This plane is one of the lesser known aircraft flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force.  

Fairchild CC-119 Flying Boxcar - DND Photo

The RCAF took delivery of its first Fairchild C-119 "Packet" in 1952. The C-119, more commonly known as 'The Flying Boxcar', a twin-boom, twin-engined freighter and troop-carrier was flown by both Nos. 435 and 436 Squadrons of Air Transport Command.

The C-119 could haul a 10,000-lb. payload 1,500 miles non-stop. Its load may have consisted of 62 fully-equipped paratroops; or 35 stretcher cases and four assistants; or, the equivalent weight of cargo. The aircraft was equipped with rear-opening, clam-shell doors which permitted fast efficient handling of lengthy, bulky loads.

This latest decal sheet from Leading Edge Models is for an old workhorse used by the RCAF for over 10 years from 1952 to 1965.  The boxcar was famous for it's versatile nature and could carry a number of loads to fulfill a variety of missions.  They were used to re-supply northern bases and often landed on ice strips on sea ice in the winter and crude land runways carved out of the landscape for spring re-supplies when the ice was too thin to risk landing a cargo plane with a gross weight of 64,000 pounds. The "Boxcar" or "Dollar 19" as it was also called...saw service in Canadian UN missions as well.  

There are 2 separate decal sheets included in this set and they are the usual flawless crisp and clear printing that Leading Edge Models is world famous for.  The solid colours on the decals seem thick enough to avoid the modeller having any problems with underlying paint colours showing through.  The colours are beautifully done and the level is detail is the best you will find.  Full stencils are included.  There are 2 black and white pages of instructions detailing painting and decal placement.  Lovely stuff.  Also included are 2 resin pieces that when joined will permit you to do a nose conversion.  The resin casting is flawless.  I quite enjoy the colours of this plane....baremetal bottomside, white sides and upper surfaces.....red lightning bolt stripes along the side.

Thanks to Dave at Leading Edge Models for sending me this review sample. 

Steve Bamford