Czech Models 1/48 scale Grumman Goose By Gerry Nilles

Last year Internet Modeler looked at the Czech Model 1/48th scale Grumman G-21 Goose using one of the two military markings supplied with the kit. Although the Goose did see extensive military usage during WWII it was initially designed (in 1936) as a small commercial twin-engine amphibious flying boat.

History

Ellis Airlines was established in 1936 at Ketchikan Alaska and operated as such until it merged with Alaska Coastal Airlines in 1962, which then joined forces with Alaska Airlines in 1968. However mergers aside the real story behind the success of Ellis, as well as Alaska Coastal, was the use of the little twin engine amphibian Goose. If you had ever seen the rugged expanse that is Southeastern Alaska you would immediately understand why the Goose was so well suited for operations in this area. For the most part southeastern Alaska has no roads and no landing fields, and poor weather is the norm not the exception. Therefore if you wanted to go anywhere in this region you either took a slow boat or you flew in a Goose. Needless to say the latter was the most popular choice.

At its peak Ellis combined with Alaska Coastal Airlines operated the largest fleet of commercial Gooses (Geese?) in the world. To give some perspective on how common it was for Alaskans to fly on a Goose, it was recorded that during a twelve month period a total of 110,000 passengers were transported by these two small airlines. Now, by today’s standards that may not seem like a lot, but at the time the total population of the area they served was only 35,000.

The Kit

The Ellis Goose I have done is N79901 as seen at the ramp on Annette Island sometime around 1949. I should note here that the airfield on Annette, which was an ex-military base, served until the mid 1970s as the chief commercial airport for all of southeastern Alaska. The color scheme, which was the second one used by Ellis on their Goose fleet, was obviously designed with visibility in mind rather than a sleek look.

Construction

The markings I used were a combination of paint and homemade computer decals. When I ask Tim Bradley of Draw Decals if they ever planned on offering markings for this aircraft I was told that it is just too darned ugly. Draw Decals does, however, make markings for this same Goose as it appeared in its post merger scheme of white, black, orange and red.

Conclusion

This project was a labor of love for me because my father took the reference photos I used to build this model and my first recollection of a Grumman Goose was this aircraft or one of her sisters.