1:144 de Havilland Canada L-20 A Beaver in Vietnam War

A kit of the de Havilland Canada L-20A Beaver in 1:144 scale

A model of the single-engine de Havilland Canada Beaver high-wing monoplane in 1:144 scale, in the version that the US Army listed under the designation L-20A. The machine came about in Canada as a universal aircraft for work away from hard surfaces, and it was exactly this quality that made it a sought-after liaison and transport aircraft in the army as well.

The real subject

The Beaver is a strut-braced high-wing monoplane with a radial piston engine, a sturdy landing gear and large doors on the sides of the fuselage. It could manage a short takeoff and landing even on grass and unprepared surfaces, so it found a use on liaison and supply flights, on casualty evacuation and on observation. In American military designation it carried the name L-20A and in the Vietnam War it was among the aircraft that worked from makeshift strips close to the units.

What to expect from 1:144 scale

• The finished model is small, so the cleanness of the seams and the thinness of the walls matter all the more.
• Try the parts dry before gluing; the fits allow no play in this scale.
• Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little from the part and sand the remainder.
• Wash and degrease the parts before painting, so that the paint holds.
• Thin the finish more than usual; a heavy coat would flood the detail in this scale.

Who it is for

For collectors of small scales and for modelers who are putting together a display case of US Army aircraft. The small parts call for tweezers and a steady hand.

Paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.