ILIAD’S NEW L-4 GRASSHOPPER MARKINGS

Obviously prompted by Special Hobby releasing its new-tool 1/48 L-4 observation aircraft, Iliad now offers markings for six different airframes.

ILIAD’S NEW L-4 GRASSHOPPER MARKINGS

If you enjoy building models of observation aircraft, or simply want to tackle something different, Special Hobby’s new L-4 is a superb kit. However, it’s always good to have more choice in terms of colour schemes. And this is where Iliad Design comes in, with its new collection of markings for the L-4.

Not just 'Yanks'

Sheet 48041 provides superbly printed decals for six World War Two airframes, all but two being operated by the US. One of the American machines is in overall painted aluminium, but the rest are camouflaged – the Californian-based training example having an interesting non-standard two-tone pattern. The first aircraft shown on the instructions is absolutely fascinating, for the fact that it was involved in an air-to-air battle with a German Fieseler Storch, with the US crew using its sidearms at close range! The options are:

•    L-4H, 329905/54-J MISS ME!?, Lt Merritt Francies and Lt William Martin, Germany, April 11, 1945
•    L-4, 33658/P Humphries’ Flying Weasel, Maj John Humphries, maintenance officer, 546th Bombardment Squadron, 384th Bombardment Group, USAAF, Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, UK, 1944
•    L-4, 31358/5, Camp Clipper desert training facility, California, USA, 1943
•    L-4, ‘3’, Free French Forces
•    L-4H, 329928/72-A, 32e Section d’Observation d’Aviation d’Artillerie, French 2nd Armored Division
•    29669/NE-2, US Navy, 1944-45

ILIAD’S NEW L-4 GRASSHOPPER MARKINGS

Colour profile and plan/underside views are provided on the instructions, as well as advice on which propeller was fitted to each airframe (wooden or metal). The decals themselves are admirably thin, glossy and have good colour density. This sheet costs $14 and is available direct from Iliad Design.

Read a review of Special Hobby’s L-4