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Back in 2014, I did the Boultbee Spitfire Introduction course at Goodwood. The course involved 70 minutes in a Chipmunk, followed by 40 minutes in a Harvard and a Spitfire Tr.9. The Harvard was this one: I've managed to do two models of the aircraft I flew in so far and this is the second of them. WIP is here: 1/48 SNJ Texan - Work in Progress - Aircraft - Britmodeller.com One last one with the last aircraft in the training continuum: I probably should've picked out the unpainted screws in the panels but time's against me. I needed to finish this by the end of the week as everything's going into store for an extended period after Christmas while we move to the Netherlands for a year or so. This classic Revell/Monogram kit was added to with Eduard P-51D wheels (most warbird T-6s use the Mustang wheels as they have disc brakes and anti-shimmy tailwheel tyres), Metallic Details CW-22B propeller (they're both Hamilton-Standard 2D30 props), Barracuda Studios spade grip in the front cockpit, Eduard details set (for the Occidental kit) that I used bits and pieces from and Microscale decals. Each letter and number is separate, so took a bit of mucking about! The decals on the engine cowl are from a 1/72 USAF C-130 that I had in the decals stash. None of the decals are the correct size but all are close. I made the antenna on the spine from a piece of metal rod and drilled out the pitot tube, added the ADF antenna on the belly from a modified Mirage III part and cut the elevators to show them drooped as they lock in that position on the ground. Unfortunately, the lovely artists' chalk white exhaust weathering I did on the port side disappeared with the Future clear coats; a phenomenon I experienced with the Lancaster, too despite the matt coat over them. I might need to use a different technique in future where white is used (no pun intended!) I didn't pick up until I was decalling that this particular T-6 doesn't use the standard tail nav lights on the vertical stabiliser and instead has a single one on the rudder. I wasn't about to go back and do it again! Enjoy! The Chipmunk still to come is the Heritage Models version I hunted down about a year before Airfix release their excellent version. Oh, well.

I'm building the Academy 1/72 T-6G Texan and I suspect the Israeli camouflage scheme in the instructions, could well be fictitious. It says Sand, Light Green and Dark Green but given they were only in service until 1963, I would have thought the Blue and Dark Brown camouflage would have been more likely. I know some were also painted Dark Green and Dark Brown when they first got them but I can't find any concrete evidence of anything else. Any ideas anyone? thanks Mike

North American T-6G detail Set Eduard 1:32 Last month we reviewed three etch sets for the Kittyhawk T-6 Texan HERE. Eduard have now released a fourth. This new set covers the exterior of the model and also includes a complete set of flaps. Exterior and Landing Flaps (32354) This single sheet set contains additional detail parts for several areas of the model. Firstly the engine is taken care of with new webs that fit between the cylinders, just below the rocker covers. There is also a new retaining ring that fits inside of the cowling; to fit this requires the removal of some internal detail from the kit part. Next area is the undercarriage bays with the installation of new bay skins for the front, rear and inside bulkheads plus a section of the bay roof. The undercarriage legs also get some treatment with replacement eye brackets and scissor link, whilst to the rear of the aircraft a new exit plate and rudder control rod, complete with control horn is fitted. The majority of the sheet is taken up with the replacement flaps which also require much of the moulded kit detail to be removed before fitting. The flaps need to be carefully folded to achieve the correct shape around the end pieces. The central flap section looks to be the most problematical, (I know I keep saying this, but care and patience are the watchwords with this kind of assembly). To create the best possible result these parts will need to be annealed whereas you can get away without this with most of the other etched parts. The flap bays are quite simple, but will look very effective under a coat of paint. Conclusion With the addition of the previously reviewed sets the Kittyhawk Texan will look great; this set is really the icing on the cake. The set is as we have come to expect from Eduard, with nice relief etching and fine details. The flaps themselves look a little fiddly, but in this scale shouldn’t be too hard for those with experience of using etched parts. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

North American T-6G detail Sets Eduard 1:32 With the release of the lovely Kittyhawk 1:32 T-6G, it was only a matter of time before Eduard released some etch for it. The two sets reviewed here, three if you include the Zoom set, are for the Interior, and seatbelts. Interior Set (32810) This set comes on two sheets of etched brass, one, the larger of the two, is unpainted whereas the other one is pre-painted and self adhesive. The unpainted sheet is dominated by the two large panels that are fixed inside the fuselage halves, either side of the cockpit and represent the aircraft structure. The sheet also contains items such as the replacement seats, which have much more detail to them, as well as the individual height adjustment levers, rudder pedal pads, new side console facings, and a new circuit breaker box. As with a lot of Eduards sets, some of the moulded kit detail will need to be removed before the etched parts can be added. With this set it’s mainly removing parts from the cockpit side framework, instrument panels and side console tops. Both instrument panels come in two parts the rear part has the instrument painted on it, whilst the front ahs the bezels. The front panel also has extra instrument on the lower panel added along with the landing gear handle. The rear panel doesn’t have a lower panel, but it does have the gear lever. A little dab of aqua clear, or similar will give them the appearance of glass fronts. With the side console tops fitted, the height beam on the framework is fitted out with new throttles, placards, panels and fuse boxes. The trim wheel beam is also given additional detail in the form of trim wheel locking handle, placards and fuel switches. Interior Zoom Set (33137) This zoom set contains only the above pre-painted sheet and allows the modeller to build a reasonably well detailed cockpit without the hassle of getting bogged down with detail that the modeller might otherwise find superfluous. Seatbelts (32814) This small fret of brass comes pre-painted for the most part, but with unpainted clasps, buckles etc. Whilst fiddly to make, it will give the cockpit a real boost as there aren’t even moulded belts on the kit seat, so if you buy only one set this should be it. Conclusion Whilst the Kittyhawk Texan is nicely detailed, you can never have enough options when wishing to add extra, finer detail, and this is where these sets come in. The added finesse of the etched parts can make the world of a difference on kit in this scale. With careful fitting, the detail seen through the heavily glazed canopy will be most rewarding. Highly recommended Review sample courtesy of