Well.............here goes. My next dream project.

Hostettler 27% Cessna 421 with twin Wren Turbo Props.

I have Laser Planes cutting a short kit for me and have received the cowls, nose cone and windshield from Fiberglass Specialties.

This is going to be a long build................

Stay tuned, the build will be slow at first, but once the flying season tapers off, things will progress.
Feel free to offer any positive feedback, and any suggestions for a quality set of retracts would be most appreciated.

cheers.........

I love this plane....had the plans and kit from HOSTETLER... I would've liked to put turbines on it... GOOD LUCK

Nice NO1! As you may know, there were a couple of companies performing turbine conversions of the full scale aircraft. I never flew one, but they claim performance very close to Cessna's entry level turboprop. Even if performance didn't surpass the original, just eliminating the finicky
geared, piston engines would have been an advantage. It's to me, always been the most attractive of the cabin class twins available.

I really appreciate the building thread, as I've been wanting to build one of these a long time!
With the price of large electric systems becoming more reasonable(as long as you don't li-poly), it may be time for me to give it a go.

Thanks again for the thread!

DT56

I am a hard core 3D pilot, however this bird will rate a 10 on the cool factor in my book.

Good luck Ron!!! THis is one sexy beast!


Joe

I flew at Muncie yesterday for the Warbirds day. Darrell from Sierra Giant Scale was there. Here is what I took home.


I need to send him the dimensions for the mains, but it seems that my fear of finding a reliable retract for a project of this size has been solved.

Thanks Darrell.....

The nice UPS delivery man visited today!!!

This is the short kit that Laser Innovations cut for me. The quality of the wood and the sharpness of the laser cutting is outstanding.

If you're going to do a turboprop, why don't you bash the cowls and lines (tailfeathers are a bit different) and make a Cessna 425 Conquest. That WAS a turboprop.
The Golden Eagle had piston powerplants (GTSIO-540H if I recall correctly).

fliir,

I wondered how long it would take for that comment to appear.....the fact is that there were a few of the 421's that were converted to TP power, but if you like....I'll send the plans to you when I am done with them...... and YOU can do the bash.................

The center lite-ply box sides are joined and sanded.

I would make it a C model and lose the tip tanks, unless you really likem.

Todd

Todd:

The trailing beam gear on the -C would be hard to duplicate...

Ron:

I didn't think about aftermarket turbine conversions. And my current project is bashing a C-47 kit into a Basler turbine conversion

I didn't think about that! Plus, he may need the tip tanks to carry around enough jet fuel for that thing.

Todd

To me the tip tanks make this plane.

Amazing new project Ron. I look forward to seeing this one come together. I am trying to find someone on this side of the Atlantic to make my ultimate Twin turboprop project... Kingair. Maybe one day???
Don't suppose this means the Tucano is soon to be surplus to requirements does it
Good luck!
Regards Al

A very ambitious project Ron, I am sure it is going to look splendid, and the sound of two turboprops..Ah.....what can I say....

Hi Ron

This is Reza I am also in the process of building a 421. We are in the process of deciding to put jet cat turbo props. I think my builder contacted you. John from Alabama has he?

Have encountered any difficulties so far?.

Cheers

Reza

Reza,
I use Wren turboprop motors and have encountered no problems. Excellent service from the factory. The build is going very slowly as I am very busy in the shop, but so far no problems. The short kit is excellent and the parts fit is true.

There is much to be said regarding which power plant is more reliable.........

Feel free to pm me if you have any further questions.

Quite a project you've got going there... [8D]

I was always a fan of the tip tanked twin Cessnas and the B model 421 was no exception, until I got some time in the C model. But I digress...

The only turbine conversion I ever saw was a B model Jack Riley brought into the field trying to establish a distributor/sales relationship with the company president as they'd known each other for a number of years. IIRC, it had the Lycoming LT 101 engines installed which used the large diameter single rear exhaust exiting through the back of highly modified engine nacelles. I think the problems everyone was having with the LT 101 when it first came out were the cause of the 421 Riley Rocket's demise. Bell was having problems with them and the BK-117's we were modifying for EMS use were requiring open heart surgery at about 700 to a 1000 hours on the 101's. The 421 conversion did perform well, but I sure didn't like the nacelles and huge tailpipe on top of the wing. I guess you are planning on using the forward exhaust exits like you might find on a Pratt & Whitney install? Do you have any info on a PW install that was STC'd?

Just curious, but again I think it will be a real crowd pleaser!

The project is strictly for chits and giggles, not for scale competition. I chose this particular airframe due to the size and nacelle dimensions (the Wren will fit nicely)

I realize there are a lot of scale "purists" but this one is not for that application. Same as the Tucano I did last year....not exact scale...but when in the air, you can't detect the variations............

Thanks for the update!

I'm not a scale purist, but I can appreciate the results of those who are...[8D]

As I said, I think it's going to be a crowd pleaser. I was just curious more than anything when you said there were a number of turbine conversions for the 421 as it was always one of my favorite airplanes. Even tho the big GTSIO-520's required a lot of care in operating them unless you had an unlimited maintenance budget...

The C model with it's trailing link main gear, single fuel tanks per side, and no tip tanks was a sweetheart to fly compared to the earlier versions.

Fuse jig built, ready to begin the framing of the inner box.

Sides squared, stringers being installed. Lots of room to work......

For the record, I saw two C-421 Turboprop conversions (on controller.com) for sale and they did have the Pratt PT-6 engine

Fuselage removed from jig, now the long process of sheeting begins............