Hi, I’ve just joined the forum recently, having started the model building hobby about 15 months ago (when I suddenly found myself “semi-retired” after the company I worked for closed down!)
I like building mostly civilian planes and non-military ships, and amongst the planes I have tackled during my first year as a newbie 60-year-old plane builder are a number of light aircraft. I don’t just build light planes, I also like anything with propellers up front, especially the greats of the 30s, 40s and early 50s. Plus flying boats, too!
But for the purposes of this topic posting, here’s a selection of the light planes I have built so far.
First up, a Piper Cub. This is a 1/72 scale KP kit of the military version of the Cub, the L4H ‘Grasshopper’ (hence the longer overhead clear canopy section at the rear). As it was a military kit it didn’t have civilian decals, so I just used masking tape and paint to create my own amateurish version of a Piper strip down the side.
Next, the second plane I ever built, a Beechcraft Staggerwing. It was an Amodel kit in 1/72 scale of the military Traveller model, so I just made up my own paint scheme and stripes. Up close it’s pretty rough and I’m planning on building a much nicer Staggerwing sooner rather than later, as it’s one of my all-time favourite panes. I might built a 1/48 next time, too.
Next, a Beechcraft Bonanza, a 1/72 kit by ARII. I like to display some of my planes in flight, held up from the underside of a bookcase by fishing line. Always liked the tail on this thing.
Next, a Twin Beech, also in 1/72, a PM Model kit.
And finally, two light planes with a military heritage…
Fieseler Storch (1/72 scale kit by Academy) wearing markings of the Polish post-war air force, plus a bonus Kubelwagen that came as part of the kit, so I built it, too.
FInally, a 1/72 Heller kit of the Messerschmitt Bf108B “Taifun”, the multi-seater variant of the 109, which was used to ferry important generals and other officials around the place. It’s pictured here in the colours and livery (except for the dodgy non-correct swastika on the tail) of Willy Messerschmitt’s private plane. There is a Bf108 in an air museum just south of Sydney, and it’s a very nice looking little plane.
I haven’t finished with light planes, either. I am currently struggling along with my first-ever resin kit. This one is a 1/72 scale Cessna 195, the radial engined sweetie from the late 40s and early 40s.
And once I finish that one, the box containing the 1/48 scale Cessna 172 float plane should have arrived, a good old plastic kit that’ll keep me entertained later in the year.