So what subsequently happened to A45-1 ? The airframe was not considered economical to attempt repairing and after stripping of useful equipment it was left at the crash site at Lake Myola. The RAAF recovered what was left of the wreck by lifting it out with a Chinook and taking it to Port Moresby where it joined the PNG National Air Museum in 1979.

The last flight of A45-1 beneath a RAAF Chinook.

Former RAAF Ford 5-AT-C A45-1 displayed at the National Museum and Art Gallery Port Moresby. More on the net if you do a search. Photos Mark Clayton. For those interested a copy of the Aircraft History Card as a PDF can be loaded by clicking here to load the PDF.

Modelling A45-1

To model the Ford 5-AT-C Trimotor, the only kit is I believe the venerable Airfix one. A detailed build report by Carmel Attard (very useful) can be found online at https://modelingmadness.com/review/civil/airlines/attard5at.htm. In 1/48 Scale for the ambitious (and rich) there is a full Resin kit made by the French producer AJP Maquettes. Info can be found at https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Product-Service/AJP-Maquettes-1710974479147603/ .

If you wish to attempt to superdetail either kit, the Wylam plans (very detailed) published in Model Aircraft News, May 1954 can be downloaded from 'https://www.airplanesandrockets.com/airplanes/ford-tri-motor-drawings-may-1954-man.htm'

To get you started here is a Ford Trimotor cockpit photo

Hit next to go to the 3rd page on RAAF Ford Trimotors with info on A45-2.