Looking for L-5 fuselage and other detail information

Lately I have been interested in the Stinson L-5 (and the family represented by the HW-75 through 108 Station Wagon). I am an RC modeler of just average abilities, but I also love the history these planes represent, too. One thing I have found frustrating is the huge lack of specific information in the way of measured drawings and descriptions of the structure.

A specific question I have about the L-5 fuselage is the tipped out windows. Were they faired out, or is the X-brace going up the the front and rear of the wing center section tipped out itself? Are the tubes of that X in the same plane or do they go outward after they cross? Is the cabin width constant or tapered? Is the ambulance model differeent in that way from the observation model? Is the litter bay of constant width, or does it taper a bit? There seem to be no "3-view" type photos anywhere!

The tail is apprently larger than the 105 design it came from, but what are those dimensions? I have found some interesting photos from restoration sites, but even these could be more friendly from a researching standpoint.

In my mind, I would want to have models, one of (each!?) in the same scale parked side by side. Being realistic, maybe I could build one or two.

Thanks for your interest.

Denny G

Well, I think that some of the others on the board may have access to this information, but ultimately, I've found that there is no substitute for a visit to a real aircraft for such information. I thought I knew the plane pretty well until I started trying to get details right for the L-5 model I have on www.lbirds.com . For instance, here are a few scans and pictures that we used:









Ryan

Ryan,

The diagrams with the station numbers intrigues me. I agree that I need to see the real article. I actually have hd opportunities, but I was not 'bitten" at the time.

Anyhow, on the ambulance model, regarding the two lines that for the "X" that defines the windows, In some pictures I think I see that the tubes are straitgh shots. That is to say, they go from the bottom (at 18.75 and 58), up through station 51.3 and on the the top in straight line. Not up a vertical side wall and then out to the moe widely spaced top. (Do you think the arrow on station 58 goes the wrong way, since it now goes to where 51.63 goes?) I would think that a straight line would be stronger and also give a psuedo cirved shape to the fuselage.

Denny

Hello Denny,

You might look at eBay. There is a fellow in the UK who sells back issue copies of Aviation News. In one issue they published 1/72 drawings of the L-5.
I owned a few L-5s years ago, and have all the manuals, I'll see if there is anything in them that might be a help. I also have microfilms of the factory drawings, but I no longer have a way to copy them.

Regards,
Tim

The L-5 drawings in the magazine are good, but not great, and really don't have adequate station information.
I'd be really interested in seeing some of the manual stuff if you ever decide to get rid of them.

Ryan