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Special Hobby is to rebox the 1/72nd Academy AT-6G Texan with new parts in order to propose earlier AT-6/SNB and Harvard Mk.IIB-IV versions. Source: https://www.specialhobby.info/2021/01/news-from-special-hobby-012021.html V.P.

Hi everyone, I'm building a 1/72 replica of VH-SNJ, a former RNZAF Harvard III currently owned by the Zuccoli family and living at their Aerotec facility in Toowoomba. My starting point is the Heller T6-G kit, with some extras to be added to make this a very special Harvard... Starting point is the Heller kit... here are the wings For this "Hot Rod Harvard" we need some surgery, first step is to remove the outer wings: Next, we need some surgery for the "donor" outer wings. Starting with wings from a Special Hobby CA-12 Boomerang kit, once again we separate the outer wings from the centre-section... What on earth is going on here? Well, this Harvard was (for a short period) fitted and flown with CAC Boomerang outer wings! Yes, really! Back in the late 1980s Guido Zuccoli commissioned Saunders Aircraft of Chino, California to build up an airworthy CAC Boomerang for him. No Boomerang wings had survived intact and so Saunders constructed a pair of outer wings from scratch. The complete Boomerang arrived back in Australia in October 1992 and was the first airworthy restoration of a Boomerang. At the same time, Matt Denning had been reverse engineering authentic Boomerang wings (based on wreck parts) and began constructing wings for his project and for Greg Batts. Guido also obtained a set of Matt's more correct wings and fitted them to his restored Boomerang, leaving him with a spare pair of Boomerang outer wings. He decided it would be fun to fit them to his Harvard and see how it performed! As an accomplished aerobatic pilot, he was thrilled with the dramatically increased roll rate of 6 foot shorter wing, as well as 10% higher cruise speed and increased rate of climb. Back to the model... more updates coming soon...

Question for the historical experts. I know this is a long shot. I recently purchased the excellent 1/72 Special Hobby Harvard boxing of Academy's T-6G molds and would like to build the AT-6G of the Lebanese Air Force as provided on the Armycast Texan decal sheet Clicky Unfortunately, I only found two black an white pictures of Lebanese Texans and the question remains, is it overall natural metal or yellow? Thanks for the support. Best regards Michael

Harvard Mk.II/IIA/IIB British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (72447) 1:72 Special Hobby The North American Aviation T-6 Texan has a long history dating from its inception as the NA-16 in 1935 right up to 1970. Even today there are flying versions in various Warbird associations. The T-6 (in various designations from NA-16, through B1 to T-6 etc.) was originally produced as a basic trainer but over time it was upgraded to an advanced trainer (AT-6 Texan) with improved performance for basic and combat type flying training, plus an added facility for training rear gunners. The T-6 was also supplied to Britain and Commonwealth nations and designated the Harvard (I & II) and was in service during WW2 and for many years postwar. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was a large WWII training plan designed to produce the war time pilots needed for all services. Created by the UK in partnership with Canada, Australia and New Zealand the plan produced nearly half of the aircrew for these countries during WWII. The Kit This is a re-boxing of the Academy kit by Special Hobby with a new injected clear sprue for the different canopies used (one for an AT-6F/SNJ, one for a Harvard II, and one for an AT-6A/D, so expect more boxings!) and some resin parts, and a small PE fret; as well with the addition of a new decal sheet for Aircraft Canada, The UK, Rhodesia, New Zealand and India. Construction starts with no surprise i the cockpit. Both seat get belts from the new SH fret, the control columns and their linking bar also come from the new resin parts from SH. These go onto the floor and then the cockpit sides are added along with the rear bulkhead and the rear seat instrument panel. Once in the fuselage can be joined up and the front instrument panel added it. The instruments are provided by decals. The area behind the rear cockpit must be trimmed away for the aircraft in this boxing and it is indicated by a red area in the instructions. Next up the engine front is put into the cowling and the propeller is added A small area on the cowling must be removed and again this is shown in red. The insert for the main wheel bay is then added into the lower wing and the upper wing parts added. The complete wing can then be joined to the fuselage and at the rear the tailplanes are added on. Then the canopies are put on, with different ones for the different decal options. Different airframe fittings are added depending on the decal optiuons, one having the large aerial mast in front of the cockpits, and one having a PE gunsight added. Different pitot tubes are also included for the different options. Underneath the wheels and gear legs are added along with the new resin exhaust included in this boxing. Elevator control horns are added and lastly the tail wheel. Markings There are five decal options on a sheet printed in house, the decals look to be thin, in register with no issues. 1. Harvard Mk.II No. 25/2625, 34 Service Flying Training School RCAF Medicine Hat, Canada, 1943. (All over yellow). 2. Harvard Mk.IIB, No. 38/FX389, No.16 (Polish) Service Flying School, RAF Newton, England (Dark Earth/Dark Green over yellow). 3. Harvard Mk.IIA No. 78/EX490, No.20 Service Flying School, SRAF, Cranborne, Southern Rhodesia 1943. (Natural metal finish with wide yellow bands on the wings) 4. Harvard Mk.IIA No. 32/NZ934, No.2 Service Flying School RNZAF, Woodbourne, New Zealand 1942. This aircraft served with the New Zealand Air Force until 1958. (Dark Earth/Dark Green over sky with yellow side training panels). 5. Harvard Mk.IIB No. 14/FE479, No.1 Service Flying Training School RIAF, Ambala Base, India 1944/45. (All over yellow). Conclusion It is great to see Special Hobby taking the good Academy kit and adding the additional parts to bring us the Harvard which helped to train so many allied aircrews. Very Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

With my Build for the Skyhawk GB completed (still hosting though) it is time for me to make a start on my Harvard for this one. I have a few Harvard/Texan kits in the stash (4 at the last count) but decided to go with the Italeri release of the Occidental 1/48 kit for this build. Very nice box art and I would like to build an RAF one at some point. The kit was completely unmolested until I fetched it out of the stash and started taking pictures. One of the big pluses of this kit for me is the extensive decal sheet with markings for no less than 6 different aircraft from different countries. I can see me working my way through the options on this sheet over the coming years, as well as all the other Harvard/Texan decals I have! I also have some extras in the form of an Eduard brass set and some canopy masks. Yesterday being the usual British Bank Holiday weather that it was I made a start on the cockpit by giving everything a coat of the British grey/green cockpit colour, my thinking being that as this aircraft was built for the RAF then it might have the RAF interior colour, no doubt I am completely wrong but thats the colour it is and will be staying. And once the green was dry I painted the built in details and gave everything some light weathering and a bit of a wash and this is what the sidewalls and cockpit floor ended up like; The instrument panels are the ones supplied by Eduard which consist of a film with the dials on and an etched piece for the face of the panel, so I stuck the film to the back of the etch and then added a piece of white paper behind the film so that the dials would show up better. The bottom one has since been readjusted to actually be lined up! With the interior pieces pretty much done it was time to loosely assemble them. And with that all loosely assembled, no glue so that adjustment will be possible when it comes to fitting the cockpit into the fuselage. Speaking of which I have fitted it into one of the cockpit halves; Next job will be to get the fuselage halves together, hopefully this evening. Thanks for looking in and as usual all comments and criticisms are gratefully received. Craig.

Hi all! The third and final part of my Sarfice trio of aircraft is finally done and rolled out – North American AT-6D “C” joins my AD-4N “TR-KMP” and Fouga Magister “TR-KFJ” in celebration of the flying career of Jacques Borne. Those of you who have seen my previous RFIs on these will know the background and so I won’t bore you with that here. 😉. I intend to mount these three on a presentation board in the future. Globally the last military operator to put the Harvard in to service, the GAP operated a fleet of six AT-6D/Harvards for many years. They arrived in Libreville in this dark blue paint scheme and then, over a number of years, they progressed through natural metal to a sand camouflage scheme. These were ex-SAAF. The construction number of this machine was 88-14876 which, I believe, was registered “TR-KFC” in Gabonese service. She was formerly 41-33904, EX931 (RAF – received?) and “7491” (SAAF), being delivered to the GAP on 15th December 1970. The fleet was retired in the 1980s. The base kit needed to be converted from T-6G configuration. The means by which I did this was to adopt a Yale canopy (thanks @Graham Boak for the steer) and upper rear fuselage. It almost fits! 😉 She also needed a blanked off single machine gun housing on the upper nose, which also had a groove running forward along the top of the cowling. The other major difference was the two Browning MGs in the wings. The fitment of these MGs meant the scribing of the access panels on the upper wings. I also added a few lumps and bumps here and there that were features of South African T-6s and removed the Rudder nav lights. Each of the Gabonese Harvards seemed to have different antenna fits. “C” had a simple pole to the rear of the canopy. They were pretty scruffy. You can see from the few available images that the blue came away readily. I’ve therefore used a fair bit of “modeller’s licence” to get dirt and scratches on her. For all of this work I was robustly supported by Wez @Wez, Geoff Timms at The Harvard Club of South Africa and Fred Borne. What did I do/use? Well: 1. Kit – Academy/Squadron T-6G Texan (Double Set) 1/72 and RS Models NA-64 Yale (92208) 1/72. I used the Yale cockpit and rear fuselage fairing. 2. Aftermarket – 0.5mm brass rod, Master Browning .30 calibre Machine guns (M1919), aerial from our kitchen broom! I planned to use Radial Engines and Wheels P&W R-1340 (72001) but despite a lot of scraping and sanding I couldn’t get it to fit in the Academy cowling. I also intended to use the Pavla cockpit set (72021) but in the end I used only the seats. I also intended to use the CMK Harvard conversion set but I have an aversion to vac form canopies and, in any case, it split on me! The exhaust in the set was not what I needed either. 3. Decals – Arctic Decals drawn and printed, Techmod white “C” in USAF Amarillo font. 4. Paints – Colourcoats USN Glossy Sea Blue (Post war) ACUS36) plus numerous Humbrols for various small parts 5. Weathering and washes – Flory Sand and Tamiya Weathering Powders. Prismacolor silver pencil I hope you like her as much as I do 😊 Martin

Hi all, I'm looking for a little guidance from anyone who has attempted to convert a T-6G canopy to the "longer" Harvard II-type canopy. Apart from the framing - which I think I can fix with thin strips of stryrene - it seems to be that it is only the final section that is different in shape. Is that true? I have tried a CMR canopy, which I at first thought was good, but it is very poor in detail. My other thought is whether an old Airfix Harvard II canopy would be any better? I'd be very grateul of thoughts and guidance from anyone who has attempted this or has any great ideas. Thanks in advance. Martin

Hi all, I'm a sad case as I know little about the Harvard (T-6) but I am embarking on a build of a Heller kit, converting it to a South African machine. My question is about the colour of the cockpit. Was it black throughout or were there some green sections, or something else? I'd valuie your thoughts in inputs. Thanks in advance, Martin

Dear all, another small project comes to a close for this newbie (returnee to the hobby), so I thought I'd just post a short thread over here to close-off my small Harvard project that started off as a Revel (reboxed Heller) 1:72 T6G but with a few modifications was able to be presented in the end as something closer to what the RAF would have used in the form of a Noorduyn Harvard 2B (IIB). I tracked progress and discussions over on a WIP thread (below) and these images did conclude that; but I thought that I ought to pop something here for those just looking to see the end result. Was it worth it? Yes, probably. I have to deal with these thing in real life and understanding the subtle differences in the models is useful when working through the history of individual airframes. It served as a useful little project to try some new (to me) techniques and finishes, and yes, it'll do. Next up will be a quick (ish) build of two Airfix Hurricane 1s that I'll finish in BoB era markings (with the anniversary approaching)... whilst I await the arrival if a fine molds F14 kit from Japan that I'll spend a little more time on - the big Ed set has already arrived in the post. Should be fun. WIP Some pics of the end result: Harvard IIB by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr Harvard from the rear by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr Harvard, from above by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr and Harvard underside by Jonathan Hughes, on Flickr Thanks for reading Jonathan

This is quite a basic kit by Italeri with custom masks made for the current aircraft that flies out of Goodwood in West Sussex, UK. I did quite a lot of scratch building inside the cockpit, and the overall finish reflects the tiredness of the current scheme, including the crazed and opaque windows panels. She is due a new scheme over the winter months which should quite striking.

After a six-month break, at last one finished model. Here's the picture, enjoy it.

I wonder if anyone cares to explain this camouflage: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209687 Thanks in advance

Has anyone ever re-visited a build from years ago, and decided to make some amendments? I built and shared here on Britmodeller a SAAF T-6 Harvard back in 2015. It had a tiny version related error on the rudder, which I back then decided to live with. However recently I've decided to correct the mistake, as well as make a new diorama for the Harvard. And with the Photobucket debacle (what I'm calling it) the original thread does not show the photos anymore, so I've decided to share some new photos of the amended build. And this is the real life subject photographed back then Cheers Jimmy

Hi Scale Aircraft Modelling went through a stage of offering free decal sheets in the early eighties and I have been meaning to use this one for ...er...over 35 years. Still better late than never. The Heller kit is showing its age but this was still a fun build. Capital Model Supplies had the kit advertised at 99p in the above magazine. I paid AUS $10 (about £6)

Kiwi Models is to release a Noorduyn Harvard Mk.IIB and AT-16 conversion sets. Four boxings announced Sources: http://www.kiwiresin.com/_p/prd1/4633856341/product/coming-soon! http://www.kiwiresin.com/_p/prd1/4633856551/product/coming-soon http://www.kiwiresin.com/_p/prd1/4633857191/product/coming-soon! http://www.kiwiresin.com/_p/prd1/4633860521/product/coming-soon! V.P.

A few more, taken at North Weald. The first two (T-6 and the Stearman 75) were taken when I went up for a jolly in my mate Norman's T-6 (the one shown). It was part of the Harvard team (a la Gary Numan). Norman flew for David Gilmour too (the Stearman, for example). The other shots are from one of the fly-in days. The last one (Navy 69) was owned by another friend, Gavin Keegan, and is another that I've been lucky enough to fly in. Excuse my indulgence! Martin

North American Aviation T-6 Texan / SNJ / Harvard. Pics by Bootneck Mike of Aircraft operated by Warbird adventures in Florida, where he flew in one.

I went to last years Headcorn show in Kent for '558 but thoroughly enjoyed the day. Here are some of the aircraft shots, if you like your military vehicles please follow the link to see what was there: http://www.hanger51.org/airshows/2015/headcorn-military-vehicle-show/ Vulcan B.2 XH558 by tony_inkster, on Flickr DHL Jet Ranger by tony_inkster, on Flickr Tiger Moth by tony_inkster, on Flickr Vulcan B.2 XH558 by tony_inkster, on Flickr Dragon Rapide by tony_inkster, on Flickr Spitfire by tony_inkster, on Flickr Vulcan XH558 by tony_inkster, on Flickr Vulcan XH558 by tony_inkster, on Flickr

What sound to be the old Occidental 1/48th Harvard Mk.IIA kit is to be reissued very soon by Italeri - ref. 2736 Source: https://www.facebook.com/ItaleriModelKit/posts/702460499826573 V.P.

I'm building the KH Texan as a Harvard IIa as based at 20 SFTS, Cranborne, S Rhodesia in 1943/4. She will be finished as EX490 - there's a very good colour picture of her for reference purposes: and my father flew her during his training phase on a QGH controlled descent through cloud exercise: I'm using the AlleyCat resin canopy set for the corrected canopy, Eduard seat belts, AMS resin's 9' corrected props, Airscale's instrument dials for the corrected instrument panels that I'll be making and SAC's whitemetal undercarriage legs: I'm also having Dad sitting waiting patiently for some essential maintenance to be done: I'm opening up the nose area to show the engine, hydraulic lines, oil tank etc which is otherwise completely wasted in this kit. More soon. Max

Hi, I should have started a thread in the KUTA GB but forgot, and now I am not too far away from completion! Anyway here's an old neglected Academy kit that I have used to try out the new AK Extreme Metal paints, using Freightdog decals. There's probably all sorts of detail issues but I'm quite happy how it's turning out! Thanks for looking. FF Harvard

Hi all, my first post here. I have seen plenty SAAF Harvard kits painted bright orange, but not a lot of "sunfaded yellow" ones, so I gave it a go. This was one of my main reference photos It's a bit of a snap kit, with only 21 parts and no instructions on how to put it together. However no instructions was needed. It all fit together pretty well considering the age of this kit, not a lot of filler was needed. But the level of detail isn't very good, especially in the cockpit where there was absolutely no detail apart from two pilot figures with seats fixed onto them. No instrument panels either. I basically cut out the seat from the pilots' behind and "shaped" it into 2 empty seats since I did not want pilots inside. I also made instrument panels from pieces of unused plastic bits, and made seatbelts from masking tape. I painted bare minimum detail in the cockpit but didn't put a lot of effort in here. The result is the cockpit is pretty sparse still and shorts a great amount of detail, but I wasn't up to making everything myself and put in weeks of effort into this old kit's cockpit. I had to further modify the kit as this is the SNJ Navy Texan. I cut off the "bubble" behind the cockpit as well as the arial and once again made the white fin out of spare plastic. The wingtips had (what I assume to be) lights bulges which I sanded down. The propeller had a type of mini spinner which I sanded flat to match the SAAF variant. This is lacking the variable pitch "arms", but I did not have any ideas on how to make it, so I left it out. In hindsight I should also have sanded down the rivets on the wings, but that ship has sailed. The worst part of this kit is there are US roundels shaped panel lines engraved on the model. I can't imagine why, even if one is building the US version. So this had to go. I filled it with putty, sprayed, and then of course saw I didn't fill it properly. I had to fill and spray another two times before this was smooth. The only other change I made was to "deflate" the main gear tyres by heating it up and shaping it by pressing down on it, worked much better than just sanding it flat. Paint & clear coats Tamiya AS-12 baremetal silver spray. Varouis mixes of Humbrol for faded yellow and orange and the rest, all brush painted. Tamiya TS-13 Clear spray Tamiya TS-80 Flat Clear spray Decals - TAS decals (VEGAS72001) Although I could have done a lot of things better, I am satisfied with the end result. I hope you enjoy looking at it too.

Well it's been a while, I see that I started her in May of last year, but my Harvard of the Rhodesian Air Training Group circa 1943 is finally complete, though not quite in her diorama that I have planned. The final stage was some weathering using Phil Flory's Dark Dirt - judiciously applied it's highlighted all the lovely rivet detail on the KH kit. Max

I want to built a Harvard IIb (Monogram / Revell-kit) used by the Dutch Air Force during 1947. What cockpit-color should I use? Interior Green (US color) or RAF Cockpit Grey / Green. Hans Weijand The Netherlands

Harvard Mk. IV RCAF Moose Jaw, 1953. In Canadian service the Harvard was often referred to as 'The Yellow Peril', or 'Two Ton Tessie'. Many thousands of RAF and RCAF pilots must have undertaken their training on these aircraft over the years, flying over the vast Candian praries getting to grips with the beast. I was reminded of it again, reading an excellent book "Stalins' Had it now!" by James Stevenson, an RAF pilot who did his training on Harvards & T-33's in Canada before returning to the UK to fly Vampires. I thoroghly recommend it, it's a good read. I built the Occiental 1/48th Harvard when it came out about 15 years ago, so dug it out of storage and dusted it off, to what you see here. This particular aircraft was flown by 'Viking senior' (my father) who was in the RCAF at the same time as the James Stevenson book covers, I still have his wings; And a couple of photos of him in the air. I now notice that the 'GT-F' lettering on my model is not the right font, but hey-ho! There is no doubt that is Canada down below! Like James Stevenson he went on to T-33's, so i built one of those as well 15-odd years ago,and also dusted it off and photographed it. This is the Academy 1/48th kit, representing on of the T-33's he flew at RCAF Gimli; Just need to build that Hasegawa Sabre V now, to complete the set. Thanks for looking, John