Piper L-4 Stencilling

Mon May 18, 2009 11:05 am

Hi,

Need help - am researching a colour scheme of a Normandy 1944 Piper L-4 for a friend who is currently re-painting an L-4.

Need more information on detailed stencilling applied to the airframes such as "No Step" etc.

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks

Jason

Mon May 18, 2009 11:39 am

per my book on L-birds, "on all L-4 variants external stencil markings were in Insignia Blue #47, in accordance with Piper Drawing No. 24256." Exception given to the red dashed outline around the fuel filler cap which was Bright Red ANA 619.

Mon May 18, 2009 12:22 pm

L2Driver,

Thanks for the info.

Any ideas what the stencils were and where on the airframe they were applied?

Any help much appreciated.

Cheers

J

Mon May 18, 2009 1:22 pm

Do you have the blueprints for the L-4? I know in the L-5 blueprints it gives all stencils and location for all variants... Otherwise some detective work is in order... examine wartime photos or photos of reputable restorations.

Mon May 18, 2009 5:05 pm

me109me109

Thanks - blueprints are available from the cub club - am trying to get hold of them as we speak.

Cheers

J

Mon May 18, 2009 11:01 pm

Which book is this of which you speak? Also, any details on how to get hold of the blueprints (webpage/address or other contact?)

Thanks!

Paul

Mon May 18, 2009 11:17 pm

If your asking about the L-5 blueprints I believe you can get a copy from the SOPA at sentinelclub.org

Tue May 19, 2009 1:55 am

pstrany

If its the L-4 then blueprints seem to be available at https://www.cub-club.com/blueprint/Blueprintlist.5.doc

Cheers

J

Tue May 19, 2009 4:59 pm

The book is entitled, "Lightplanes at War, US Liaison Aircraft in Europe, 1942-47" by Ken Wakefield (ISBN: 0752417274)

Can't help you with blue prints -- I have an L-2. If you can find the referenced Piper drawing, or ideally, the drawing index, you shoul dbe able to find the factory drawing stipulating stencils.

I can look for the L-2 equivalent but I think they were placed differently. USAAF stipulated content but I think the factories had a lot of leeway with placement.

From the link jason51d posted, it looks like the following would be good places to start
84123 Camouflage details 24" x 18" $6.00
84909 Insignias/details 24" x 18" $6.00
85563 L4A/complete airplane 24" x 18" $6.00

Wed May 20, 2009 9:25 pm

L2Driver wrote:The book is entitled, "Lightplanes at War, US Liaison Aircraft in Europe, 1942-47" by Ken Wakefield (ISBN: 0752417274)

I've got that book as well. Ken is a member over on my message board.

Ryan

Fri May 22, 2009 9:23 pm

Yup, have that one, great book! Those plans are a bit pricey, guess I'll be dropping a C-note, hope they are worth it.....

Paul