In 1977, Lockheed proposed the L-400 to fill the niche between smaller cargo aircraft and the larger, four-engine C-130. The core concept was to provide a cheaper, highly efficient aircraft for short and medium-range routes. It was advertised to cost roughly 25% less than the standard C-130 and required a flight crew of just two rather than four, significantly reducing operating costs. Lockheed conducted a market survey across 30 countries and hoped to secure at least 30 initial orders to launch production. The program was officially launched in January 1980, with an anticipated first flight in 1982.
Despite high hopes and the utilization of the proven C-130 cargo compartment, the L-400 failed to attract enough buyers to justify the assembly line tooling. The program never proceeded past the mock up and initial study phases, and the project was shelved around 1982.
The Model:
This is the 1/72 Italeri C-130J kit modified to a twin engine configuration, changes and updates to the kit were:
• Wings were cut outboard of inboard engines and the tips extended to extend wing to proposed span
• Wing tips and tail planes raked (not part of original design)
• Nose radome removed and replace with reshaped resin part (not part of original design)
• Rudder chord increased.
• AE2000 kit engines used (original design proposed Allison T-56)
• Scratch built antennas, ESM sensors and pitot tubes added
• Scratch built ECS inlets added (as per C-130H/J)
It is displayed in the markings of 38SQN RAAF with fictitious A50 tail number. 38SQN is proposed to operate some of the next batch of C-130s proposed in the last defence white paper along with 37SQN.
Decals came from Hawkeye C-130H sheet and a custom C-27J sheet for the 38SQN specific items. Painted in the current RAAF C-130J-30 scheme using SMS paints.
