instead on the Azur/FRROM Northrop Gamma 2E since the kit depicts more accurately the wing and other parts.

I got the conversion set, but given that I have a vintage William Bros. kit, I will use those parts (with some required mods) for this, my second Jackie Cochran Conqueror Gamma.

The change from a radial to an online engine created an equally beautiful machine that has a glimmer of Art Deco in it. 

Here is the original post with my conversion involving the scratchbuilding of the needed parts and modifying some of the kit's parts:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2017/05/conqueror-gamma-conversion-completed.html

The William Bros. Northrop Gamma kit is the proverbial gift that keeps on giving, and multiple samples of it can be seen in every modeling site and forum.

Here are my goes at it modifying in two instances the original William Bros kits, and my first build long ago, oob:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2017/07/modified-northrop-gamma-experimental.html

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2020/07/twin-wasp-northrop-gamma-jackie-cochran.html

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2014/07/172-williams-brothers-northrop-gamma.html

Now, the path suggested by Arctic Decals/Dekno (using the Azur / FFROM Delta kit) is by far easier than what I am doing here. Again, I had this vintage kit lying around and didn't want to spend money on a new (albeit much better) kit.

The conversion box contents:

Great instructions with references and drawings:

The kit I already had and decided to work on (but better you get the Azur kit, a much pleasant ride):

The old and venerable WB kit:

 Conversion and WB kit parts:

Areas that need addressing (and many other things too, to be described later):

Removing the "spine" under the wing:

Other parts needed from the WB kit

The conversion parts:

The WB kit parts have raised panel lines. They are all engraved following the original. The kit's lights are added to restore contour but will be painted over:

New lights drilled, ailerons added with their mods:

The conversion has the fat stab roots to match the Azur kit (Azur overdid the thickness of the stab by a good margin). The stab of the WB kit is much thinner (and more to scale, actually, than the Azur kit), so that will have to be dealt with:

The conversion vertical tail (with the proper balanced rudder) is a tad thin. Instead I removed and modified the WB kit part to render the correct mass balance:

That will be added like this, sanding lightly the bit that was there to receive the resin vertical tail:

Very carefully the thickness of the stab roots is reduced to match the WB kit parts, going for a smooth transition (right fus half shown in original form):

The WB stabs need to be modified to match the angles of the conversion fuselage:

The roots now match the stabs:

NOTE: thanks to president stupid tariff policies (among much graver, inane and dangerous policies) it may be difficult to obtain this conversion set from Arctic Decals in Finland (along with innumerable other supplies from all over the world). 

 

To be continued....