Need a Piper--J Please

Plans good enough? or do you want a kit?

I built a 1/48 scale one quite a few years ago I think it was by esci or ertl but i am not sure. I belive that Hobbycraft do this kit now. Hope this helps....Gregers

As a last choice a plan would have to do .I would rather have a plastic kit,then
add all the good stuff.I have a balsa J-3 by Dumas.It has the right shape ,but it
is a lot to get right.
I also have the Minicraft 1/48 super cub but it is to small. Good for Piper warm-
up,and paint scheme practice. Thanks a lot for your in-put.For such a famous
airplane it should be in a kit somewhere.
Thanks and The Best
Davey5

I believe the military version was the L3 "Grasshopper" and the L4 was the Tri-Pacer.

I've just finished (yesterday!) my L-3 Cub in 1/48 - Hobbycraft. There is another Piper - L-4 in 1/50 made by Smer (Czech). They are looking nice standing aside. But they also needed a lot of extra work to make them looking good ! ;o)) Aleksander

To the best of my knowledge, The L-4 was based on the J3 Cub. The L-5 was, of course, based on the Stinson Reliant; the L-16 was a military version of the old Aeronca "Champ," and the L-19 was the familiar all-metal O-1 "Bird Dog."

Sorry, no 1:32-scale kits of these that I am aware of. ANY of these would be a great subject for a new kit, my favorite being the O-1.

That J3 wouldn't be hard to do, with a decent set of plans. Build up the wing structure just like one of those old flying models, and cover it. Hmmm... sounds like a great idea... one MORE project I'll never finish, right?

FITTER

QUOTE: Originally posted by FITTER To the best of my knowledge, The L-4 was based on the J3 Cub. The L-5 was, of course, based on the Stinson Reliant; the L-16 was a military version of the old Aeronca "Champ," and the L-19 was the familiar all-metal O-1 "Bird Dog."

Just an add-on to Fitter's note. Companions to Piper's L4 were the Taylorcraft L2 and Aeronca L3. Also, the Stinson L5 was developed from the model 105 "Voyager".

Would love to see a 1/32nd scale plastic ( or resin ) kit of the Cub !

Jim

Wow was I off! That's what I get for responding without my referances handy!

QUOTE: Originally posted by claymore68 Wow was I off! That's what I get for responding without my referances handy!

Derek:

Don't feel bad ! The funny shape of my mouth is the result of it being occupied by my foot way too many times !
My quote at the bottom is based on personal experience !

If someone does do a 1/32nd Cub, hope the kit is done so that it can be modified into a clipped-wing aerobatic plane. So many of the well-known aerobatic pilots got their start in clipped-wing Cubs.

Jim

Notice that there is a real lack of civil/general avation type stuff? While I am a "car guy" (psst. don't tell anyone I'm on this forum) I would love to build a 1/32 Cub, Mooney M21, Cessna 310 or some other a/c that I can model off something at the local airfield.

I do not understand the lack of these types of kits. I understand that they may not be as popular as an F15 or a P51 but most everybody knows someone with a Taylorcraft or 150 that would love a replica of their airplane. Other than the old Monogram Tri-Pacer there has not to my limited knowledge a decent light aircraft kit done. Imagine a Tamiya Skymaster or a Hasegawa Twin Commander.....

Rick

Rick:

I am basically a WW2 airplane guy, but have posted at the car forum ( you know what my favorite car is ! ). If it is OK for me to cross over, it is certainly OK for you to do the same.

If you want to see some 1/32nd models of some niffty "civy" aircraft, go here:

http://www.airshowmodels.com/

Jim

An aerocoupe would be nice.

QUOTE: Originally posted by claymore68 An aerocoupe would be nice.

Derek:

You mentioning the Ercoupe awakened some memories. Back in the 50's Lingberg did some civilian airplanes in I believe 1/48th scale. They were "basic" to say the least. Windows and canopies were molded as part of the fuselage, so you had to paint them to "simulate" glass. You ended up with something that was like a wood desk model. The ones I remember are the Ercoupe, Stinson 108, Beech Bonanza, Mooney Mite, and Republic Seabee. They also did the MIdget Mustang and Swee Pea midget racers. Maybe they even did a Cub - can't remember for sure.

Jim

I did a Beechcraft Bonanza (V-35?) and a Cessna (180?) when I was young. Both looked pretty good for a kid.

Useless trivia: The Bonanza and T-34 Mentor (of Lima-Lima fame) share main wing spars.

Hobbycraft makes a J-3 and (I think) an L-4 version.

This is mine, painted up as my Dad's aerial photo mount from around 1961:
http://members.fortunecity.com/jpayne/cub.jpg

John:

Very nice ! Unusual to see a J3 in anything other than Cub yellow !

Jim

The Bonanza and mentor share a lot more than just wing spars . I'm currently trying to plan out a 1/48 scale T-34A involving some kitbashing and scratchbuilding. But thats another story.

Darren

John:
Very nice.

Darren:
A few years ago all T-34s were grounded by the FAA for a rash of broken wing spars. I remember the shared part because I wondered if it would be extended to cover Bonanzas. Where I learned that they shared the spar I have no idea.

Hi DAVEYS Gregers again i had a talk with a mate of mine who owns a model store ( very handy and i get discount) he thinks the only way that you will get a cub in anywhere near 1/32 scale is to go the balsa and tissue route i should have thought of this because thats how i got a decent sized chipmunk. on the Bonanza spar issue i worked on a bonanza at bagby airfield and the engineer reported it to the CAA due to heavy corrosion on the spar and rear fuselage. I had to drill a small hole on the underside so the water would drain out, no fun with an electric drill i can tell you and boy did i move quick when the water started coming out.....Gregers

More T-34 info,

I believe there was one T-34 a couple of years back that broke up in flight due to the spar issue. We have 3 T-34's that are maintained at my shop, 2 "A's" and a "B" model. One has been away for a month or so getting the spar replaced. One is on jacks in the hangar today getting an Eddy Current Inspection on the spar and bath tub fittings. It's scheduled to have the spar replaced later this year, but requires this inspection in order to continue flying in a restricted configuration. The third one has already been replaced. There is only one place in this country that does this modification, so the waiting list runs about a year behind .

The Bonanza's also suffer from spar problems, but not so drastic as to require spar replacement. Your are allowed to have some cracks in the spar, as long as they stay below a certain dimension, and are not located in specific areas. Beechcraft makes a reinforcement kit that fixes the problem. It only takes 40+ hours per side to install . At $69/hr shop rate, the bill gets expensive really quick.

Enough of that though. I think there is another forum somewhere for shop talk...sorry. As my wife would say..."At least you don't have to live with it". Apparently I have a tendency to work aviation maintenance in to many conversations .

Darren

I'm building a Hobbycraft Piper L4 Grasshopper (military version) - kit No.HC-1580.

Try Ebay for one.

HTH