galgos Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 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 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 (edited) Oooohhh very nice, I am going to be cracking on with my NZ Harvard once I have finished the Beetle. Will watch with interest. I must get myself some instrument decals (seeing your piccies reminded me) All the best Chris Edited June 27, 2014 by bigbadbadge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted June 27, 2014 Author Share Posted June 27, 2014 I started with the P&W engine, I found the whole assembly quite tricky to get my head around, with many senior moments happening but I knew that it had to go together with everything orientated properly. The kit has been criticised rightly for the moulding marks and gates etc., those on the engine halves are especially horrible: A while cleaning up, including cutting off location pins (which I've done a lot of with this kit) and the halves fitted well enough. I had already decided that KH's moulding of the plugs and plug leads wasn't good enough: so those came off to be replaced by plugs of stretched sprue and wire leads: Fitting the exhaust collector ring and its cover etc had me scratching my head, again correct orientation?! Another place where, once I'd decided what was where, to cut off location pins which I find helps me locate things more easily: Finally the engine assembly was completed but not without a lot of thought and dry fitting: The cockpit assembly next. Max 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Nice progress Max, great to be building something with a personal connection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 Thanks Woody, modelling planes that Dad flew is part of my "theme"! The cockpit framework was another area that I took my time over, it needed careful thought because the instructions can be quite confusing, including the typo for item "E51" in step 3, half of a fire extinguisher which mates with B12 - the item is actually E15. I'm not sure about the curious semi-circular item behind the aft cockpit (item D31), I think it's related to the blind-flying hood so I'm probably going to add the hood at a later date. The whole structure I thought was well engineered and fitted together very well but it's worth checking that all the location holes on the side structures are drilled all the way through before final assembly: I used the Eduard seat belts since the KH ones were a little basic: I've added the internal ribbing detail with micro-strip - with the canopy as open as I want it to be I think cockpit detail is essential. This shot illustrates how the front compartment has been opened up by removal of the side and top panels and gives some idea of the space to be filled with cabling, hydraulic lines, engine support bearers etc. This is all on-going work, as is the hood for the rear seat position when doing blind flying. Max 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr B Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Looking good there......very nice work so far...how do you plan to tackle the canopy framing ? I might just need some pointers there too.....when I get around to an RNZAF build down the road... rgds mr b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 Thanks Mr B. Regarding the canopy, AlleyCat's resin one comes with both internal and external masks but have you seen Paul Budzik's latest video on LSP, it's in the Tips section. Very helpful indeed, may well follow this master class. Regards Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) Looking great so far,...I`ll be following this with interest,.....did you know that A2Zee Models do a resin canopy set for the Harvard, as opposed to the post war AT-6 canopy in the kit? Also the Rhodesian Harvard`s usually had the code numbers repeated in large figures on top of the wings,....sometimes in red and these were located within the yellow area on top of the wings. Keep up the great work Tony PS- I`ve always wondered whether Canadian built Harvard`s had British Interior Grey Green interiors or was something else used such as US Interior Green? PPS- Oops,...hadn`t noticed that you already knew about the A2Zee canopy,...sorry! Edited June 30, 2014 by tonyot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 Thanks Tony, the AlleyCat/A2Zee canopy is very good. Funnily enough I only discovered about the fuselage number being repeated on the wing last week, the picture I saw had it on the port wing but I don't know if it was on the starboard too? Regards Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessica Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 That semi-circular thingy in the rear cockpit is a gun mount. Harvards could be used for gunnery training by rotating the rear seat around and sliding the canopy sections under the fixed centre canopy. I'm not certain how often it was done, but the capability was build into the aircraft. And Tony, the Canadian Harvards I've seen are in RAF interior green, not USAAF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Thanks for confirming RAF Interior Grey Green Jessica,.......Max, if you send me a PM with your e mail address I`ll send some Rhodesian Harvard pics which might help, Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 Thanks for the info about the semi-circular thingy Jessica, glad I decided to take mine out the other day to make room for the hood (in progress!). Tony, PM on its way, I look forward to the pics. Regards Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomjw Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Hi Max. This is looking fantastic so far. Given your last project in the TTGB, I am sure this build will be exemplary. Following with interest. Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 Thanks Tom, some very kind words. This Harvard is the beginning of a slippery slope - my first 1/32nd scale build but I'm loving the extra detail that I can add, so Revell's Tiger Moth is next! Regards Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Fantastic work so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessica Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Revell's Tiger Moth is next! You're going to be shocked at the difference 40 years of experience makes to the mouldings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 You're going to be shocked at the difference 40 years of experience makes to the mouldings. You're right Jessica, my dad made one of these years ago so I've got a "feel" for it, but "making the difference" is what I enjoy most in modelling. Max Fantastic work so far I just need more time at my bench Val, not much available this side of next Monday! Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomjw Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Thanks Tom, some very kind words. This Harvard is the beginning of a slippery slope - my first 1/32nd scale build but I'm loving the extra detail that I can add, so Revell's Tiger Moth is next! Regards Max You'll enjoy 1/32. My scale of choice. The extra detail which can be added is phenominal and its very easy to get obsessed with adding more... Cheers, Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamcatcher Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Hi, Congratulation for the good work ! i take a chair and watch the next steps with interest Best regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 The extra detail which can be added is phenominal and its very easy to get obsessed with adding more... That's what worries me about 1/32! With 1/48 you can "finesse" things more (or convince yourself that you can). But I do like the "heft" of a 1/32 Spit or something of that size, compared to 1/48. Oddly enough, I've also been seduced somewhat back to 72nd, thanks to the machinations of Airfix, but that will remain a bit of a whimsical detour, I hope. 1/48 is still the bread & butter, though, since I can more or less still see them, and generally afford them far more easily than some of the 32nd wants... bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomjw Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 That's what worries me about 1/32! With 1/48 you can "finesse" things more (or convince yourself that you can). But I do like the "heft" of a 1/32 Spit or something of that size, compared to 1/48. Oddly enough, I've also been seduced somewhat back to 72nd, thanks to the machinations of Airfix, but that will remain a bit of a whimsical detour, I hope. 1/48 is still the bread & butter, though, since I can more or less still see them, and generally afford them far more easily than some of the 32nd wants... bob Understandable. I do build in 1/48 as well, and have a few in that scale in the stash. A couple, though are still big kits (Rockwell B-1B and a TSR-2). I also have a few 1/24 scale which should feed my obsession well. I am a glutton for punishment... Cheers, Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 Funnily enough I've got two Harvards in 1/48th to build! Mad or what?? Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawel Szczudlyk Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 O yeah this is going to be fun to watch and learn Great work so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Hmmmm, learn sdk?! I hope so but I don't count myself any more than an average modeller however what I do for all my builds is a lot of research so that I'm as familiar with the subject matter as I can be. I've recently discovered some facts about the RATG colour schemes that I didn't know before so these will be incorporated into my model. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Trust me you aren't an average modeller. Just spotted this one, I'm watching with interest as they say as your builds are always enlightening and enjoyable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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