Lack of military Liaison aircrft kits

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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Here is my two cents on another area of “Lack of Kits”

There were 5 US Light A/C of the WWII era, two of which did the majority missions,but I think all 5 should have thier day in the sun .

My squadron was formed in Febuary 1943 ,We originaly had FM-3 Wildcats,but the Navy took them away form us so they could be put on the 1st CVE carrier being deployed from the West Coast.

As fate would have it my squadron was then give Stinson L-5 Sentinels, We were a VMO squadron VMO-5.The squadron went from Camp Kerney ( Todays Miramar) to Ewa,Hawaii for work up and training. My squadron took part in the following WWII battels,Pelilue,Saipan,Guam,Iwo Jima,and Okinawa. We also took part in the occupation of China 1945-1947.

There have been a few small model companies who have made the L birds mostly in 1/72.Sword made a 1/72 of the L-5 but it is out of production.( I have a few stashed)

There have been a few L-4 Grasshopper (Piper Cup) in 1/48 put they are more of the Piper with OD paint.

A model company need to step up to the plate and make the L birds in detailed 1/48.I believe there wpuld be a demand for them.You could also do a lot of "War Surplus"modeling.

I have a 1/48 L-19 Bird dog that I am making in to a War Surplus US Dept. of Forresty float twin equipped A/C.

That is my two cents.

Stinson L-19 (0-49) Vigilant

Aeronca L-3 (0-58) Grasshopper

Piper L-4 (0-59) Grasshopper

Stinson L-5 (062) Sentinel

And the aircraft that was so UGLY it is beautiful…

Douglas O-46A Owl.

This A/C was used in USa only never went to combat.

There is a Pavala 1/72 kit.

I have seen a USAFF O-46 “restored” in a museum hanger near Chino,Ca. It is in Lousina War Games paint . OD over light grey. It was /is a big A/C.

Who out there wants to see 1/48 L-Birds detailed modern kits?

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Hi Ferg>//////////// I agree with you 100% the L birds have been put off for a long time. I am a scratchbuilder and will soon be making a Douglas O-46 , will put up some photos as I go along.

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Hey Ferg,

Liaison planes are a particular intrest to me. I wrote on article on the 72nd Liaison Squadron that was published in America in WWII magazine last December. They flew L-5s too.

Frankly, I’d be happy with really good 1/72 scale versions of these planes – with the kind of detail that Roden is putting into their 1/72 scale WWI planes. They have good engines and great cockpits.

Regards,

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I’d also like to see some good kits of Warbugs in 48th… especially the L-4 and L-5. But I’d really go for a Taylorcraft L-2, as that was the aircraft in which I had my first flight.

Another observation type which isn’t exactly a Warbug or an L-Bird but which I’m anxious to see in 48th is the Curtiss O-52 Owl. But then that’s a totally biased want on my part…

Fade to Black…