1:72 L-17A NAVION

A civil four-seater in uniform

The Navion was designed by the North American company shortly after the Second World War as a comfortable all-metal aircraft for private owners. A low-set wing, retractable landing gear and a glazed cockpit with four seats made an automobile of the air of it, only the postwar market for private aircraft was nowhere near as large as had been expected. In the end it found its customer with the army, which introduced the type under the designation L-17 for liaison flights, artillery spotting and carrying officers. In Korea these machines flew over the front, where good visibility from the cockpit counted for more than speed. Production was later taken over by the Ryan company.

What the set is for

It is precisely that glazed cockpit that causes the most trouble when the model is built. It takes up a large part of the upper surface of the fuselage and the frames around it are narrow. The set brings thin self-adhesive film die-cut to the shape of the individual fields according to the Valom kit in 1:72 scale.

Advice on applying

After washing, leave the clear parts to dry freely, as wiping them with a cloth leaves fibers on them. Take hold of the mask by its edge, lay it on and align it to the frame, and only then press it down along its whole length. Apply the paint in two goes, letting it set between coats. Once the film has been taken off, clean glass is left under it with no edges bled into.

A note on the contents

The set is an accessory to a model. There are no plastic or clear parts in it, nor paints or thinner. It suits anyone building postwar American light equipment who wants the glazing finished quickly.