Sword 1/72 Stinson L-5 Sentinel

SWORD 1:72 STINSON L-5 SENTINEL
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Carlos Giani (rec.models.scale)

Kit: Sword 1/72^nd scale Stinson L-5 Sentinel (Kit N° 72004). Produced in the Czech Republic

Aircraft: In 1939, Stinson introduced themselves in the market for light airplanes with their „Model 105“ which, looking like a scaled-down version of the Stinson Junior, was a three-crew monoplane with elevated and strutted main wing, using a 75-80 HP Continental 4-cyl engine. Being very successful (530 were built), it was developed into the „Model 10 Voyager“, which differed from the former having better inner equipment and a 90 HP Franklin 4AC-199-E3 motor. Some 750 were built, and six of them, newly powered with a 80-HP Continental engine, were delivered to the USAF for evaluation.

The good test results concluded to the order of 275 Stinson O-62, this being a bit larger and heavier than the „Model 10“, and powered with a Lycoming O-435-1. A further 1456 planes were ordered, and both batches were redesignated as L-5 Sentinel. Later 688 of them were converted to L-5A (revised electrical system), and new deliveries comprised 679 L-5B (reinforced rear fuselage section to accommodate a stretcher), 200 L-5C (photographic reconnaissance) and 558 L-5E (redesignated ailerons for better STOL performance); the designation L-5D was not used. The last major version was the L-5G (115 units), which had a 190 HP engine.

306 units were transferred to the US Marine Corps and a further 152 to the US Navy, all being designated OY-1. Some 100 units of L-5 and L-5B were transferred to the RAF. The career of the L-5 did not finish with the end of WW2, rather being used by the USAF in Korea and by the RAF in Birmania. Some USAF units served till the mid-sixties. The L-5 was an outstanding plane for light reconnaissance and liaison missions.

Parts: The kit's box is of end-opening type, being sturdy enough for its size (nearly the same as similar MPM and Azur offerings). In one plastic bag you get a sprue containing 39 plastic parts in medium grey, one sprue with 4 transparencies and a little decal sheet. There are no resin or PE parts. The styrene parts are crisply molded, having a few finely engraved panel lines (remember that this plane was mostly fabric-covered) and presenting very little flash; there are just the usual short-run gates to deal with. The clear parts comprises of different canopies split vertically, which is necessary considering that the glazing widens at the top (like it is the case with the Stinson Vigilant). Strangely, the clear parts are a bit milky, which I hope will be corrected using Klear. With the exception of the wings, there are no location pins.

For the cockpit you get a floor with molded-on pedals, two seats which include molded-on belts, one control stick and three parts for the heavy framing, which is a very nice inclusion since you will see a lot through the canopy (there was no central wing section, this being glazed). This assembly, together with an instrument panel with engraved dials, is trapped between the two fuselage halves, themselves showing some inner framing. There are two different pairs of fuselage halves to be used, according to the version built, the same with the canopy.

Each wing half is one-piece, and they find their way to the canopy via two short locating pins each; a „V“-strut on each side gives the wing the required sturdiness. The elevators are butt joined, and so does the vertical fin. The landing gear consists of one leg / wheel each side, without additional struts. One part provides the engine's front, and there are two air intakes and two exhaust pipes to be placed under the engine's compartment. The propeller, the tail wheel and a pitot tube are the last parts to be glued.

Instructions: They consist of one longish piece of paper (aprox. 36cm x 15cm) folded twice, printed on both sides. The front side brings a brief history in English and Czech, and two 4-view coloring / decalling diagrams for the two versions which can be built. The rear side shows the construction in six easy-to-follow steps, with the usual unclear positioning of some components. The parts are not numbered, neither in the sprue nor in the instructions, but the drawings are clear enough to identify the right individual items. Painting detail is rather poor, and the camouflage colors are just given generic names, although the intermediate modeler should have no more trouble than usual to identify „Olive Drab“ or „Neutral Grey“. Given the common discussion about these topic, it's maybe better that sword suggests nothing J .

Versions: Upper color is Olive Drab (I remember HU2 was a very dark color, so that my preference would be H66), lower color is Neutral Grey 43 (I still have some HU3, and it matches well to H176, unfortunately discontinued). The L-5 version has invasion stripes, but only on the wing's lower surface.

OY-1 Sentinel (sub- contracted to Consolidated) S/n 40-2757 „Lady Satan“; VMO-4 & 5; served on Iwo Jima
L-5 Sentinel S/n 42-98989; 8-R of the 153rd Liaison Squadron; Normandy 1944

Decals: Very basic, printed by Propagteam.

Detail: This is a little, basic plane and, considering that, the detail level is very acceptable.

Options: Apart from the two versions that can be built, there are no options; the propeller can't rotate.

Impressions: I've not built a model from Sword yet, but this kit looks trouble-free and should work out into a nice replica. Again, thanks to those intrepid Czech guys, we at last get an always-neglected important type covered.

Recommendations: Recommended to everybody but the real beginner, due to lack of locating pins. Maybe a good first short-run attempt.

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