1/144th scale

A manufacturer of limited run resin kits, Anigrand Craftworks offered a kit of the supersonic XB-70 Valkyrie bomber in late 2007. Included in the boxing (kit number AA-4007) were three bonus NAA subjects - a proposed delta winged X-15 that was to be launched from the back of the B-70, the XF-108 Rapier supersonic interceptor, and much smaller and slower Navion.

Dwafted by the XB-70 and XF-108, there's still a tiny
Navion included in the kit. (Anigrand Craftworks)

1/72nd scale

During WW2, Comet Models was known for creating a series of identification models for use by the United States military. Wooden blanks were distributed to High School shop classes where students carved models of Allied and Axis subjects.

Comet's only static model of the Navion was a small one (kit number B7), which was comprised of a block of balsawood and a decent 3-view drawing to which the builder would sand and carve the model to shape.

Comet's early kit comprised of very little.
(T. McTavish)

1/72nd scale

Dujin is a small, one man cottage company from Holland, specializing in European aircraft, typically from the inter-war period.

This model (kit number DA72134) is cast in beige resin and is labeled an Na143/145, which was North American's internal designator before the Navion received its name.

Only a small number of resin pieces are inside the resealable plastic bag.
(T. McTavish)

1/48th scale

In the pre-plastic days of display models, Cavacraft (whose kits were patented) released a Navion model (kit number S-6) which contained a pre-carved white pine airframe, cement, sandpaper, display stand, colour decals and painting instructions. Based on the instructions, it was 1/48th scale, or with an 8-3/8 inch wingspan.

The smaller, side opening box.
(T. McTavish)

The larger, conventional two-piece boxing.
(T. McTavish)

1/48th scale

After WW2, model manufacturers and toy makers were scrambling to release the newest, most attractive subjects. The 1950s were a period of unsurpassed releases, with hundreds of production, prototype and theoretical subjects being turned into play toys, each eagerly snapped up by young boys.

O-Lin pioneered the release of general aviation subjects when it began releasing a collection of small, single engine airplanes. Of great importance was that in a time when models were typically sized to fit inside existing boxes (known as box-scale), O-Lin chose to use a standardized scale of 1/48th for its general aviation models. This scale kept the models small enough to display on a shelf, while big enough for the early injection molding process to accommodate.

These models were molded in red plastic when they were released in 1952 (kit number 507), although maroon and ivory followed.

Three different colored boxes, and different color kits.
(T. McTavish)

One of the biggest of the early plastic model kit manufacturers, Lindberg offered a wide selection of transportation subjects (planes, boats and cars), as well as a pioneering line of science-fiction models.

After acquiring the other half of the O-Lin partnership Lindberg incorporated the O-Lin models into its own 'Lindberg Line' of models, which included a Navion (kit number R507;69), Piper Cub, Republic RC-3 SeaBee, Stinson 108 Station Wagon, Mooney Mite, Beech 35 Bonanza and Ercoupe. No changes were made to the molds although the colour of the plastic was standardized throughout the series with silver.

The original solid boxing, and the later hanging box with a celophane 'window'.
(T. McTavish)

(K. McTavish)

In the mid-1990s O-Lin's ancient general aviation molds made a brief reappearance with Mexican model maker Pegaso. The model (kit number P5020), which hadn't been updated or changed in 50 years, featured a card insert that could be assembled into a small hangar and control tower.

Pegaso's kit included a cardboard airport.
(T. McTavish)

Eric Smith finished his Navion in fictious military markings.
(E. Smith)

A typical 1950s-style model; limited details, yet an accurate outline.
(via ebay)

Trevor McTavish's Korean War L-17 wears a field-applied camouflage pattern.
(T. McTavish)

Jordan Ross' 1993 IPMS Journal article. (2MB)

Darius Aibara's detailed Navion.

1/48th scale

In the time that Lindberg's general aviation releases were out of production (late 1950s to the mid 1990s), there were no other choices for those modelers looking to build a Navion. Without the Internet to aid in one's search, finding an old Lindberg release was not easy and the kit had long since disappeared from model related swap meets.

White Eagle released a vacuformed copy of Lindberg's model in the early 1980s (kit number 103). Since it was a direct copy, it had all the short comings of the original, injection molded kits, although a clear canopy was included, as were white metal landing gear and propeller. Since there was no details for the cockpit this meant modelers had to find a solution themselves. One major advantage however was that a well drawn set of blueprints were included, featuring detail drawings for the missing parts.

White Eagle kits came in two different package sizes, plus a well drawn set of plans.
(T. McTavish)