Some of you may remember me talking about this a few weeks back. Basically, CAP officially started just six days prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. They flew some very dangerous missions, often times knowing there would be little to no hope of rescue if they went down, for no other reason than their country needed them. By wars end, sixty-five had paid the ultimate sacrifice. I am wanted my Squadron to present a memorial, on behalf of the CAP, hopefully to the U.S.S. Lexington Fine Scale Model Museum in Corpus Christy, Texas. I still have several hoops to go through, but I finally landed on the kit. It resembles both the Cubs and Stinson Voyagers closely… So, I’ll probably wrap up the F/A-18 while I’m working on this. I’ve actually got order a new canopy for the Hornet (oops). But here’s pick one, of what I am sure will be a very interesting work in progress… BTW, Yeah, I could’ve got it cheaper I’m sure, but I’m a firm believer in supporting your local hobby shop when you can. Raymond
I fondly remember the CAP. My dad joined during the war (he was 4-F due to previous injuries). I was too young to join as a Cadet, so I became sort of the squadron mascot. They had a variety of lightplanes until in 1945 the AAF declared a lot of PT-17s surplus and the squadron got one. I flew with Dad a lot in that thing. I have already done the new Revell kit as AAF trainer, will do another as CAP plane.
I’m actually probably going with the yellow scheme. I’m still doing some research, and would like to do a plane that actually went down if possible. I’ve reached out to the Texas Wing historian to see if Base 10 lost any pilots, if so, what in. If possible I’d like to do a plane from their simply because of the Texas connection. Base 10 was out of Beaumont Texas, my Squadron and the Lady Lex are in Texas.
Don, that’s exactly why Gill Robb Wilson formed the CAP. After going to Germany in the late 30s to witness Germany’s glider program first hand, he “saw the writing on the wall.” He knew that he and many others would be to old, or for some other reason unable to go to war (4F), but would still want to help. So, he began slowly putting together the beginnings of what would become the Civil Air Patrol. It was officially formed on 01 Dec. 1941 under the Office of Civil Defense… Six days before the attack on Pearl Harbor!
People like your father, Don, are heroes to those of us in Civil Air Patrol today. They raised the bar high… By the way! Did you know, that the members of the Civil Air Patrol who served during World War Two were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal last December? I will see if I can send you the official write up.
Here’s a couple of period pictures of CAP planes. Both are Stinson Voyagers, I believe. The black trim is actually a dark blue. BTW, look under the aircraft in flight. Yes, she is armed for bear…
Again, I’ll be going with the yellow with blue trim, most likely. Actual model pictures coming soon. I’m working on the pilot and observer now, along with the sparse office of the J-3. I am going to have to do some retro fitting to bring the kit back to a cub, but it looks like it’s the best I’m going to be able to do. Raymond
I will send you some pix of the J-3/L-4’s cowl and engin, I need to go inspect one today :-). It was totally different to the PA-18.
The J-3 also did not have the flight counter weights on the elevator’s, the rudder’s trailing edge was also straight rather than curved, no flaps.
The “monkey bars” just infront of the pilot’s face on the J-3 go from the bottom of the instrument pannel’s side to the centre of the top carry through spar. On the PA-18 they go from the centre of the pannel’s glare shield to the front wing root attatch points.
Just for interest sake, cha\eck the kit’s dihedral angle…from some of the reviews it seem it is to steep. You should have an angle of about 1-1.5 degs per wing.
Shoot yes! Any pics you can give me would be helpful! Especially of the engine/cowling area. And a look at the framing (monkey bars) would be helpful as well. As far as the dihedral angle, at 1:48, things are so small on this bird I don’t know that anyone, but the most critical, would notice it. Like I said, I’m finding I’m really limited with what I’ve got to work with unless I want to do a scratch build. I’m not sure I trust my skills on a project of this magnitude to do that. Though, I thought about chopping this Super cub up and using it for parts! Raymond
