I mostly like civilian planes, but military transport planes are also on my menu. Here’s the Fairchild C-119, a 1950s military transport plane affectionately known as the Flying Boxcar.
This model is 1/144 scale, quite nicely made by Roden. The only failing I have noticed with the Roden models I have built so far is the thin, brittle decals — and in the case of this model, with so many fine black line decals for the wings, it was a nightmare to apply them, and they broke in a few places, hence the slight wonkiness in some lines.
As for the plane itself, it’s no raving beauty, but it’s definitely very likeable and admirable as a good performer in its day.
You can have it redesigned by a model plane maker and escape from the Desert with it like Jimmy Stewart did . You know , it’s funny though , you have built one of my all , time favorite planes , since "Flight of the Phoenix . "
My Granma Looved , da Jimmy Stewart fella ! She insisted I go with her to the Matinee . Have you ever gone to a kids Matinee with your Granma from the old country ? Interesting day that .
I never lived it down with my buds , But they sure loved her Cannolis !
Very nice job . It looks a lot bigger than 1/144 scale due to the capable way you built her.
I have a 1/72 Testor’s/Italieri just being finished that I intend to make into a diorama with it being unloaded. I had the same problems with the decals as well and the 4 color paint scheme was a challenge for sure.
You did an excellent job. It looks great especially in such a small scale. I was thinking about getting that kit. Wasn’t that what Earthquake Mcgoon was flying when he got shot down at Dien Bien Phu? Flying covertly for France.
Thats a great job on the old box car. It brings back memories of my training airborn jumps. Think about it. The airplane was older than we were. We all had a hearty breakfast at O-Dark thirty and got onboard what looked like an old beat up airplane. It lumbered down the runway and shook and shuddered every inch of the way. I was not sure that it would get off of the ground. It finally got airborne and shook and groaned as we climbed. Remember the young guys who just ate a big breakfast, who were facing their first jump. Add the fear and smell of aviation gas to that and the smell became unbearable. I could not wait to get out of that airplane. What was the name of that indian? The last jump from the C-119 was out the back. They removed the clam-shell doors. I’ll jump from a C-130 anytime. The C-119, never again. Currahee! A few years ago I got to jump out of a C-47. That was an interesting experience. The guys I jumped with were WWII and Korea vets. That was an honor. Thanks for the memories.
Note: There is a French version of that airplane. I do not remember whether the US built the French airplane under license, or the French built the US aircraft under license. Anyone? Also the French version is modeled by Heller in 1/72nd scale. Italiari did the US version in a few different models, including the gunship, and it was reboxed by Testors. Also 1/72nd scale.
The Nord Noratlas is a contemporary of the Flying Boxcars older sibling, the C-82 Packet. As I mentioned, that’s a Packet in the Jimmy Stewart movie. Most noticable by the cockpit position above rather than in front of the hold.
The Packet had a pair of 2800s. The Noratlas had a pair of French built Bristol Hercules. Both about 2000hp. Both were designed to replace the C-47, and also for the French the Ju-52.
Israel operated a number of Noratlases from 1956 until after 1967. They were forced on them as a part of various deals to buy jet fighters. Capable airplane.
The C-119 by comparison originally had a pair of the huge R4360s, at 3500hp each. Later that was downsized to R3350s. The Italeri kit comes with both, and props for each.
The afore mentioned James McGovern’s plane can be built from the markings in the Italeri kit. Except for the nose art. It even includes panels of Arctic Red to put on the wings that have “USAF” faintly showing through as if painted over.
I like this 1/144 kit. It looks great and is a more reasonable size. Was it a tail sitter?
I’ve had good results with Roden kits. They are clean builds.
The instructions mention the need for 2oz up front (I think it was 2oz, I’ll check later) but the space for it is tight and awkward given the way the front nose landing gear is positioned. So I used two small weights glued in place up front, and I think they add up to much more than 2oz, and it’s definitely not a tail sitter now!
