US Navy and USMC Between The Wars in 1/100

[Don Boose]

Garry’s model is of Curtiss JN-4HT Bureau of Aeronautics Number (BuNo) A-6226 as it appeared when assigned to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola in the mid-1920s. A visually similar Curtiss JN-6H painted to resemble A-6226 is a flying exhibit at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Red Hook, New York.

Curtiss designed two single-engine biplane tractor aircraft, Models J and N, in 1914, then combined the best features of both into Model JN: the famous “Jenny,” which was produced in greater numbers than any other American aircraft during World War I. Curtiss improved the aircraft throughout the war and in 1917 produced the JN-4D (Curtiss Model 1C) powered by a 90 horsepower Curtiss OX-5 engine. In January 1918, Curtiss began producing JN-4D airframes with 150 horsepower Wright-built Hispano-Suiza engines as the JN-4H (Curtiss Model 1E). The dual-controlled trainer version was designated JN-HT, although the full designation was rarely used, and the aircraft was generally referred to as the JN-4H. The U.S. Navy acquired 203 JN-4HTs from the War Department between 1919 and 1923, including BuNo A-6226, which was assigned to NAS Pensacola.

Garry’s model of BuNo A-6226 is in the standard Navy color scheme of the time: all fabric surfaces were painted with Aluminum enamel, the metal parts were painted in light Navy Gray (also called Aircraft Gray), and the upper wing and horizontal tail surfaces were painted with Orange-Yellow enamel. The aircraft number (6226) was painted in large black characters on the side of the fuselage and repeated in 3-inch characters on the vertical stabilizer. “U.S. NAVY” was painted in black on the rear fuselage and “N.A.S. PENSACOLA” in 3-inch letters on the vertical stabilizer below the aircraft number.

The JN-4s and JN-6s served in the Navy as advanced pilot trainers and utility aircraft until 1926, when they were all withdrawn from service.

Images

Image 1 – Curtiss JN-4HT BuNo A-6226 in flight over NAS Pensacola in 1923. The engine cowling has been removed to facilitate cooling the engine. Image source: Elliott, p. 81.

Image 2 – Curtiss JN-6H, Curtiss constructor’s number 3919, civil registration N3918, ex-U.S. Army Air Service serial 38262 painted to resemble U.S. Navy JN-4HT BuNo A-6226 in flight over Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Red Hook, New York, on 8 September 2002. Photo by Dariusz Jezewski, available at: http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001356351.html

Image 3 – Another image of the Old Rhinebeck JN-6H. The aircraft is identifiable as a JN-6H by the ailerons on the lower wings and the strut connecting the ailerons. Photo by John Shupek, available at https://www.skytamer.com/1.2/2004/4114.jpg

Sources:

Joe Baugher, “US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos, First Series (A6002 to 9999),” available at http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/firstseries2.html

Peter M. Bowers, Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1979.

Thomas E. Doll, Berkley R. Jackson, and William A. Riley, Navy Air Colors: United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Camouflage and Markings, Vol. 1 1911-1945, Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal, 1983.

John M. Elliott, The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol. 1, 1911-1939, Boylston, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications, 1987.

Peter Freeman, Wings of the Fleet: US Navy & Marine Corps Aviation 1919-1941, On Target Special, Ardington, Oxfordshire, UK: The Aviation Workshop Publications Ltd., 2010.

E.R. Johnson, United States Naval Aviation 1919-1941: Aircraft, Airships and Ships Between the Wars, Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2011.

William T. Larkins, U.S. Navy Aircraft 1921-1941, Concord, CA: Aviation History Publications, 1961.

Gordon Swanborough and Peter M Bowers, United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911, New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1968.

[Butelczynski]

Great work on rigging,looks right in place.Weathering effects-is this camera and light playing or something intended in model?It looks very cool.

As far as my memory reaches Jenny was one of the first planes I have seen in movies.I can't recall what movie it was but nothing else looks like Jenny and they were very popular in films for a very long time.

[Rata]

Thank you Don. Another excellent and informative write up. And your taste in attire is impeccable sir!

[Rata]

Thanks Karol. These images were captured with my son's new smart phone. Just had the basic settings and this is how they came out so I'll be using it again for sure.

[papermodelfan]

The rigging came out great. I think I have asked before, and am sorry to admit I dont remember the answer. What sort of thread do you use to acheive the taut look without stretching and bending the model? Is it something that is easy to find at a model supply store? Thanks

[Rata]

Thanks for the kind words Rob.
The rigging is actually wire. Specifically heat element or reistance wire. Comes in varying gauges (in this case 32 thou) on a 30 ft reel and can be had for peanuts on ebay. Not as hard as music wire, it's easy to cut and work with. The PVA glue I build with loves it with the only downside it comes off the reel curved and requires each length to be straightened first.

[wireandpaper]

Very impressive Rata!

[PacificWind]

You have a really beautiful "Jenny" there, Garry!
Impressive work, it's a real pleasure to examine all those pictures.
Congrats!

[Vinalssergio155]

Awesome! Great job in every aspect, and the wiring is great! Very well done again Garry and Don.

[Rata]

Thanks for looking in and the positive comments folks.

While I'm certainly happy with this one, I gotta say I prefer solid colour designs as opposed to the 'light shading' effects that some designers produce. I admire the artistic talent required (Prudenziati was a genius at it) but to me it's probably a bit much in the small scale I work in not to mention the merry hell it creates trying to match a myriad of edge painting colours!
Just my 2 cents and probably not even a thing for other builders but please feel free to comment.