The Airplane

The Call-Air Model A is an American two- to three-seat utility aircraft designed by the Call brothers and built by the Call Aircraft Company, later developed into a successful line of agricultural aircraft.

Design and Development

The Model A was designed by the Call family, who were Wyoming ranchers. The aircraft was ready to be produced in 1940 but the start of World War II delayed the start of production to 1946. The family had formed the Call Aircraft Company (known as Call-Air) to produce the aircraft. The prototype Model A was powered by a Continental A-80 engine but was redesignated the Model A-1 when re-engined with an Avco Lycoming O-235-A engine. A United States type certificate was awarded in July 1944 and the production model was designated the Model A-2. The Model A-2 was a two-seat braced low-wing monoplane with fabric-covered wooden wings and fabric-covered welded steel tube. It had a fixed tailwheel landing gear. Further models were introduced with different engines. Examples of the three-seat A-4 were converted for agricultural use followed by a new-build agricultural version the A-5. In 1962 the assets of the company were acquired at auction by the Intermountain Manufacturing Company (IMCO) who developed their own version the IMCO CallAir A-9. IMCO was later taken over by the Aero Commander division of the Rockwell Standard Corporation and later became part of North American Rockwell, the design was further developed and redesignated.

The Model

I did my best to replicate the unique features of the CallAir with its wing struts above the wing, connecting to the top of the fuselage within the limitations of the kit-card format of model.

Assembly

Getting the landing gear frame and wings connected to the fuselage can be difficult, as they all interlock together. The trick is to connect both wings to the connector, then hold the main landing gear frame in place against he leading edge of the wings. Then slide that assembly up onto the fuselage via both slots.

Next, add the wing struts. They simply rest on the “shoulder” of the forward main landing gear frame. Glue is definitely recommended here.