KPM 1/72 Grumman J4F-1 Widgeon kit KPM0475

The Grumman G-44 Widgeon was an American high-wing metal structure flying boat. The drive was provided by two motors Ranger L-440-5 with 200 HP each. The flight of the prototype took place in 1940, and serial production was carried out in 1941-1949. In total, 345 copies of this aircraft were built, including the machines built under the license.

The G-44 Widgeon plane was created as a private initiative of the Grumman plant, which, after the considerable success of the G-21 Goose machine, wanted to create an equally successful machine, but smaller and designed to transport a maximum of 5 passengers. Despite the fact that the machine was intended for the civilian market, the American Coast Guard and the US Navy quickly became interested in it. The former used Widgeon planes to patrol US coastal waters, and the latter used a liaison plane. The plane was also exported to Great Britain and Portugal. After World War II, France purchased a license for its production. The most important versions of the Grumman Widgeon aircraft are: G-44 (basic version) J4F-1 (version intended for the US Coast Guard), J4F-2 (version dedicated to the US Navy) or G44-A, i.e. a modernized version of the G44 was created after 1945 for the purpose of for the civil market.