1:144 Piper L-4 ‚Služba v USAAF a USAF‘

The real subject

The Piper L-4 was a military light high-wing monoplane derived from the civil Cub. Two men sat one behind the other in a glazed cabin, the frame was of tube with fabric covering, and a piston engine was enough for a takeoff from a short meadow. It was precisely this undemanding nature that made it a useful machine: it directed artillery fire, kept communications going, carried mail and the wounded from strips that a larger aircraft could not have landed on. It flew in American service during the Second World War and lasted in auxiliary roles after it as well.

The model in 1:144 scale

The model belongs among plastic aircraft models in 1:144 scale. The finished machine has a span of around seven and a half centimeters, so it takes up only a corner of a shelf and suits a collection where machines of incomparable sizes stand side by side. The release is devoted to aircraft in American service; the choice of color schemes and the list of parts are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

At this scale it is the cleanliness of the work that decides: sand the joints away to nothing, because on a small model every unevenness shows. The glazed cabin takes up a large part of the fuselage, so it pays to polish it and tape a mask over it before spraying. The struts and the landing gear legs are thin; separate them with a sharp blade and fit them only after the fuselage has been painted. Fabric covering looks better under a matte clear coat than under gloss, while a glossy surface will bring out small unevenness instead.

• The Piper L-4 light liaison aircraft in 1:144 scale
• A span of the finished model of around seven and a half centimeters
• The real subject derived from the civil Piper Cub
• A release aimed at machines in American service
• Mask the cabin before spraying and fit the landing gear last

Who it is for

For collectors in a small scale and for modelers who enjoy the machines of auxiliary aviation alongside combat types. The kit is supplied unassembled; paints, glue and further accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.