This year saw Special Hobby release a new-tool kit of the Piper L-4 - the military version of the civilian Cub. Introduced in WWII, well over 5,000 Piper "Grasshoppers" were built, serving in numerous roles, including liaison, artillery spotting aircraft, light transport and medical evacuation. The end of the war didn't see the invaluable little L-4 retire, and it returned to front-line service in the same roles for the Korean conflict. 

Special Hobby's kit arrives in an attractive and very sturdy top-opening box, with the main parts and accesories bagged separately for protection. The model comprises:

68 x grey styrene parts (plus 11 unused)

6 x clear styrene parts

18 x etched brass parts

1 x printed clear film

1 x 3D-printed part

Decals for 4 x aircraft

Special Hobby have used their latest mainstream production techniques so the detail is nice and crisp throughout and there should be minimal clean-up necessary beyond light seam lines. There's no sign of any sinkage in the sample kit and ejection pins look to have been kept out of sight for the most part, although there's one up front on each side of the cockpit that it might be worth checking when you dry fit the interior parts. I also found some inside the wings that need quickly shaving down for a snug fit.

The exterior finish is smooth, with the fabric surfaces of the original aircraft depicted realistically taught. Engraved lines are obviously few and far between on a model of an aircraft like the L-4, but they are neatly done, as are the raised details that dot the airframe. Interior details are sharply defined as you expect with a CAD produced model.

Test Fit

A full dry-assembly of the airframe is clearly impractical on a high-wing light aircraft like this, but I did test-fits of the fuselage and wing halves and everything fits together beautifully. The tail planes also slot in tightly, so assembly promises to be very straightforward.

A Few Details

Things kick off with a nicely detailed cockpit. A very welcome touch is the inclusion of a photoetched instrument panel and seatbelts - especially as Special Hobby were early pioneers of including etched details in their kits. The panel is handled in their classic "old school" way, with an etched fascia laid over a choice of a printed clear film or a decal that promises to give an excellent effect. The full-sized L-4's "office" is fairly spartan, so the fact that you're looking at around 35 parts in the kit indicates that it should look very good when completed.

Up front there's a neatly handled 12-part Continental engine, complete with a 3D-printed carburettor. Included in the instructions are renders of a super detailed aftermarket alternative which will look stunning for a vignette or diorama of a servicing scene, but the standard kit version certainly isn't shabby either. The propeller looks good, with a convincing blade profile.

It's worth spending a few minutes studying the instructions and getting to understand how Special Hobby have handled attaching the wings. An internal framework and spar dovetail in with the clear "greenhouse" canopy and should provide a firm basis for the wing panels. The instructions show the wings assembled around the spar, but I'm tempted to see if it's possible to complete them first and then slot them on. If you do that, it will be vital to protect the rather delicate spar until you're ready to attach the wings. Alternatively, you could try building a complete wings+spar sub-assembly, but I think that's asking for the spar to break unless you're really careful.

Turning back to the "greenhouse" canopy, this is really impressive. The transparent parts are exceptionally good - crystal clear and with crisply defined frames. Special Hobby have produced an aftermarket set of washi tape masks for the kit, and these will be a big time-saver but, however you tackle painting the canopy frames, the quality of the clear parts means that time spent working on the cockpit will be well spent - it'll all be on show in the finished model, especially as the kit's designed to allow the entry door to be posed open.

The tailwheel strut is moulded integrally, but with a separate wheel and fork, so there's the option to pose it offset. The main gear should be suitably sturdy when completed and the neatly detailed wheels have the maker's name on the hubs. The tyres are moulded unweighted, so I'll file flats to get a realistic "sit".

Instructions & Decals

Special Hobby have provided a high quality set of instructions in the form of a 16-page A4 booklet, plus an extra addendum sheet. The diagrams are clear and the construction sequence is logical. Experienced modellers will almost always eschew manufacturer's' suggested sequences - but Special Hobby give a useful start.

Colour matches are given for Gunze Sangyo paints.

Special Hobby offer four colour schemes - with an addendum for Scheme A, adding a US Army underwing marking in Insignia Blue:

A. Piper L-4A-P, s/n 42-36389 "Elizabeth", North Africa, Autumn 1942

B. Piper L-4B, s/n FA3671 (43-671), Italy, December 1943

C. Piper L-4H, s/n 43-29635, August 1944

D. Piper L-4H, s/n 43-29488, Kotovice, May 1945

The decals look to be very good quality. Special Hobby have depicted a pronounced diffence between fresh and faded Insignia Blue where markings were overpainted in the chosen schemes. In common with recent Special Hobby and Eduard decals, they are glossy and very thin. Using decals from the same source recently, I've found a little extra care is needed when applying them to avoid them turning over on themselves. Once in place, though, the decals settle in very nicely and respond well to the usual decal solutions.

Conclusion

Special Hobby's L-4 "Grasshopper" is a little gem of a kit that gives a classic aircraft a thoroughly deserved turn in the limelight. It's got enough detail to satisfy experienced builders, while staying accessible for those with fewer hours under their belt - and the inclusion of etched extras is pitched just right to encourage newcomers to the medium.

I'll admit a bias up front in my opinion of this kit, because I'm totally charmed by it! It's going to be my Xmas '22 build project. 

Item #SH48218 is available now from Special Hobby - Price: 23.70 Euros

Many thanks to Special Hobby for the review sample.

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