Howdy, anyone know of a 1/48 or 1/32 C-119? I jumped out of one when I was in the AF and would like to hang it up in my hobby room.
Thanks
Howdy, anyone know of a 1/48 or 1/32 C-119? I jumped out of one when I was in the AF and would like to hang it up in my hobby room.
Thanks
Combat Models (I think) may make a 32nd scale vacuform model of it
later add, no they make a 48th scale model as a combination kit
Realistically, the 1/72 scale Italeri kit is your only option. It’s pretty good size, about an 18" span and can be built easily by a beginner. Not even experienced builders would enjoy building a 1/48 vacuum-formed Combat Models kit.
A few years ago I found an RC ARF foam C-119 that is either 1/32 or 1/36 scale or in between. I still haven’t assembled it but it looks pretty accurate. It is already marked. My late dad jumped out of C-119s in the early '50s and one of my first models I built in the early '70s was the Aurora 1/77 model. when I stumbled upon the 1/32ish one on eBay years ago I had to have it! You might check eBay and see, it should be in the radio controlled models section.
All of my airborne training jumps were made out of C119s. It took forever to get off the ground, forever to climb to altitude, and smelled of AV-gas. That having been said the “flying boxcar” is a pleasant memory for me. Picture this. A bunch of airborne trainees making their first jump, early in the morning after breakfast. They say that nine out of ten paratroops are afraid for their first jump, and that the tenth guy is a lier. Av-gas was a pleasant smell by comparison. I could not wait to get out of that airplane. Jumping from a C-130 was a much better experience as was the C141 jumps. I saw a few C-119s in Nam in SEA camo. They were used to drop leaflets and sensors. I heard that there were some outfitted with mini-guns, like C-47 gunships, but I never saw one while I was in SEATO. Interestingly enough there are a few military C-119s still flying. A 1/32 scale kit would be huge. I have hopes that some day we will see a 1/48th scale kit. Maybe Trumpeter. A 1/48 scale C-46 would also be nice.
My dad jumped C-47s and C-46s but his fav was the C119.
Italeri has issued its 1/72 scale kit in three guises: C-119G (late version), AC-119K Stinger gunship, and an early Korean-War version (different engines/cowls, different nose gear configuration, and lack of ventral stabilizers below twin fins). Again, realistically, your best bet.
Added note: There is/was a Testors boxing of the Italeri C-119. I think they re-boxed both the G and AC-119K (IIRC). The early C119 I do not think was ever re-boxed by Testors. Ditto the above. The 1/72nd scale kit is the only way to go for now. IIR didn’t Aurora or Renwall have a scale model of a paratrooper, including an open chute? That would be a neat display.
It’s currently boxed by Italeri and comes with R3350 and R4360 engines, three and four blade props and a Dodge truck. French and USAF decals. It’s a very good kit.
Thanks I will give it a look see