Cessna L-19A 51-12229 United States Army

These are 1/72 scale decals for Cessna L-19A Bird Dog 51-12229, assigned to Continental Army Command (CONARC) as a temporary testbed for tandem landing gear evaluation.

This aircraft was one of several L-19As used by the Army to explore alternative undercarriage configurations for the Bird Dog. The tandem landing gear arrangement — with main wheels positioned fore and aft along the fuselage centerline rather than side by side — was evaluated for potential advantages in rough-field and unprepared surface operations, where the standard tailwheel configuration could present challenges.

Alongside the companion tricycle gear testbed (51-11972), this aircraft represents the Army's methodical approach to refining the Bird Dog's operational capabilities in the early 1950s under the oversight of Continental Army Command. A highly unusual and rarely modeled experimental configuration that will stand out in any Bird Dog collection. The model should be finished in Olive Drab.

Please allow some time for decal printing and shipping.