Piper L-4J Cub

History

The Piper L4 Cub basically originates from the Taylor E3 Taylor, which was built by Taylor Aircraft in 1930. W.T. Piper was the main investor in the Taylor factory and became the owner after the bankruptcy of Taylor Aircraft.
In 1936 the design was significantly modified by W. Jamouneau, creating a new type, which was designated as Piper J-2. Between 1936 and 1938 1200 examples were produced.

In 1938, the factory was burned to the ground entirely and a new one was built in Lock Haven. There Taylor Aircraft started building the J-3, an improved version of the J-2.
The J-3 could be fitted with different engines, the J=3C for example had a Continental A engine.

With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, a initially civilian training program was set up in the USA, where the Piper J-3 was used. Between 1939 and 1940, then were more than 3000 Piper J-3s built.
In 1941 a military version was released, called Piper O-59, in 1942 changed to L-4 and NE (US Navy designation). This hardly differed from the original civilian J-3.

The L-4 Grasshopper had a canopy with more glass panes in order to improve visibility.
Over 5400 examples were built, including 250 NE-1 and NE-2 for the US Navy.
All L-4 versions had a tandem cockpit and were, like the Taylor Craft L2 and Aeronca L-3 referred to as Grasshopper.
During the war the L-4 was used for a variety of tasks such as reconnaissance, light transport, artillery reconnaissance and also for medical transport (medevac)
After the war, many aircraft were sold as surplus, but many were still used in military service.

Versions.

After the Second World War, the former Dutch East Indies were (temporarily) governed by the British government.

Just in December 1945 put the first Dutch troops entered officially Dutch-Indian soil.

In the course of the year was a need for a liaison and also to support the KNIL (NEi Army) and 17 squadron was established.

At that time, four ex Japanese biplanes, obtained from the RAF, were used for reconnaissance purposes.

The first three Piper Cubs were purchased in September 1945 by F/O Captain Schoof for use as a sports aircraft for freed KNIL soldiers who stayed in a camp in Manila in the Philippines. The new aircraft were declared surplus and were obtained from a dump. The devices kept their American serials.

In early November 1945, the aircraft plus a fourth example were shipped to Balikpapan on Borneo with the intention to be further forwarded to Tjililitan Java, to support the 1st Infantry Battalion of the KNIL. However, the British wanted still not authorize the transfer of (military) equipment to West Java.

In late November, the four Japanese biplanes were obtained from the RAF to carry out explorations.

So the Pipers remained in storage. In December 1945, the infantry battalions II and IV and a battalion of marines were disembarked in Batavia. The four Pipers were intended to support this group.

Early March 1946 the brigade arrived to occupy Bali and Lombok. They took two temporarily registered as PC-3 and PC-4 Pipers with them. These were taken over from the detachment of 17 VARWA squadron which had received them late August 1946. The other two Pipers, temporarily registered as PC-1 and PC-2 were sent to Batavia to replace the Japanese aircraft based at Tjililitan. These aircraft arrived there in February 1946 and were for the Base Operations and late August they were used by the A patrol of 17 VARWA squadron.

On July 20, 1946 the official registration of the aircraft became PC0-1 to PC0-4, according to the (pre-war) registration system of the ML-KNIL. PC meant Piper Cub and 0 for unarmed training aircraft.

On August 16 it was changed in PC0-001 to PC0-004 and in late August again in PC4-001 to PC4-004 where 4 was military aid plane (army co-operation).

In May 1946 the BPM bought a five Piper Cubs, but initially had no pilots and maintenance technicians available. The Pipers were therefore loan to the NEIAF from late July 1946 until the end of December.

Piper L-4 Cub, PH-UCS, as R345, photographed at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, July 1994 at air base Leeuwarden.

These aircraft PK-SAA to PK-SAE received no ML-registration, but just the last letter of the civil registration (small) on the tip of the tail. Four aircraft went to the A-patrol and the fifth went to the detachment on Andir

The four devices on Tjililitan went in September 1946 on the VOS (Pre-training school), This took care for the selection of trainee pilots for ML-KNIl (NEIAF) from September 26, 1946 and on.

December 31, a new loan agreement for one year was agreed. In April 1947 it was agreed that the ML-KNIL (NEIAF) would take over the aircraft at the end of the loan period and would deliver five new aircraft to the BPM.

In July 1947, the five (former) BPM Pipers recieved the registrations R-329 to R-333.

In June 1946, 24 new aircraft were acquired from the US in Leyte, Philippines, including 30 radios, and initial stock parts. These arrived on 24 August in Surabaya, where four planes were unloaded, the remaining aircraft were sent to Batavia.

In April 1947 another 46 US aircraft were obtained, including five aircraft for BPM. These arrived on June 7, 1947 in Batavia. The most aircraft were transferred to Tjililitan. These Pipers were registered as R-335 to R-380.

1/72nd Scale

Kits

• Kovozávody Prostejov
  • Kit 3146: Piper L4H Cub (wheels)
  • Kit 3147: Piper L4H with Floats
  • Kit 20.031: Piper L4H Cub (Wheels)
  • Kit M7240: Piper L4A/B Cub (USAAF) [new mould by AZ Model]
  • Kit M7243: Piper L4H/J Cub (French AF, RAAF, AURI, ML-KNIL) [new mould by AZ Model]
• Mastercraft
  • Kit 3146: Same kit as KP: Piper L4H Cub (Wheels version)

Modelling add-on

• Kovozávody Prostejov
  • Set EX006: Piper L4/K68 Cub Mask for Canopy and wheels (KP)
• Peewit
  • Set M72021: Piper L-4 Canopy masking (Kovozávody Prostejov)

Decals

• Dutch Decal
  • Set 72022: A decal set for several aircraft such as Piper L-4 Cub: R-371/R-345.
  • Set 72067: Decals aircraft such as Fokker C.X; Lockheed Loestar; C-47 Dakota; Piper L4J; North American B-25 C, B-25J en B-25G Mitchell; Mitsubishi Ki-57 Topsy; Beech At-11 Kansan

1/48th Scale

Kits

• --
  • Kit --: --

Modelling add-on

• --
  • Set -: -

Decals

• Dutch Decal
  • Set 72022: A decal set for several aircraft such as Piper L-4 Cub: R-371/R-345.

 .

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

Scheme 1: Piper L-4 Cub.
The first scheme, overall (weathered) olive drab and neutral grey undersides with white rudder and, in red the aircraft number. Applied on e.g. PC-003 and PC-004.

Scheme 2: Piper L-4 Cub.
The second scheme, overall (weathered) olive drab and neutral grey undersides with flag with white border as national markings; serials on the vertical tail. Most aircraft had medium green spots on wings and tail (just like the US aircraft).

Scheme 3: Piper L-4 Cub.
The third scheme, overall (weathered) olive drab and neutral grey undersides with flag with white border as national markings; new serials on the vertical tail. Most aircraft had medium green spots on wings and tail (just like the US aircraft).

Scheme 4: Piper L-4 Cub.
The fourth scheme, overall olive drab and neutral grey undersides with Dutch roundel as national markings and serial in white on the fuselage. (The aircraft seem to be overhauled and completely repainted, obivous no green spots were re-applied.)

Scheme 5: Piper L-4 Cub.
This scheme, which is identical to the previous paint scheme 4. Note the white wing tips, applied on aircraft of 17 VARWA, so it could be recognized easily by the Dutch fighter pilots

Literature.

Websites.

• AeroWeb: Piper L-4J
• FantasyOfFlight.com: Piper L-4J
• aahs-online.org: Piper L-4J
• PiperCubFormu.org
• Piper L-4J
• CentennialOfFlight: Piper L-4J
• Wikipedia UK: Piper L-4J
• Wikipedia DE: Piper L-4J
• Cub-Club.com
• Airliners.net: Piper L-4J
• Piper J-3

Special thanks to M.T.A. Schep for the information which helped me a lot to produce and correct my initial colour schemes.