Thunderbird Models

1/144 Eastern Provincial Airways ATL-98 Carvair decals

Product # 144-003 for Roden kit

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Mar 30 2017

 

      

This decal sheet from Thunderbird Models includes markings for CF-EPV, CF-EPW and CF-EPX with the Eastern Provincial Airways. 

Eastern Provincial Airways, also known as EPA, was the backbone of air travel in the eastern atlantic provinces of Canada in the 1970s. At its peak, the carrier operated jet service with Boeing 737-200 aircraft connecting many communities that today only have scheduled passenger flights provided by 18-seat commuter turboprop aircraft. The airline traces its history from Maritime Central Airways (MCA) from 1961. It merged with CP Air to form Canadian Pacific Airlines in 1986.

Eastern Provincial Airways was founded by ex-RCAF pilot Eric Blackwood with financing by Ches Crosbie at Torbay Newfoundland in 1949. EPA provided government air services such as air ambulance, fire patrol, geological survey, airmail, and communications. In 1963 EPA took over Maritime central (a much larger airline) and began a period of rapid expansion. EPA entered the jet age in 1969 with the purchase of its first two 737s, CF-EPL and CF-EPR. In 1982 EPA began merging its services with CP Air until being completely absorbed by that airline in 1987. CP Air was in turn bought by PWA and folded into Air Canada.

In 1968 EPA purchased three ATL-98 Carvairs to carry cars and cargo between the mainland and Newfoundland and Labrador. CF-EPX was written off in a crash at Churchill Falls and the remains were sold to British Air Ferries for parts. By the end of their careers, EPW and EPV were starting to look pretty ratty and were eventually sold to BAF as well.

Printed by Fantasy Printshop.

This decal sheet offers a peek back into the early days of commercial aviation on the east coast of Canada.  This decal sheet gives an excellent livery option for the Roden ATL-98 Carvair.

You can buy this decal sheet and many other decals and other modelling products from Thunderbird Models.

Steve Bamford

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford